26.08.2022 | Running for Good
Aug 26, 2022 1:06 am
We protect what we love
FRIDAY . 26. 08. 22 .
Good morning Folks!
It’s been another action-packed week here at FWP HQ! We were excited to finally see the Project: Run Forever film, which captured the epic 30+ hour effort from Tom Batrouney, who ran 14 laps of Manly Dam back in April. It was great to be a part of the film premiere at Seabin’s Business for Good event in Naarm/Melbourne last week, and we’re excited to be showing it on the big screen at Wonderland Run in Gariwerd this Saturday night. I got a sneak peek at Melbourne's screening tonight, and am more inspired than ever to get lost on the trails 🙂 🏃🏼♀️
In this week’s newsletter, we’re excited to bring you some trail running specific First Aid courses in Victoria, share our rehabilitation partnership with Rapid Ascent at the Margaret River Ultra and get an overdue 30/100 update from the incredible and always active Elle.
Grab a cuppa, sit back, and take in all the updates from the team here at FWP. With spring around the corner, we feel this is just the start of the adventures that await!
PLANTING TREES INSTEAD OF ACCUMULATING RACE TEES
Revegitating the dunes of Myalup
Planting Beach Spinifex seedlings at Myalup Beach, WA
In September 2021, FWP teamed up with Rapid Ascent to offer runners in the Margaret River Ultra the option to forgo a race tee-shirt, and instead donate $10 towards a vegetation rehabilitation project. Fast forward to the event in May 2022, and 320 runners, roughly 25% of the field, opted to plant it forward.
We worked with a local WA organisation, Trees Australia run by Bruce Ivers, to determine a local revegetation project that these funds could support. Since 2018, Bruce has been working with local schools to revegetate sand dunes in Myalup on Noongar country, 40km north of Bunbury on WA’s southwest coast. In this time, 841 students have planted 56,768 seedlings. This is a long-term project, covering 900 meters of beach frontage over 40 hectares of public land owned by the local shire.
With the funds contributed by runners, Bruce was able to purchase 1,812 Beach Spinifex (Spinifex longifolius) seedlings, that were planted in early June by students from nearby schools, with just under 10,000 seedlings being planted over two days. The spinifex plants are used to stabilize dunes and prevent sand from shifting and being swept away, as well as providing habitat for small sand loving critters.
Year 6 students from Crescent P.S after a very productive day!
It was incredibly rewarding to see an area local to the Margaret River Ultra benefit from this initiative and to know that there are 320 fewer race tee-shirts in the world. Here at FWP we understand that gear is part of our lifestyle, but encourage ourselves, and others, to just buy what we need and look after it to ensure we can use it for as long as possible. Whilst race tee-shirts have a special place in many runners’ hearts, they should only go to those that will actually utilize them. We’d love to roll out this opt-out program to other sporting events, and team up with other great enviro groups to revegetate wild places across Australia. If you’re interested, please reach out and let’s work together to put living things into the earth, rather than unwanted gear into landfill.
🌱 🌊 🌱
TRAIL FIRST AID COURSES
Let's be safe out on the trails
We are excited to be partnering with Survive First Aid to organise two ‘Trail First Aid’ courses, on the Mornington Peninsula. We love spending time out in wild places, but we want to do it safely, to not only protect ourselves but those we share these experiences with. One of the best things about trail running is the minimalist aspect - no heavy packs, lightweight gear and only the essentials. But what does that mean when something goes wrong?
In this trail-specific session, the experienced team at Survive First Aid will take us out on trails, and show us how to use what is on hand to treat common trail mishaps and injuries. As well as giving advice on what essential First Aid items we should take out on the trails with us.
Join us on Saturday 8th October, from 9.00am – 4.30pm, leaving from Arthurs Seat. The course will take place along the 2 Bays trail and is $170 per person, and numbers are limited. Click the link below for more info and pre-register.
TRAIL CHAT WITH MATT & GILES FROM TAKAYNA 655
Join us for tales from the AAWT
Join us next Wednesday 31st August as we catch up with Matt Gore and Giles Penfold from Takayna 655 for Trail Chat #4. In November 2021, Matt and Giles set off from Walhalla, at the southern end of the 655km Australian Alpine Walking Track, with the plan to traverse the 655km trail from south to north. Over 16 days, they fast-packed the rugged, remote and iconic trails of the Main Range, to raise funds and awareness for the beautiful and precious old-growth forests of takayna/Tarkine.
Tune in at 7.30pm AEST as we chat to Matt and Giles to hear all about their adventure on the AAWT, and what they’ve been up to since. We recommend checking out their Instagram, or going through the archives to our 28/01/2022 newsletter to relive the challenges and incredible wild places they experienced along the way. We're sure they'll have plenty of wisdom and tales to share!
Week 15: Back-to-back days of cycling in Wiradjuri country (Bathurst and surrounds)
Early winter mornings in Berwongle, just outside of Bathurst, Wiradjuri country 🥶
My apologies for being a little bit MIA with the “30 weeks to 100 miles” initiative - whilst the training has still been happening, I’ve been a little bit busy juggling a couple of freelance jobs (in addition to my 9-5 role). From now on, 30/100 will only appear in some Friday newsletters.
I spent last weekend in Wiradjuri country, Bathurst, completing two big back-to-back days of cycling with a mate. Day 1 saw us cycling through Sunny Corner State Forest, with the irony being that it was overcast, sprinkling light rain and absolutely freezing. Whilst cycling through this area, I heard this massive cracking noise that just echoed and rang through the hills. Looking up from the road, I noticed a “logging operations in this area” fluorescent yellow sign by the side of the road, with huge pine trees in the foreground and bare (logged) brown hills rolling off into the distance. Whilst I wanted to take a photo, I physically couldn’t (body temperature was too low to stop moving and my hands had lost fine motor skills), however the mental image, and roaring noise, is something that will be very hard to erase.
Day 1 elevation profile and key events of the day. Note: magpie swooping season has started early in Bathurst - I was hit both days (and way too tired to pedal any faster to escape the swoop)
As it turns out, much of Sunny Corner State Forest is used for pinewood production by the State Forestry Corporation, and their equipment was everywhere. However, on the drive home, I did notice fields of very young pine trees, that seemed to be replanted in an attempt to regrow logged areas, and I was left wondering if there is such a thing as sustainable logging. This week, I’m focusing my attention on the impact of logging and exploring the concept of sustainable logging.
What is logging?
Logging is the process of cutting down trees and transporting the logs to sawmills for sale as timber or pulp. Timber is used for building homes and furniture, whilst pulp is used to make paper.
Black Bear Logging Pty Ltd operations in Sunny Corner State Forest 😢
The Forestry Corporation of NSW
The Forestry Corporation of NSW is the largest manager of commercial native and plantation forests in NSW and has around 230,000 ha of pine plantations across the state. The Forestry Corporation of NSW produces enough timber to construct a quarter of the homes built in Australia each year and replants/regrows around 40 million seedlings annually (Source)
Three million pine seedling replanting program
The Forestry Corporation of NSW has started its 2022 replanting program, with the aim of three million seedlings to be replanted into 2,400 hectares of Bathurst pine plantations which have been previously harvested.
This planting program is a vital part of the organisation’s operations, and seeks to:
- Support regional employment and economies, as the program engages multiple small businesses and contracted planting staff
- Rebuild plantations previously harvested for timber
- Create a ‘forestry cycle’, which means that for “every tree we harvest to supply renewable timber, we need to plant another to take its place” - Mike Freeman, Forestry Corporations Silviculture Manager.
More Black Bear Logging Pty Ltd operations in Sunny Corner State Forest 😢
What is sustainable timber?
Sustainable timber necessitates that when one tree is cut down to be used, another is planted to replace it.
To me, this falls short of sustainability. I mean, sure, it’s great that the trees are being replaced. However, this does not mitigate other impacts of logging, such as the fossil fuel intensive process, the machinery, destruction to native flora and fauna, noise pollution of trucks entering and exiting logged areas (the list can go on).
I understand that timber is an essential commodity, and i’m not naive enough to believe that I haven’t used my fair share of timber (i rent, own a home, have timber furnishings etc.), but surely there is a way to harvest timber that is more sustainable than a “log one, plant one” program?
Logged areas in Sunny Corner State Forest. Source.
Sustainable forests
Sustainable forestry is more than just replacing trees as they are harvested. It involves ensuring there is no ecological damage to the surrounding environment. Australia has three different forestry certification schemes that aid users of wood and wood products in knowing the source of the wood they are using. I highly recommend checking out their website - knowledge is power and, now that I have witnessed first hand the destruction of logged forests, I’m going to commit to making a more conscious effort of being an educated consumer of timber products moving forward.
🌲 🌲 🌲
That’s all from us, today folks! With lots coming up on the calender, scroll down for upcoming events where you can catch FWP in the flesh. We are really excited to put a face to the names and Strava accounts, so be sure to come say hey, wherever you spot us in our trademark blue FWP tees!
Until next week, take it easy, enjoy the final days of winter and play safe out on the trails. And, as always, thank you for taking the time to support wild places!
Hilary, Elanor & the For Wild Places team
UPCOMING EVENTS
27/08 Run Nation Film Screening @ Wonderland Run | event info
04/09 TRS Plenty Gorge | event info
08/10 Trail First Aid Course, Arthurs Seat | register
16/10 TRS Silvan | event info
11/02 Trail First Aid Course, Arthurs Seat | register
We acknowledge the the First Nations people who have been custodians of land, waters and culture for tens of thousands of years. We pay respects to First Nations Elders past, present and emerging.
This email was compiled on Gadigal lands. To these people, we pay our respects.
Always was, always will be.
