The nine Bee Friendly Farming Tree grants, ranging from $1,000 and $10,000 were given to farmers and land managers to plant pollinator-friendly trees as part of the Bee Friendly Farming program, which supports farmers and land managers to protect and promote the health of bees and other pollinators on their land. 

The Bee Friendly Farming Tree Grants is run by the Wheen Bee Foundation in conjunction with grant partner One Tree Planted and provides properties with $1 for every tree planted. 

One recipient is Boombera Park Macadamias in Lawrence, New South Wales which will use its grants to plant 10,000 trees to revegetate key areas of the 750ha orchard.  

Boombera Park Farm Operations Manager Liz Childs said the grant will be used to support important revegetation work across the property.  

“Revegetating the property with indigenous shrubs and trees is vital to support and encourage native bee populations and maintain our sustainable cross pollination system,” Ms Childs said. 

The Bee Friendly Farming Tree Grant recipients span a wide range of sectors, including macadamia, livestock, dairy, honey and berries, reflecting the diverse need for pollinators across Australia.  

This is the third edition of the Bee Friendly Farming Tree Grants program, which run by the Wheen Bee Foundation. Foundation CEO Fiona Chambers said each year the Tree Grant program helps grow the impact of the Bee Friendly Farming program and this year is no different.  

“With this round of Tree Grants we welcomed five new Bee Friendly Farming certified properties including Wilandra Farms, the first organic dairy farm certified in the program,” Ms Chambers said.  

Wilandra Farms in Clydebank, Victoria will plant 10,000 pollinator-friendly trees along a shelterbelt to help encourage and support more pollinators.  

“Bee Friendly Farming is not only for pollinator-dependent industries but all properties looking to encourage biodiversity and improve outcomes,” Ms Chambers said.  

Bee Friendly Farming was launched in Australia in 2021 to support farmers and land managers to protect, preserve and promote pollinators. Today, more than 43,400 hectares of farmland is certified across Australia.   

The program is supported by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund. Additional funding has been provided by Flow Hive, Australian Almonds and Equity Trustees, with in-kind support from the National Farmers’ Federation, Rotarians for Bees and SGA.    

Learn more about the Bee Friendly Farming program here, beefriendlyfarming.org.au