One of the most prominent of our lowland native flowering plants is the tree known locally as Sallywood, and botanically it is known as Lagunaria patersonia. In early Summer its white and pink flowers are in full bloom. Lagunaria patersonia also occurs on the Queensland coast, and on Norfolk Island. It has been used widely in many States as an ornamental street tree, often marketed as Norfolk Island hibiscus.

While Lagunaria patersonia exists as a tree species widespread across the island from sea level to about 500m altitude, it also survives well in wet swampy lowland areas. In the past, before clearing for pastures, there were five swampy areas dominated by this tree. This swamp community only occurs on Lord Howe Island, and in 2002 was formally classified as the Sallywood Swamp Forest. With clearing for grazing paddocks this plant community was facing extinction — only one reasonably good stand remained, near Cobby’s Corner. Research by Dr Tony Auld and Ian Hutton resulted in this vegetation community being listed as a Threatened Community under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (TSC Act).

In 2002 the Friends of Lord Howe Island and the Lord Howe Island Board successfully applied for a grant of $6,400 to provide fencing material and native plant stock to restore the Old Settlement Sallywood Swamp Forest. In June 2003, 18 Friends volunteers put in a total of 54 hours labour to plant out approximately 850 plants, selected for this site to replicate the forest mix that may have been there before clearing.

Twenty years later this forest has established well, with a closed forest canopy developed, and species recruiting from those plants put in 20 years ago. Other areas of former Sallywood swamp forest have restoration projects started — at Soldiers Creek and in the grazing lease behind Pinetrees.

This story is a great example of success when there is collaboration between the community, the government and scientists.