Who we are;
Elise is an experienced program manager with over 20 years of projects across transformation, regulatory compliance and general project deliveries. Member of Coffs Harbour Landcare and Karangi Landcare since 2023
Ivan’s background is in IT Engineering, with decades of experience delivering operational and project work for private and public companies. He reforests Lothlorien of an evening and weekend around his current full time work for TAFE NSW. Member of Karangi Landcare since 2023
Where we are working:
Lothlorien is a 4 hectare property in Karangi overlooking Coffs Harbour, with diverse topography and vegetation types. It is ex Banana plantation (over 30 years ago) and was was also heavily forested historically with giant Tallowwood stumps spread out over the hillsides. Two deep, spring fed creek-lines run on either side of a broad grassed ridge. There are large areas of Remnant Native Vegetation, Regenerating Native Pioneers and opportunities to regenerate Wet Sclerophyll, Grasslands and Rainforest throughout.
Red Hill Reserve is located 500m west of the property with large forest remnants connected to the land, Ulidarra NP is located over the ridgeline approx 600m away on the North.
Lothlorien contains approximately 2.3 hectares of rainforest gully and wet sclerophyll slopes being regenerated, with some pioneers and native regeneration underway. There is also approximately 0.6 hectares of grassland under maintenance and weed removal.
Threatened/Vulnerable Species Present:
- Koalas
- Great Barred Frogs
- Pale Vented Bush Hens
- Land Mullets
What we have done up until now:
Ivan and Elise have been working on Lothlorien since purchasing it in 2015, and this has ramped up in the last 3 years since 2023.
They have opened up all original tracks used during Banana harvesting, clearing weeds and enabling access for the planting of 1100 native trees, shrubs, grasses and vines. This has all been self-funded or donated by friends with the work voluntary.
What our plans are:
- Removal of large areas of invasive weeds – Lantana, Japanese Sunflower, Singapore Daisy, Tobacco weed, Senna etc
- Regenerating rainforest in gully and creek adjacent area, Wet Sclerophyll along slopes. Grasslands across the warmer ridgeline areas.
- Planting a very diverse range of native flora, utilising a spreadsheet of all natives known to exist in Ulidarra and Dorrigo NP’s and species lists provided by Ron Smith and Alex Floyd for the Orara Valley and Red Hill Reserve
- Propagate seeds found and shared through the local Landcare groups
- Connecting Koala habitat on the property to nearby Red Hill Reserve by selectively planting koala feed trees in lines