URALLA Rivercare Group and Southern New England Landcare will bring renowned horticulturist and sustainability expert Jerry Coleby-Williams from Gardening Australia to the New England region this month, to share practical water-saving solutions for urban and peri-urban gardens.
Uralla Rivercare Group’s Sheenah Turnbull said people want to make the most of every drop of rainwater they can.
“We’ve all experienced drought and the water quality challenges that follow,” Ms Turnbull said.
“Most people want to make the most of every drop, and Jerry is the expert on rainwater catchment systems and urban biodiversity.
“This is a great opportunity for all of us to benefit from his knowledge and experience,” she said.
Best known as a presenter on ABC TV’s Gardening Australia, Jerry will deliver his engaging talk, Whole of Site Water Saving – Making Every Drop Count, across a series of events in Walcha, Uralla, Armidale and Guyra.
Drawing on more than two decades of experience designing and managing sustainable gardens, Jerry will demonstrate how a Whole of Site Water Management Plan can help households and small landholders capture, recycle, and reuse water efficiently.
His own Brisbane property is a model of water-smart design – every drop is harvested, treated, and reused to grow more than two hundred kinds of productive plants.
The presentation covers key strategies, including rainwater harvesting and storage; recycling and reusing wastewater on-site.
Also covered is land drainage and stormwater infiltration systems, and building compost-rich soils that absorb and retain moisture.
Designing permeable surfaces and sustainable lawns will also be discussed.
Southern New England Landcare’s Elizabeth Rosser said Jerry’s knowledge and enthusiasm for practical sustainability make him an engaging and inspiring speaker.
“When the Uralla Rivercare group approached me with the idea to bring Jerry to the New England, I was really excited by the prospect,” Ms Rosser said.
“His approach shows that with the right design, any garden – from backyard plots to small farms – can use water more efficiently”
The events have been made possible through funding from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal and ACEN Australia.
Workshops
Monday, November 24: Banded Bee Farm
Tuesday, November25: Armidale Tree Group’s Woodland Centre
Wednesday, November 26: Uralla Library
Thursday, November 27: Black Mountain Nursery & Guyra Neighbourhood Centre
Friday, November 28: Walcha Community Neighbourhood Centre
Saturday, November 29 (morning): Uralla Rivercare Group community session (open to the public)
Saturday, November 29 (evening): Alternate Root, Uralla
Each session will explore practical ways to save water and utilise in the home garden.
