A ‘batty’ idea that worked: Annie completes 10-year rainforest revival

This Saturday, May 17, will be a special moment for Annie Schoenberger as she plants the final tree in a 10-year effort to turn her land into the thriving NightWings Rainforest Centre, now a safe haven for native and migratory wildlife.

Over ten years ago, Annie Schoenberger bought a cleared cane field at the foot of the Dagmar Range, hoping to bring the rainforest back. 

Driven by her passion for protecting endangered bats, especially the Spectacled Flying Fox, Annie purchased the degraded land and set out to bring the rainforest back.

Since that first tree went into the ground, more than 110,000 trees have been planted across the property - many by local volunteers inspired by Annie’s commitment and involved through annual community planting events. 

“This land has changed so much,” Annie said. “We’ve planted over 178,000 trees across 15 hectares,  every species is native to this area. It’s very rewarding to see the land come back to life.”

Saturday’s planting, marking the 10th anniversary of the initiative, will see Annie herself place the final tree, a symbolic act to celebrate the restoration’s completion.

Annie’s original goal was to create a safe space for the endangered Spectacled Flying Fox, a keystone species whose role as a night-time pollinator and seed disperser is essential to the health of Australia’s rainforests. 

“If we lose bats, we risk losing vast portions of our rainforests,” she said. 

“They cover incredible distances, up to 50 kilometers a night, and drop seeds far from their parent trees, which is crucial for forest regeneration.”

Now, the Wildlife Land Trust-listed property has a bat rehabilitation area and many native fruiting trees suitable for rehabilitated bats to feed on before they fly wild once again. 

Since then, the vision has expanded with the identified arrival of more native wildlife from the surrounding area making NightWings their home.

Southern Cassowaries have been spotted returning to the rainforest regrowth and Striped Possums are a frequent visitor. 

Endangered Spectacled Flying Foxes and migrating Torresian Imperial Pigeons use the fruiting trees as a feeding site on their foraging trips, while many smaller species including native frogs, snakes and insects are often seen.