On the 19 February 2012 our visit to Richard Appleton's property near Balook rewarded the 10 participants with an exclusive insight into the re-vegetation and restoration work Richard has undertaking on his 104 acre property. Large areas once covered with 3 metre high blackberries, the paddock his father used to harvest potatoes and areas left bare from past tree felling are now covered with indigenous trees and understory plants with no sign of the blackberries and the previous usage of the area. The property includes 2 delightful rain forest areas which Richard has rescued by his strenuous efforts. The property is a true credit to Richard for the amount of effort, time and expense he has put into the property and of which he is rightly proud. Photographs below show some of the wonders we came across. Photographs by Kaye Proudley.

The butt of an Mountain Ash which survived the loggers saw due to its upper branches configuration rendering the tree unsuitable for logging.

Believe it or not this is the trunk of a Blackwood tree which comes up out of the ground, grows horizontally, goes back to the ground then eventually finds its way up again! Supporting moss and ferns.

Another Mountain Ash which has a hollow in its base large enough for an adult person to stand in albeit the bottom is about a metre below ground!

A young Tiger Snake. One of two encountered on route.

The butt of a Mountain Ash which has been harvested. The notches seen in the side were cut to hold planks on which the woodmen stood to saw and cut (axe) through the tree. Sectional dimension about 3 metres

The Gang. L to R: Gus, Richard, Lin, John, Kath, Dallas and Margaret with Kaye behind the camera. 3 other late comers did not make it into the shot!

Hard Water Fern ( Blechnum wattsii) as seen in the rain forest areas.

Gippsland Burrowing Crayfish holes are plentiful on Richard's property.