The quiet achiever of the Mid West

At Eurardy Reserve, resilience blooms as science, culture and community restore wildflower Country.

In the springtime at Eurardy Reserve on Nanda Country in mid-west Western Australia, approximately 145 km north of Geraldton, the heathlands blaze bright with wildflowers. Their heads nod in the breeze like sentinels, welcoming you to this biodiversity hotspot. If good rains have fallen, the wildflower season can stretch until late summer, unfolding in a riot of colour.

The rich diversity of Eurardy’s wildflowers is tied to the legacy of this place. Almost 700 flora species are found here, including the eye-catching Eurardy magenta (Verticordia x eurardyensis), aptly named after Eurardy.

Back in 2005, members of the Western Australian Wildflower Society alerted Bush Heritage Australia to Eurardy’s impending sale. Recognising its ecological value and beauty, we put this to our supporters who also saw our vision and generously allowed us to purchase and protect the former pastoral station for future generations.

Two decades on, thanks to our active management, Eurardy flourishes. Introduced goats have largely been eradicated, while an integrated pest management program has made headway controlling foxes and cats. A greater diversity of birds has been recorded on the reserve, including species like the nationally threatened Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata), Chuditch, or Western Quoll (Dasyurus geoffroii), have also been spotted roaming the landscape.

The improvement of vegetation health is a vital part of Eurardy’s recovery, with ecologists noting an increase in shrub cover and soil crust in the eucalypt woodlands. Previously cleared areas have been given new life through a major revegetation project in partnership with Carbon Positive Australia. Since 2019, more than 800,000 seedlings have been planted across 800 hectares, attracting species such as Australian Bustards (Ardeotis australis), Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), Fat-tailed Dunnarts (Sminthopsis crassicaudata) and Red-capped Robins (Petroica goodenovii).

Acknowledging these past successes is important – as is a clear-eyed understanding of what lies ahead. With regional outlooks showing increased drought vulnerability, Eurardy’s next chapter will depend on building the landscape’s resilience. “The biggest threat to Eurardy’s future is climate change,” says Reserve Manager Ben Lake. “Our vision for Eurardy is to protect its ecological and cultural values,” adds Shelley. “We want to find out more about those and learn how to better protect them, particularly in the face of climate change.”

Evolving and expanding the revegetation project will be essential to ensuring long-term resilience. As Ben says: “We’ve really only scratched the surface on what can be done.” Increasing the diversity of the species being planted is one such example. “Only 10% of the plant species found at Eurardy are in our revegetation,” he explains. “The majority of those are poorly understood. If we learn how to grow them effectively, that would be a breakthrough.”

One way to find out more is through building on Eurardy’s already well-established scientific relationships. Recent projects have explored a wide array of topics from the status of Australian Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) in the wild, to wildflower revegetation strategies and the germination of annual plants.

With increased collaborations on the horizon, there is also hope for upgrades to Eurardy’s infrastructure to accommodate more visitors on site.

The future of this land is deeply tied to the Nanda People who have cared for this Country for millennia. Our ongoing partnership is based on working together the ‘right way’ through openness, honesty, listening and learning. This could look like streamlining processes for access to Country or facilitating more opportunities for Nanda Rangers and Bush Heritage staff to work side by side. Elders have expressed interest in exploring more of the bush foods found on Eurardy, including Quandong (Santalum acuminatum), Sandalwood and native yams or Warrine (Dioscorea hastfolia).

“It’s critical not to rush these things, but for our relationship to evolve over time to ensure that the benefits for Nanda Traditional Custodians can be sustainable and long term,” says Sheree Strauss, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Manager for Bush Heritage in Western Australia. “It’s very much about maintaining that open communication.”

Early last October, a small group including Bush Heritage staff, Nanda Traditional Custodians and volunteers gathered at Eurardy to honour the past 20 years. As raucous squawks of Red-tailed Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus banksii) rang through the air, they shared stories about Eurardy’s ecology, identity, culture and history. Their reflections revealed a deep affection for this reserve that Shelley calls “the quiet achiever”.

“There’s so many people over the years that have fallen in love with Eurardy,” she says. “It’s pulled at people’s heartstrings in a special way.” Among the group, a shared sense of optimism for the future was palpable. “There’s a lot of possibility and opportunity for Eurardy,” Shelley concludes. “It has a huge amount to offer.” •