In 2024-2025 Weddin Landcare developed the Weddin Wattle Trails – a series of self-drive routes in the Weddin Shire that showcase the many, varied species of wattle in the local district. A field guide, title ‘Weddin Wattles – A local guide‘ was also developed to accompany the trails, which provides general information about wattles and describes the thirty-three local species of wattle.
Click on the maps below to download a copy.Â
About the project
Wattles have been celebrated in the Weddin Shire through annual Wattle Day events since 2010, when former Senior Threatened Species Officer, Rainer Rehwinkle, initiated our inaugural event.
Over the years, these events have educated and inspired hundreds of participants but Weddin Landcare wanted to do more to promote our local wattles, especially the diversity of our local species, their amazing qualities and benefits for both our natural and agricultural landscape as well as the critical need to conserve and enhance the small remnants we have left.
The idea of a field guide on local wattles has been on the ‘wish list’ for members of Weddin Landcare for quite a few years now, particularly for one of our dedicated volunteers, Mikla Lewis, who has been the instigator for many of our Wattle Day activities to date. Following the success of the bird trails and canola trails in the Weddin Shire, it seemed logical we should also have some Wattle trails!
With the employment of two part-time Landcare Coordinators and the enthusiasm of volunteers, Weddin Landcare saw the opportunity to pursue the dream!
Local Landcare Coordinator, Claire Diprose, and Mikla Lewis, a volunteer for Weddin Landcare, took up the challenge and for over a year they poured many, many hours of work into the development of the field guide and trails – wattling their way (as we say) around the Weddin Shire to locate, map and describe the thirty-three species of wattle that occur locally.
This experience provided them with many ‘wow’ moments when the beauty of wattles shone through but there were also moments of sad realisation that in this agricultural landscape, remnants of once widespread woodlands and forests are now mainly consigned to narrow roadside verges, with very few wattles beyond. The journey certainly highlighted the need for the project, with many of our plants and vegetation communities under threat.
Together, Claire and Mikla compiled the information and photographs for the book and developed and mapped the trails. Claire put her talents in design to the book and pulled it all together into what is now a fantastic local, educational resource.
The Weddin Wattle Trails and Field Guide were officially launched on Friday 22nd August 2025. Read more about the launch here.
Where to buy
Weddin Wattles – A Local Guide can be purchased for $10 from
- Weddin Community Native Nursery, 43 East St, Grenfell
- Grenfell Visitor Information Centre, 88 Main St, Grenfell
- Boundpages Bookstore, 47 Main St, Grenfell
Thank yous
Thank you to the many people have helped and supported the development of the Wattle Trails and field guide.
- Claire Diprose
- Mikla Lewis.
- Weddin Landcare Steering Committee
- Weddin Community Native Nursery
- Central West Region Landcare
- Landcare NSW
- NSW Landcare Enabling Program
- NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust
- Weddin Shire Council
- Weddin Mountains Region Tourism Team
- Dr. Suzette Searle
- Wattle Day Association Committee and members
- Rainer Rehwinkle
- Dr. Phillip Kodela
- Jenn Graham
The Weddin Wattle trails and book have been made possible through volunteer efforts and funding from the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust and the NSW Landcare Enabling Program, a collaboration between Local Land Services and Landcare NSW, supported by the NSW Government.
