Australian couple restores 40-acre vineyard to native bush to aid parrots
Tony and Cherie Townsend replanted their Riverland property with native species to create a refuge for the threatened regent parrot.
An Australian couple, Tony and Cherie Townsend, began transforming their 40-acre vineyard at Murtho in 2022 into native vegetation, according to a Times of India report. The property is located along the River Murray in the Riverland region of South Australia.
The restoration project aims to create a refuge for the threatened regent parrot, a bird whose population has suffered from habitat loss. The property was identified as a suitable location because it sits along the natural movement routes of the birds.
The Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board reported that the three-year project covered approximately 14 hectares of former vineyard land. The final phase, completed in 2026, involved planting more than 3,000 native seedlings to establish food and shelter for wildlife.
The project has become a family effort involving four generations of the Townsend family. Other contributors include local school students, youth council members, Aboriginal corporation rangers, and conservation staff.
The regent parrot is listed as vulnerable nationally, with fewer than 400 breeding pairs estimated to remain in South Australia. Major threats to the species include habitat destruction, loss of nesting trees, and declining food sources.
While the Townsends gave up potential income from the vineyard, the restored land is intended to support native wildlife. The project serves as an example of how private agricultural land can contribute to biodiversity recovery.