Another Wild Journey

Image credit: Bush Heritage Australia

An update on our Eastern Barred Bandicoot Project

The Eastern Barred Bandicoot (Perameles gunnii) is one of Tasmania's most iconic native animals. Declining in numbers because of habitat loss and feral cats, it is an important species as it is a small-sized predator of invertebrates, frogs and lizards in grassy vegetation. It also helps us here at Brady’s manage insect pests in the orchards on our farm The Dales. Tasmania is its last stronghold as the impact of foxes and habitat loss means it is almost extinct on the mainland.

Through the Tasmanian Land Conservancy’s (TLC) Land for Wildlife Program and NRM North, we are working on our bandicoot conservation program. We have had cameras on the property to see what wildlife is around. We have set aside 2.5HA on our property for conservation and have been working on weed management and getting the sites ready for additional plantings to create a good habitat for this fantastic animal. In our existing sites, friends have supported us with our plantings, including two families from Germany. Together with NRM North support, we will build on our work over the next three years and plant 2500 different native plants across our conservation areas to support their habitat.  

Each year, cider makers Chris and Caro Brown and Brady’s Lookout Cider make contributions towards either a conservation project on our farm or other projects around Tasmania (i.e., TLC or the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program). In this way, everyone that purchases our cider is contributing to supporting an important Tasmanian environmental project. 

Over the years, we will look forward to updating you on our progress. When you visit our farm, you can see this work in action. Keep an eye on our social media for an opportunity to visit us and hear more about our sustainability and conservation efforts at the next Farmgate Festival!