farm forestry

       timber, shade and protection for all

Kooragang City Farm developed a small scale demonstration site to promote the benefits of farm forestry.

Potential benefits of farming trees on Kooragang City Farm

At Kooragang, farm forestry can provide:

Six species of eucalypt have been planted in random sequence along the rows.

• timber for fencing and future income potential
• different land use to cattle grazing
• long term shade and wind protection
• dissipation of floodwater energy
• habitat and increased wildlife corridor potential
• protection from water logging in adjacent paddocks
• essential oils from leaves
• carbon sequestration and carbon credits
• higher overall productivity per unit area

In 1998, five sets of five parallel rows covering a total of 4 hectares were prepared. This involved ripping, then mounding the rows, and fencing each five row set. Four of these sets of rows run North–South ensuring the areas of pasture in between (totaling 9 hectares), received plenty of sunlight for pasture growth and cattle grazing.

In permaculture design terms these tree lots with enclosed paddocks form large north facing sun traps, where in future, the ecosystem contained within will be more productive than the former open pasture.

Five rows of eucalypts form each forestry lane, with grazing paddocks. In between the lanes.

In March 1998 at the end of a severe drought, 3,400 trees of six species were planted in a pre-determined but differing sequence along the rows. Heavy rains caused three minor floods in the forestry areas within five months of planting. The trees were pruned by hand after 17 months growth. In 2002, cattle were introduced to the forestry lanes in short sharp bursts to assess their suitability as tree pruners.

NB. All six species are indigenous to the lower Hunter Valley and often grow in association with each other. Those marked * are indigenous to Ash Island. Swamp Mahogany was selected for planting closest to our waterways.

By 2005, general consensus is that the trees overall have not grown as well as expected. This result may be due in part to the severe drought conditions experienced during 2002-2004. In general, Swamp Mahogany seemed to cope with the conditions best, with rows closest to the wetland areas performing better than rows further from water.