Landholders can achieve all this by encouraging native vegetation on their farms.

Farms with shade trees and shelter belts are more aesthetically appealing and attract a premium over average land values.

A survey conducted in the Central West indicated that farms with good quality native vegetation have a 15 per cent increase on capital value compared to those without.

Crop and pasture productivity is increased by remnant native vegetation and established shelter belts.

Native trees and shrubs provide habitat for birds, lizards and bats, the natural enemies of pasture pests.

Pastures and crops with some tree cover experience less soil moisture loss than those exposed to the full force of the wind.

Cold and heat stress in livestock can significantly reduce farm income by reducing stock fertility, weight gain, wool growth, milk production, and increasing the mortality rate of calves and lambs and the susceptibility of stock to disease.

Watershed Landcare is currently running a Paddock Trees project which aims to enhance areas of highly cleared ecosystems in the Central Tablelands Local Land Services region by increasing the extent of paddock trees and clusters.

We are seeking expressions of interest for funding from landholders in our region to conduct on-ground works to improve linkages between remnant native vegetation on the land they mange. Funding is available for materials or labour for existing vegetation and/or new plantings.

Visit watershedlandcare.com.au/projects and click on the Paddock Tees project. Applications close February 23. Please contact Agness Knapik, Watershed Landcare Coordinator on 0435 055 493.