Allie Godfrey
A local charity is making meaningful strides in restoring the region’s natural environment, one tree at a time. Reforest Now is dedicated to regenerating the Big Scrub by planting native, endemic species grown from locally collected seeds – ensuring the landscape is restored with the plants that truly belong there.
Working closely with landowners and other organisations, the group focuses on rebuilding ecosystems that have been degraded over time. A key priority is riparian zones – the areas bordering waterways – which are often damaged by clearing or livestock. By replanting these vital corridors, Reforest Now helps improve water quality, stabilise riverbanks, and boost biodiversity across entire landscapes.
Funding for the initiative comes from both online donations and community support at their weekly market stall. Donations go directly into a planting fund, allowing the charity to subsidise tree planting projects. For example, if donations cover 5,000 trees and a landowner wants to plant 2,000, Reforest Now can significantly offset the cost – making restoration more accessible to those who might not otherwise afford it.
At their market stall, visitors can also purchase native food-bearing plants suited to both suburban and rural settings. Offerings include finger limes, native mulberries, Davidson’s plums, and Dianella grasses—plants that not only support biodiversity but also provide edible produce.
Beyond selling plants, the team offers practical advice and on-site assessments for landowners looking to improve the ecological health of their properties.
With a strong foundation in ecological restoration and a passion for the environment, the team at Reforest Now is helping to reconnect the community with the land – and ensuring a healthier, more resilient future for the region.
Find Reforest Now every Friday from 7am to 11am at Mullumbimby Farmers Market.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
