Bardwell Park community unites after trees poisoned
Residents in Bardwell Park south of Sydney discovered that some century-old trees were poisoned. Locals came together to assist the trees rejuvenate and help give nature a new lease in life. Darren McErlain spoke with local musician Cameron Hons about his journey, and how he recruited an army to of like-minded people to help save the trees.
Tall trees bring a rich history to any neighbourhood. They provide shade for the elderly, double as natural play equipment for local kids to climb, and they can be safe place for animals and insects to live. Whether the seeds were planted by humankind or germinated by natural means – greenert plays an important part in our loves. As Bardwell Park residents discovered, not everyone feels this way.
Cameron Hons walked into a nearby reserve to find a sight that he described as evil. The vibrant green leaves of a massive Eucalyptus tree had suddenly turned a sickly brown. It wasn't a natural decline, but what has been described locals as "brazen" and "carefully planned" act of environmental vandalism. Several large, healthy native trees in Lambert Reserve on the public land owned by Bayside Council were targeted with precision
“There were three trees that were drilled,” Hons recalled. “But there were two holes in one tree, one hole in another tree, one hole in the root on the ground, and then there were three different more holes in the ground around the trees”. The holes had been filled with herbicide, a calculated attempt to kill off 100-year-old giants that had never been a problem for anyone.
A Guardian for the Green
For Cameron Hons, this wasn't just an attack on nature; it was an attack on his life's work to care for the green park. Hons has been the self-appointed guardian of Lambert Reserve for over 25 years. In 2013, he formalized his passion by founding a Bushcare group that continues to regenerate the area today.
While the motive behind such poisonings is often a selfish desire to "improve" private views or clear land illegally, the impact on the community is devastating. “The tree poisoning just robs the community of its much-needed green space,” Hons said. “Everyone loves the trees around here... people get sad when they see the trees being attacked or vandalised that way”.
Initially, Hons felt the sting of frustration. As a musician known for the "Hons Empire of Music," he found himself taking his anger out on his drum kit. But that anger quickly transformed into action.
In his song, ‘Why did you poison those trees today’, he used his music talents to get his message across to the alleged offenders. The moderate tempo taps into the raw emotions felt by the local residents, and leaves the suspects wondering why they consider the brazen act in the first place. The Hons effect of turning to music to express opinions and address emotions has created a great success in getting his message out there, and raising awareness about the poisoning issues. He simply inspires others to keep a watchful eye over locally public reserves, so that the local community doesn’t have to correct problems introduced by others.
The Community Fights Back
Rather than letting the poison take hold, the Bardwell Park community rallied in a major way. Hons launched a massive awareness campaign, starting with letterbox drops to keep neighbours informed with a very clear message.
“We noticed the trees have been poisoned. We’re not happy about it. This is what we’re doing to help,'” Hons explained. The response was overwhelming. Locals began approaching him, offering support, and even donations of new native trees were offered. A post on a local Facebook group went viral and they received several reactions from residents who shared his outrage.
The "emergency room" for these trees became the reserve itself. For an entire month during the peak of summer heat, Hons and his neighbours were out daily, using hoses and sprinklers to flush the chemicals out of the drill holes and to keep the plants hydrated.
“A couple of my neighbours came out to help us and provide water from their own backyards... A lot of people united to come out and help us,” Hons said.
Policy and Planting: A "No Benefit" Strategy
Bayside Council has taken a hard line against the vandals. Their "no benefit" policy ensures that perpetrators do not get the "view" they were trying to create. Instead of removing the poisoned trees, the council keeps them in place as "habitat trees" for local wildlife, carving out hollows for birds to nest in.
Furthermore, the council’s "two-for-one" policy means that for every one tree poisoned, two new trees of similar size and species are planted. Because three trees were targeted in this incident, the reserve will soon be home to six new, large Eucalyptus trees.
Perhaps the most poetic sign of resilience is the "miracle" seedling Hons found recently. A new Eucalyptus had sprouted from a seed right in the middle of the poison site. Hons has since transplanted it to a safer spot where it is now nearly as tall as he is!
A Call for Harsher Truths
While the community’s spirit is high, Hons believes the current laws are a "slap on the wrist" for environmental criminals. Despite potential fines reaching up to $1 million dollars, he argues that the Government needs to do more.
“I’d like for councils to have more responsibility... and possible jail time if people are caught—more threatened jail time than fines,” he stated. To deter future acts, Hons has installed automated wildlife cameras, and neighbours are following suit with permanent CCTV installations to watch over the reserve.
How to Help
If you want to be part of the regeneration, a community planting day is scheduled for June this year, when the weather is cooler and better for the young saplings.
“It is great that so many people seem to come together in support when something terrible like this happens,” Hons concluded. “One person can destroy a piece of our local history for a better view, but our whole community can stand up to ensure they don’t succeed.”
You can stay up-to-date with the next public planting day on the local Facebook page ‘Bayside Community (NSW).’
You can listen to Cameron Hons song here: and watch an exclusive interview with journalist Darren McErlain on 13/3/26.
