Thank you!

When I came up with the idea of The Flynn Forest for Dan's 60th birthday, I thought we might plant a few dozen trees.

Instead, thanks to the generosity of our family and friends, we'll soon be planting hundreds of native trees here at Dar'ali.

The response has been incredible. What I imagined as a small patch of trees has become something much bigger. Friends, family, neighbours and people we've met through Dar'ali have all contributed. Every donation is a reminder that so many people care about the health of the land and the future of the natural world. Knowing they wanted to be part of this has been incredibly encouraging.

Our farm was cleared for cattle many years ago. Since we've lived here we've spent most of our time learning the land, managing weeds and trying to understand what this place needs. Although there are plenty of trees, many are introduced species or short-lived pioneer trees. There are very few of the large, long-lived native hardwoods that once dominated this landscape.

That's what The Flynn Forest is about.

Over the coming years we'll gradually replace weed trees with native species that belong here. Trees that flower, feed wildlife, provide shade and, one day, develop hollows for birds, possums and gliders. Trees that will still be here long after we're gone. We think they're going to be absolutely beautiful, and we're so excited to watch this part of Dar'ali change over the years.

We're already lucky enough to share Dar'ali with Wonga Pigeons, Brown Cuckoo-Doves, Black Cockatoos, butterflies, native bees, frogs and countless smaller creatures. As licensed wildlife carers, we've also had the privilege of rehabilitating orphaned birds and possums before releasing them back into the bush. Some of the photos below are of the wildlife we share the property with, and some are animals we've cared for on their way back to the wild.

Our Land for Wildlife survey identified several threatened species that occur in this landscape, including the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly, the tusked frog, koalas, the Grey-headed Flying Fox and the endangered Pink Underwing Moth. Restoring native habitat is one small way we can contribute to the health of this wider landscape.

To everyone who has donated a tree or a grove, thank you. You've helped turn an idea into something real, and we can't wait to share what’s next.

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