90 DONORS, including international support from the USA, have contributed $101,795 in public donations to the purchase of 158 hectares (390 acres) adjacent to the Walker Swamp Restoration Reserve.

The Nature Glenelg Trust (NGT) presently has the land under contract and will match the public funds meaning $203,590 has been raised towards the target.

That, with a recent commitment from the Purryburry Trust and a private donor, now takes all donations up to the target figure of $500,000, with the settlement date of June 30, fast approaching.

NGT signed a contract in April to expand the reserve’s area that is located in the southern Grampians region adjoining the Grampians National Park around 20 kilometres from Dunkeld, slightly closer to Glenthompson, and on the floodplain of the Wannon River.

Expansion of the existing NGT Reserve would protect and restore the area that is home to threatened Manna Gum woodland, habitat for a wide range of birds.

The land is part remnant vegetation and part cleared land that has been farmed since European colonisation.

The cleared portion of area was converted to blue gum plantation in 2005, the same time that Walker Swamp was also planted with blue gums that was subsequently harvested around 2017. After the property was sold mid-2017, the stumps were removed by new owners who converted it back to grazing land.

NGT said the acquisition of this land would provide an exciting woodland restoration opportunity.