Biodiversity Corridors
Rugby Station has had an on-going commitment to care for the land for over 80 years and has defined a Biodiversity Plan.
Our Commitment
Each year a program has been implemented to increase the next generation of trees and increase the resilience of the land to overcome climate change.
We have an on-going plan to support biodiversity, as we see it as the key to enabling nature to adapt to rising temperatures, falling rainfall and increasing frosts. The following work has been carried out and is now firmly established.
Planting of Tree Corridors
Thousands of trees and bushes have been planted, many in fenced off areas, to link up and add to the 15 km of biodiversity corridors. We have many trees that are hundreds of years old and these plantings help to keep them healthy.
Building a Humus Layer
Multiple species of perennial grasses that actively grow throughout the year, with their differing roots types and depths, support an increased soil microbiology. The residue from this microbiology becomes humus which increases carbon in our soils. This nutrient-rich soil supports both below and above ground biodiversity.
Developing Top Soil
By establishing perennial pastures and retaining
100% ground cover we produce a mulch layer that
becomes top soil. This retained mulch assists our
soils in many ways including rainfall penetrability,
nutrient cycling and is a home for soil biodiversity.
Creating Habitats for Native Fauna
Working with specialists in habitat rehabilitation, we have fenced off some grazing country to create linked corridors of native tree and bush species. This ‘network of highways’, allows movement enabling native birds, reptiles, marsupials and monotremes to live happily alongside our grazing operation.
