Natural passion - sounds great doesn’t it?

It’s the title of a 50 page booklet published by Land and Water Australia about people, many of them farmers, who have made a huge difference to the natural world around them.

The book’s subtitle is Inspiring stories of practical sustainability and there are 35 stories.

What they all have in common is long term dedication to improving the environment.

Western Victorian farmer John Fenton started planting trees in 1956 on his bare, windswept property which is now a lush oasis of rich pastureland, shelterbelts, agroforestry plantations, and wetlands.

Once dismissed as a crackpot, he is now recognised as decades ahead of his time.

Macquarie Marshes farmer Eric Fisher has been lobbying since 1967 to protect the marshlands after construction of the Burrendong Dam significantly reduced flows in the Macquarie river system and threatened the marshes’ existence.

Former beekeeper Keith Bradby was part of the movement that stopped the WA government clearing 3 million hectares of marginal land for agriculture in 1979.

He has since devoted his life to helping farmers establish perennial grazing systems and native plant enterprises, and has helped establish Bush Brokers and Bush Bank to attract private funding for bushland conservation on agricultural land.

The 1983 drought changed John Weatherstone’s approach to farming. He noticed that roadside grass that hadn’t been grazed was catching soil being blown from his pare paddocks, so vowed his paddocks would never be bare again.

He has since planted more than 100,000 trees and perennial pastures, manages stocking rates to build up organic matter, and runs a commercial tree and native seed business.

Queensland grazier Hugo Spooner destocked after the 1986 drought with the intention of re-establishing the herd when the rain came, only to find that the country improved so dramatically with fewer stock that his cattle productivity actually rose.

A quarter of his country is now a declared nature refuge, and eight kilometres of creek is fenced off with ‘incredible’ improvement in the creek banks and water quality.

As well as farmers, Natural Passion features Landcarers, catchment managers, conservationists, community gardens, and wetland restorers.

If you’d like a copy you can order one from CanPrint Communications on 1800 7766 16 or download it from the Land and Water website at www.lwa.gov.au/News_and_Events/News_Stories/Natural_Passion/indexdl_5725.aspx