Robyn Lewis is the current custodian of Milford, a property situated in Cambridge, approximately 20km east of Hobart, Tasmania. The property contains two dedicated wildlife sanctuaries, also used for education and eco-tourism. Robyn is currently managing an Aboriginal training and education program on the property and is developing a tourism site. The property is additionally registered with Land for Wildlife. Robyn aims to improve habitat protection on Milford by establishing it as a Private Nature Reserve and is also interested in gaining Federal protection for the land.
Milford spans 120 hectares, with over two-thirds of the property managed for conservation by the Lewis family since 1829. 40 hectares of the property comprises Milford Forest, the most biodiverse habitat in southern Tasmania, which supports many threatened species including two orchids which are endemic to Milford. The property also features 2km of conserved beach and littoral zone as well as a conserved wetland.
Vegetation is generally characterised as remnant old-growth white gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) woodland and coastal vegetation, which is State-listed. Two Critically Endangered orchids and several other Federally-listed species occur on the property.
Milford provides habitat for a wide range of wildlife including Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii), spotted-tailed quolls (Dasyurus maculatus), echidnas, bandicoots, rare insects and over 50 bird species including Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax fleayi) and masked owls (Tyto novaehollandiae). The woodlands also provide important nesting sites for many native birds in the region including masked owls, and wedge-tailed eagles are often seen courting or hunting in the forest sanctuary.
Please contact Robyn via the Milford Forest Facebook Group or via LinkedIn for more information.
Photos: Rosella – Garth Smith; Forest – Phillip England; Flower – Malcolm Wells; Bandicoot – Geoff Curry; Orchids – Geoff Curry; Grasslands – Garth Smith; Leek-orchid – Geoff Curry
