Mark Ludgate has endless community spirit – from local fundraiser and volunteer to vice president of the local tennis club – he is a busy farmer and landcarer. He enjoys working with animals and especially watching his working dogs perform.
Mark took over the family farm in 2005 determined to reinvigorate and leave the property in a far better place than he found it. His hands-on experience and hard work have shaped his
landcare philosophy - plan ahead, prepare, work with others, listen, and above all ask questions.
Biodiversity wins – Gumbowie has colonies of the rare Pygmy Bluetongue Lizard and keen entomologists have discovered a new species of Butterfly and a moth not thought to inhabit this region.
Land restoration wins – planting over 4000 tube-stock, wallaby grass and saltbush stands the farm is slowly transforming. Improving water retention and building leaky weirs to slow water flow in shallow creeks and helped in reducing soil erosion.
If you happen to be travelling past Gumbowie, you might even spot him keeping the bitumen frontage of the farm (which is a few km!) clear of litter some people through from their car windows.
Share this with a Landcarer in your life.
Mark's Quote "I can sum up the impact I get from adopting Landcare Principles in one word – Satisfaction! I get satisfaction from seeing a seedling evolve into a tree. Satisfaction from addressing erosion issues and benefiting from the results. Satisfaction in improving the general health, habitat & diversity of this parcel of land I have been fortunate enough to care for".
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Millie
[City]
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