Judith Nangala Crispin and Ben Willson are the owners of Budyan, a property situated in Manar, approximately 22km northwest of Braidwood, New South Wales. Budyan is mostly untouched, with a lake and three dams, creeks, and bordered by Reedy Creek.
The property spans 16 hectares across multiple plant community types including Grassy Woodlands: Southern Tableland Granites Ribbon Gum Grassy Forest, Southern Tableland Creekflat Ribbon Gum Forest and Dry Sclerophyll Forests (Shrubby sub-formation): Southern Tableland Western Hills Scribbly Gum Forest. The land has been previously used for private enjoyment and owners Judith and Ben intend to create habitat for local wildlife at Budyan by establishing the property as a wildlife sanctuary. Future actions include regeneration of the property’s ecosystems, responsible custodianship in collaboration and with Ngambri/Ngunnawal, cultural fire management and using the property potentially for bird rehabilitation and education.
The property provides habitat for a range of species including wallabies, kangaroos, possums, wombats (Vombatus ursinus), koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), bush rats (Rattus fuscipes), echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus), wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax), sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita), magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen), wild ducks, black cockatoos, fish, yabbies, spiders as well as non-native deer and pigs.
