Z-NET Uralla Update – what we have been doing in 2019

2 students from Uralla Central School doing a water infiltration experiment with one of our executive members.
Uralla Central School students took part in experiments on water infiltration, solar power and impact of insulation.
Members of the community getting together to make curtains.
Our ever popular curtain making workshop in action.
Volunteer manning the street stall
Our street stall was very successful because of the wonderful contributions from our members.

Time for an update on some of our ZNET activities.
We have completed our second year for The Elephant in the Woodland project (NSW Environmental Trust Grant) on sustainable firewood. Even given the drought, we were able to work with landholders to undertake another seven biodiversity assessments looking at the importance of dead wood in the environment. Over 30 people in our community joined ZNET members to learn about sustainable firewood collection and how to assess the health of our beautiful woodland ecosystems. And landholders are using the biodiversity assessments to help set up reserves and plan their tree management.
We now have three supply chains for sustainable firewood and the community has a growing awareness and appreciation of the importance of using sustainable firewood. Six more our homes have benefited from a free detailed Home Energy, while 22 households have sought information from Trish at the Library ZNET pop-up desk. Actions taken in homes have not only keep more heat in during winter but also some of that severe heat out over summer.
The ZNET Curtain Making workshops continue to pull the crowds – lots of fun, great curtains and conversation shared on a Saturday afternoon. The free curtain backing provided by ZNET is a great bonus for making high thermal performance curtains and blinds. And we have had a super year working with Uralla schools to bring woodland health and sustainable energy into the classroom, and the students out into the paddock!
In our final year we will revisit the first biodiversity sites to see how they are faring. This means some wonderful opportunities to get out in nature for a fun and relaxing break. If you would like to join us Trish will be putting out a call to volunteers in the next few weeks. It will be so nice to get out and see the regeneration after the rain.
Remember you can call in to the Library on a Thursday 2-4pm to talk to Trish about solar, electricity bills, firewood, koalas, home energy reviews, water saving tips…….. Or email
projects(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)zneturalla.org.au or phone 0411 804 627.

Sandra and Landholder plus volunteers at biodiversity site getting training on the checking for change process.
Sandra instructing on the 'Checking for Change' process at Miramoona.
Dave Carr teaching wood collectors and landholders how to collect wood sustainably at Lana Station.
Z-NET Uralla's first sustainable wood collection workshop at Lana Station.
Students from St Josephs primary in Uralla taking part in the annual Birds Australia bird count.
Students from St Josephs taking part in the Birds Australia annual bird count.