Today, Gillian and Katja interview Melanie Cooper, a landcare coordinator for the Grenfell district in central west New South Wales, who has worked in natural resource management for over 20 years and farms locally. Melanie explains landscape rehydration as making the most of rainfall by holding more water in the landscape to rejuvenate productivity, rehabilitate creeks and gullies, and reduce erosion. She describes a Mulloon Institute introductory field day delivered through the two-year “Over the Fence” project, which uses farmer-to-farmer conversations, field days, bus trips, training, and visual stories to support climate-smart practice change. The workshop drew on methods linked to Peter Andrews and showcased local farmer Alex McAlpine’s rehydration actions. Melanie shares ways to get involved via mullooninstitute.org, welandcare.com.au, e-newsletters, and Central West Local Land Services, and emphasizes Landcare’s inclusive, responsive community network and role bridging urban and rural communities.

Learn More About Landcare: Landcare Australia is a national, independent not-for-profit established in 1989. For over 35 years, it has led community and corporate engagement in environmental conservation and sustainable land management, helping protect Australia’s land, water, soils, plants, animals, and ecosystems.

The organisation supports Landcare groups and partners through funding, on-ground project delivery, capacity-building, and knowledge sharing, while also managing large-scale restoration initiatives like the Landcare CarbonSMART program.

Working alongside a network of 6,000 groups and more than 100,000 volunteers, Landcare Australia strengthens biodiversity, restores landscapes, and builds resilience in food and farming systems. As climate change and environmental challenges intensify, its focus remains on innovation, partnerships, and empowering the next generation—including stronger engagement with First Nations communities.

Links & Resources

Landcare Australia: https://landcareaustralia.org.au/

Find or Register a Group: https://landcareaustralia.org.au/find-a-group/

Learn how to Get Involved with Landcare here: https://youtu.be/3s74Lvmlutk

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00:00 Meet Melanie Cooper

00:41 From Farm to Landcare

02:18 What Is Rehydration

03:20 Over the Fence Project

04:41 Roots in Peter Andrews

06:28 Field Day Takeaways

09:12 How to Get Involved

12:40 Bridging Town and Farm

15:08 Why Landcare Matters

17:37 Final Invitation and Thanks