By Matt Herington and Kendall Messer (originally posted 24/12/25)
As the 2025 year draws to a close, we are grateful to reflect on what has been a big, wonderful and busy year at Forest Farm.
Forest Farm is owned, managed, and the home of the Herington family, three generations living with and working to enhance nature daily.
There are many small moments we celebrate:
Hearing the grunt of a koala high in a eucalypt,
The glimpse of a platypus in the river,
Seeing tawny frogmouths,
Hearing cockoo shrikes (and many more of the 130 species of birds observed at Forest Farm),
Walking past native scrub that was green grassy pasture less than two years ago, and is now more than two metres tall, and knowing that this precious place and all the flora and fauna that call it home are being given the best chance of a healthy future as a result of our protection and restoration works.
But there are also the big events, the milestones in the progress of our regeneration project.
This year, Forest Farm was issued its first ACCUs for the carbon sequestered as we transition approximately 60 hectares of old remnant plantation into permanent native forest. The income from subsequently selling the ACCUs supports Forest Farm to continue our work protecting, restoring and regenerating the diverse remnant ecosystems including riparian zones, forested wetlands and subtropical rainforest protecting rare and endangered plants including the Coolamon (Syzygium moorei), Scrub Turpentine (Rhodamnia rubescens), and Rough-shelled bush nut (Macadamia tetraphylla).
This year was also the first anniversary of Forest Farm’s Accounting for Nature account receiving certification. The Forest Farm certified Accounting for Nature Natural Capital Account measures koala population and the condition of koala habitat according to the standardised and science based Accounting for Nature Native Fauna Koala method.
For more information about Accounting for Nature and Forest Farm, take a look at the Accounting for Nature article about Forest Farm, our information page, and our registration. Forest Farm also completed the survey for its first monitoring report.
In May, we had the opportunity to share Forest Farm and our progress to conference attendees at the Carbon Market Institute (CMI) Carbon Market Industry Forum. While attendees toured Forest Farm, Ben Herington explained the natural value and the regeneration work taking place. Carmel Herington spoke about the involvement of the Herington Family and the opportunities for the Bundjalung Nation communities to connect with this Nyangbul land.
Forest Farm was awarded a funding grant from Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT) to conserve and enhance the environmental value of the bat cave on Forest Farm which provides critical habitat to threatened Little Bentwing bats. The cave habitat is protected by a Permanent Conservation Agreement and the funding will support restoration activities such as weed control and revegetation in the conservation agreement area.
Recently, Carmel Herington has completed the Odonata Academy Saving species: For landholders and farmers course, including two visits to the inspiring Mt Rothwell reserve. We are looking forward to beginning to implement the Species Recovery Action Plan designed for Forest Farm, and continuing to engage with the network fostered through the academy. To read more about Carmel’s experience with this course, see (Blog).
One such connection was made with Nigel Sharp himself, the Chairman and Founder of Odonata, who then toured Forest Farm with Ben Herington and Charlie, the youngest member of the Herington Family.
Alongside the constant work of the Herington family, plantings supported by Bangalow Koalas, WWF Australia, East Coast Bush Regeneration, and Ballina Council (Koala Habitat Grant) furthered the regeneration of native biodiverse forest.
Finally, and perhaps the strongest indication of the progress and importance of the work being done is the bird species count at Forest Farm increasing to 131 species (astounding!). Thank you to the amazing eyes and ears of the Byron Bird Buddies for their assistance.
For all the support we’ve received in 2025, we give a heartfelt thanks to:
Bangalow Koalas
Byron Bay Birdies
Carbon Market Institute
Ballina Shire Council
Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT)
East Coast Bush Regeneration
Odonata Academy
Nigel Sharp
Accounting for Nature
EcoIntegrity
WWF Australia
Our supportive neighbors and community