Wildlife Land Trust / Sanctuaries / NSW / Picket Hill Gardens

Virginia Littlejohn is the owner of Picket Hill Gardens, a property situated in Valla, approximately 40km south of Coffs Harbour, New South Wales. The property is a residence, wildlife sanctuary and bush regeneration site, with some small areas used for horticulture.

Virginia is currently revegetating the property and actively working to preserve surrounding old-growth forest with local groups such as the Gumbaynggirr Conservation Group and Newry Native Forest Blockade. The property is registered with Land for Wildlife, and revegetation work has been facilitated by the Biodiversity Conservation Trust. In the future, Virginia wishes to establish koala habitat over 10 hectares of the property, in support of the Great Koala Park plan.

Picket Hill Gardens spans 19 hectares and backs on to the Newry State Forest. The land was previously a banana and avocado farm and is currently undergoing regeneration. Vegetation is comprised of coastal rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest and eucalypt woodland.

An abundance of wildlife is present on the property including dingoes (Canis dingo), short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus), lace monitors (Varanus varius), antechinuses, bats, native rats and butterflies. The property is also home to a wide range of birdlife including wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax), white-bellied sea eagles (Haliaeetus leucogaster) and parrots.