Contemporary Jewellery
Barbara Nanshe The environmentalist.
Yes I am an artist and I make ethical jewellery, but did you know?
I am an environmentalist. I have training in native plant propagation, identification, ecology and bush regeneration. I was employed by a NFP organisation “Trees In Newcastle” for 15 years to support conservation projects.
I don’t just support groups to do their own work, I also, with the help of my passionate friends and husband, do conservation work on my property, Dragonsland.
I pay my respects to the original elders and people of the Gringai and Wannarua tribes who inhabited this unceded land (between Martins creek and Wallarobba) and who have a deep connection to the land.
Dragonsland is held largely for conservation. I hold no livestock nor do I clear for timber. It is a registered as 'LAND FOR WILDLIFE" property.
Dragonsland is 120 acres and has 7 gullies leading to ephemeral creeks with two large dams at the lowest points. One of the dams was dug and the wall built by a convict team in the 1800s. It is said that some of the team were of Aboriginal decent.
The plant community consists of an Ecologically Endangered Community of plants and associations. It is a particular kind of Dry Rainforest at its most southern limit. This consists of buttressed rainforest tree species and epiphytes. It is in combination with Themeda and Poa grass lands and prickly shrubs and stands of eucalypts. This variety of forest supports a great amount and type of native animal, Particularly birds, of which there are recorded over 300 species, including 3 endangered species. There are also Quolls, Gliders, Snakes, Goannas, Wallabies, Phascogales, Native Mice and Rats, Possums, Echidnas.
Over the 25years of holding Dragonsland we have planted more 5000 native plants for regeneration and suppressed 40 acres of Lantana. I have opened the land for Native animal release and become a member of Wildlife Land Trust
( http://wildlifelandtrust.org.au/index.php/explore/sanctuaries/nsw/795-dragons-land )
My hope is to eventually build a bird sanctuary that can be accessed by the general public for appreciation and education.
There is much work to do to contain the lantana, secure the fences, open the general access road and paths and further support the animals via supporting the plant community.
If you can offer machinery or fencing or materials or labour or $ toward my vision please don’t hesitate to contact me.
0477505332
Please visit my You Tube Channel for more information about me and Dragonsland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTmYTxY1wAI
P.S. During the checkout stage, on my store, you have the option of adding a 10%tip or amount of your choice, if you choose. This will go toward my conservation work on Dragonsland. You will also be supporting my support of other environmental groups. See Below:
I support 12 Animal Protection/Conservationist groups trying to make a difference to the world. See below.
Monthly Donations
Australian Conservation Foundation
Bush Heritage
The Wilderness Society
Port Stephens Koalas
Bob Brown Foundation
RSPCA NSW
Animals Asia
Peta
Greenpeace
Intermittent donations
Trees In Newcastle
Hunter Wildlife Rescue
Bird Life Australia
Support Koala Habitat or support groups who do.