Inside the old Pony Club shed, you’ll find volunteers from the Yarram Yarram Landcare Network (YYLN) potting up local natives, swapping propagation tips and building something the whole district can be proud of: a community nursery and seed bank.

The project was initiated and is led by Bronwyn Teesdale, with ongoing support from YYLN facilitator Anna Feely.

The nursery began with a $6,000 Wellington Shire Council grant Bronwyn secured in 2024-25. A first propagation workshop – focused on growing local native plants from seed – quickly showed there was strong community appetite to roll up sleeves and get plants in the ground.

With funds to invest in a polytunnel, pots and potting mix, the next step was finding a home base.

YYLN approached Yarram Recreation Reserve President Peter Jenkins, who gave the project an enthusiastic “yes” and helped establish a community hub in the north-west corner of the reserve.

Momentum has since continued.

With support from Victorian Landcare Grants in 2025, the nursery now has new benches, an improved watering system and a neatly fenced growing area. These practical upgrades make weekly volunteering easier and help seedlings thrive.

Together, the group has chalked up several improvements, above and beyond the weekly working bees.

With incredible support behind-the-scenes from YYLN’s chair Julianne Peavey, communications officer Helen Spittle and treasurer Russell Bottom, the journey scaling up from producing just a few thousand plants per year to 27,000 has been a professional one.

While there have been challenges, the overall success of this project is due to the dedication of the group’s volunteers. They share enthusiasm and knowledge to build the enterprise into something the community can be proud of.

Projects like this only work because people show up, week after week.

YYLN thanks every volunteer who has helped sow, prick out, pot up, water and weed. Volunteer time and care is the engine of this nursery.

YYLN also acknowledges the support of Wellington Shire Council, the Victorian Landcare Grants program and Yarram Recreation Reserve for providing a practical base and ongoing encouragement.

What’s next

The group is continuing to build seed-collection skills among volunteers and refine growing systems so more locally sourced plants can be supplied for on-ground projects across the district.

If your group is thinking about starting a similar nursery or seed bank, YYLN is happy to share what has worked (and what hasn’t) along the way.

Get involved

YYLN Community Nursery and Seed Bank meets Tuesdays, 10am – 12pm, at the old Pony Club shed, Yarram Recreation Reserve.