For the first time farmers and city folk, including chefs, are coming together to talk about one of Australia’s most heated agricultural topics; land clearing. 

Film makers from Bluebottle Films were in Orange this week filming a grassroots documentary called Restoring Earth, which will feature wine growers from Orange and Mudgee.

The aim of the documentary is to help farmers, conservationists and city consumers find common ground.

The documentary will also bring to light the current conflict over the old native vegetation laws and the NSW government’s plan to transition to a new draft bill, the Biodiversity Conservation Act, which is likely to allow for a return to broad scale land clearing across NSW. 

Ayla Wilton from Tamburlaine Organic Wines, based in Orange and the Hunter Valley, says it is important farmers speak up to ensure broad scale land clearing does not occur when it comes to farming, and that they share their positive experiences when it comes farming within and near native ecosystems.

“It is possible to move away from the historical practice of broad scale land clearing,” Ms Wilton said.

“Over the past 30 years, Tamburlaine has been constantly evolving its farming practices, while experimenting with and reviewing way of working in harmony with the native ecosystem.”

The filmmakers have already travelled to places in northern NSW showcasing various stories where farmers embrace a deeper understanding of the native ecosystem. 

Josh Gilbert, the former chair of the NSW Farmers Association Young Farmer Council, believes the NSW government’s reforms need to better consider the potential value of native vegetation when it comes to modern farming practices, climate change mitigation and the broader environment. 

Restoring Earth will screened in Orange when the documentary is completed, a date and venue is yet to be decided.