Magic Fronds TreeSchool

Update: our new location in the Jervis Bay region is blissful. It will take some time and lots of effort to start up any new bush play programs here and I will provide details when this develops - but meanwhile, I just wanted to share the beauty of our acreage and our menagerie with you all…

We are moving south and Magic Fronds TreeSchool had the most magical week and a sweet farewell party complete with a fire, marshmallows, ponies, cats, dogs and yes, even our pet python, Jarrah.

Saying goodbye to all the beautiful families and children I have had the privilege of working with over the past few years was so hard - but so perfect, too. What an amazing community of wonderful people, many homeschooling their children in creative and innovative, child-led ways, many welcoming new additions to their young families, travelling, experiencing and sharing Steiner or other educational opportunities with us, and embarking on new adventures far and wide themselves.

I am so grateful to every one of you, and especially for trusting me with your smart, funny and unique little people. Thank you also for the incredible testimonies you are giving me. I have been tearful for days since sharing our last day. Thank you 🙏 thank you all so much # # #

The end of an era as we leave beautiful Heathcote after four amazing years of nature based learning and play.

Winter bush play moments

Drawing what we see walking on Dharawal country in nature (Scribbly gum trees, roots, leaves, wattle, fungi, Gymea lillies, caterpillars…) with a bit of tree hugging 🌳

Any weather outings! 🌧️ ☀️ The rain came down all week but we made the most of it, especially the bouts of sunshine, to go exploring, taking our four-legged friends with us. The creek was full of delightful miniature waterfalls and the children enjoyed measuring water depth with sticks and observing the other changes caused by weather. A stop in a bushland playground added to the fun!

Worm and tadpole adventures 🪱 🍂 💦 🌳

Bush play adventures on a perfect winters day… finding worms, climbing rocky outcrops, making discoveries, talking and sharing ideas, exploring and being curious about our environment, as we connected with nature.

A day of exploring our local creek and natural reserves with hobby horses and the mini ponies tagging along for some real life demonstration on equine behaviour. Such a fun day enjoying the changing season 🍃 🌳

This is very sad and needs a lot more awareness. Not just because I’m an animal lover, but because it’s wrong.

The natural world always was and is self sustaining. Humans interfere with the natural order by cutting down trees ruthlessly, creating vast areas of farmland, over-fishing and destroying natural habitats.

Animals have rights too. There are better ways to manage ‘pests’ than killing them in large numbers.

First Nations people never had these problems because everything was done on a small scale, respectful of the natural environment and a belief in the connectedness of all living things and the natural world.

We can do better than eradication. It’s not the answer. What do you think?

FERAL. INVASIVE. PEST. WILD.

These are the four most powerful words in the Australian language. Why?

Once an animal is labelled ‘feral’, ‘invasive’, ‘wild’ or a ‘pest’, their life becomes easier to take. Their ability to suffer is easier to ignore.

Right now, shooters in helicopters are hunting down and decimating family groups of brumbies in Mt Kosciuszko National Park. Over 3,000 Eastern Grey kangaroos will be shot in nature reserves around the ACT. Dingoes matter so little in this state, their death isn’t even counted, and they are the only native animal not covered under the Biodiversity Conservation Act. But to give you an idea, in the financial year of 2023 – 2024, 602 dingoes were killed by NSW Government employees or contractors. After recent shark attacks, there are now calls to cull sharks.

Under the Licence to Harm scheme where farmers and property owners can apply online to kill protected animals that are damaging their property or taking food away from their livestock, the death-count is harrowing. In 2025, licences were issued to kill more than 296,000 Eastern Grey Kangaroos. Take out the number of kangaroos killed, in 2025, landholders including in Sydney, were given permission to kill around 45,748 native animals including wombats and cockatoos. That’s in one year! Just in NSW!

When we call animals ‘pests’, ‘feral’, ‘wild’ or ‘invasive’, we risk forgetting that they are sentient beings capable of fear, pain, stress and suffering. These labels can make killing seem not only acceptable, but inevitable.

And then there is the word ‘cull’.

‘Cull’ sanitises what is really happening. Animals are killed. Families are separated. Mothers are shot in front of their young. Or vice versa. Some die instantly. Others do not.

Australia prides itself on innovation, compassion and world-leading expertise. Yet when animals become inconvenient, too often our first and only response is to reach for the gun.

Most people understand that wildlife populations and ecosystems need to be managed. But management should not automatically mean eradication.

It is time for governments to invest in humane alternatives, including fertility control, rehoming, sanctuaries, habitat protection and community-led solutions. We need to stop treating mass killing as the default answer. We need to find humane solutios that don’t come with a bullet and a gun.

What you can do:

Learn about the issue from a range of credible sources. You can start with the AJP campaigns - https://nsw.animaljusticeparty.org/our_campaigns

Sign petitions calling for humane wildlife management.

Sign the Legislative Council epetition to stop the brumby cull (note: this is not the Legislative Assembly petition which gained more than 20,000 signatures and is now scheduled for debate) https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lc/pages/epetition-details.aspx?q=TlO0ZJfwXUg4GigqdinRYg

Write a submission to the Inquiry into Dingoes in National Parks https://nsw.animaljusticeparty.org/dingo-submission-guide

Write to your local State MP.

Write to Penny Sharpe, Minister for the Environment https://www.nsw.gov.au/nsw-government/ministers/minister-environment-heritage

Write to Premier Chris Minns. https://www.nsw.gov.au/nsw-government/premier-of-nsw/contact-premier

Talk to family and friends about the impact of culling and wildlife management in NSW.

Support the individuals and animal sanctuaries, shelters and rehomers. Even commenting on their social media posts that you support them helps.

Become a member of the Animal Justice Party (NSW). Remember, you can’t speak up for animals if you’re not even in the room. https://nsw.animaljusticeparty.org/