The Tasmanian Land Conservancy (TLC) has announced a campaign to protect a spectacular piece of land on the east coast, Kelvedon Hills.
Bounded by rivers and building connections across the landscape, Kelvedon Hills is a property of size and substance according to the TLC.
“Protecting a property like this makes a real difference,” said James Hattam, CEO Tasmanian Land Conservancy.
“With habitat that can support 40 rare and threatened species, climate refugia and connectivity to other protected areas, Kelvedon Hills could become a future keystone of conservation in Tasmania.”
Anna & Jack Cotton. Image courtesy Eddie Safarik.
Just south of Swansea on Tasmania’s east coast, Kelvedon Hills’ 1,300 hectares lies between the Meredith and Stoney rivers. As a reserve, Kelvedon Hills will take its place among 3,500 ha of contiguous private reserves in this landscape, creating a critical corridor of protected areas along the east coast.
Fundraising to protect this property forever has already begun. The Cotton family, owners of Kelvedon Hills, have agreed to sell to the TLC, who now need to raise the funds to purchase and protected the area as a reserve.
Kelvedon Hills is part of the 5,000 ha Kelvedon Estate, which has been in the Cotton family for generations. Initially the site of Hereford studs and superfine merino wool growing, in 1998 the property diversified into cool-climate viticulture, with the Cottons planting one hectare of pinot grapes that became the foundation of the Kelvedon Estate Label.
“As custodians of Kelvedon we are delighted to be involved with the TLC and the Kelvedon Hills project,” said Jack and Anna Cotton of Kelvedon Estate. “This is a particularly scenic and special site, encompassing the Meredith River, and its future prosperity is best ensured under management by the TLC.”
TLC describe Kelvedon Hills is an important area for the ongoing protection of woodland bird communities. Many species are reliant on these habitats, which have declined by up to 80% across south-eastern Australia. Flame and scarlet robins, spotted quail-thrush, painted button quail and dusky woodswallow, along with endemic birds, rely on the open eucalypt woodlands of Kelvedon Hills and surrounding landscape.
“Woodland bird communities have declined dramatically across south-eastern Australia,” said Dr Alex Kutt, Tasmanian Land Conservancy Conservation Science & Planning Manager. “Protecting large tracts of habitat, such as Kelvedon Hills, is the only means of preventing the continued loss of our precious woodland birds.”
TLC staff at the site of the proposed reserve. Image courtesy Eddie Safarik.
The grassy woodlands are also home to a healthy population of Forester kangaroos, an animal rarely seen in Tasmania and reduced to less than 15% of its range at the time of European settlement. Masked owls, swift parrots, wedge-tailed and white-bellied sea eagles, Tasmanian devils and spotted-tailed and eastern quolls also occur across the property.
The money raised by the fundraising campaign will not only cover the purchase price but be used to monitor and manage the property for conservation in perpetuity.
Donations, up to the total value of $1 million, are being matched by the Elsie Cameron Foundation, dollar for dollar.
To find out more about the reserve and the species it protects, and to download photos and maps of the reserve, visit tasland.org.au/reserves/kelvedon-hills.
Kelvedon Hills. Image courtesy Andy Townsend.
