Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare (CHRL) is proud to be part of the North Coast Regional Native Seed Bank Project, a collaborative initiative helping to secure the future supply of locally sourced native plants for restoration projects across the region.

Led by the North Coast Regional Landcare Network (NCRLN) in partnership with North Coast Local Land Services and the Friends of the Coffs Harbour Botanic Garden, the project brings together organisations from across the North Coast to collect, store and share native seed, while building regional knowledge and skills in seed collection and management.

A target list of 104 local native plant species has been developed based on their suitability for restoration projects and seed storage. Seed collection is carried out through five regional hubs located at Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare, Macleay Landcare, Clarence Landcare, Tweed Landcare and Border Ranges Richmond Valley Landcare.

The Coffs Harbour Hub is a partnership between Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare, the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden, and Envite Environment. Funding has been used to establish and train a dedicated volunteer seed collection team and purchase specialised equipment to support best-practice seed collection and processing. Envite Environment also provides valuable support by coordinating field-based seed collection activities and supervising volunteers.

Once collected, seed is sent to the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden Seed Bank, where it is catalogued, tested for viability and stored under controlled conditions until required for restoration projects.

By building regional capacity in seed collection, storage and exchange, the project is helping to ensure a reliable supply of high-quality, locally sourced native seed. This vital resource will support revegetation, biodiversity conservation, habitat restoration and carbon sequestration projects across the North Coast for years to come.

🌱 Join Our Seed Team! We are always looking for volunteer seed collectors. Roles include:

Seed Collector: join our team on scheduled selection days (currently Fridays) to help gather native seed

Seed Spotter: While out and about in your local bushland keep an eye out for ripening seeds and let our team leader know

Seed Processor: Assist with the cleaning and preparing seed for storage. This is a great sit-down role for anyone who prefers indoor tasks.

Interested? Contact our Landcare coordinator Mel Craig: coordinator@coffslandcare.org.au or 6651 1308.