17.06.2010: Breakfast Launch for Landcare: A Practical Guide.
NZ Landcare Trust (NZLT) and sponsors Transpower celebrated the launch of a new publication ‘Landcare: A Practical Guide’ at the National Agricultural Fieldays on Wednesday 16th June. The successful launch took the form of a breakfast event with nearly 50 guests in attendance. Landcare is a collaborative activity so it was fitting to share the launch with a range of stakeholders. Guests came from a number of backgrounds including local authorities, agencies, trustees, sponsors and the farmers and landowners who translate Landcare ideas into 'action on the ground'.
Four main speakers kept messages short and punchy. After a brief welcome from James Barnett NZLT’s Communications Manager the microphone was passed to Barry Quayle General Manger Mystery Creek who welcomed everyone to Fieldays and spoke about the ongoing relationship between NZ Landcare Trust and Fieldays. NZLT CEO Dr. Nick Edgar outlined the ideas and motivations behind the Guide and thanked all those who contributed. Cynthia Brophy General Manager Corporate Affairs Transpower expressed support for the good work carried out by the Trust and offered congratulations on the publication of the Guide. Finally Richard Thompson Chair of the NZLT Board Trustees reflected on the work of the Trust before formally launching ‘Landcare: A Practical Guide’.
The guide is aimed at farmers and landowners. The emphasis is on basic, practical information, with a large section devoted to a series case studies, demonstrating how a landcare approach can work on an economically viable farm. It was great to have farmers Andrew and Jenny Hayes attend the launch - their Waikato farm is profiled as one of the case studies.
The Hayes family have been farming at Horsham Downs since the 1980’s. They own an 88 ha dairy farm that borders two fragile peat lakes - LakeKaituna and Lake Komakorau. Andrew realised that a conventional intensive approach to dairy farming would continue to degrade the lakes, so he decided to change the way things were done. In 2007 the hard work was formally recognised in the form of a prestigious Green Ribbon award.
To find out more about the Hayes family and their work, along with a host of other inspiring case studies, plus useful landcare tips and advice on how to set up a landcare group, simply request a copy of Landcare: A Practical Guide... here>.
