Still wielding a chainsaw at 85: the Australians restoring nature in retirement
Older Australians are increasingly dedicating their retirement to environmental restoration and rewilding projects on their private properties. These individuals are actively working to reverse land degradation by planting trees and managing invasive species.
Why it matters
Private land conservation plays a critical role in biodiversity protection, especially as aging populations seek meaningful ways to contribute to environmental health.
Former dairy farmers Ken and Jill Hooper have spent the past 20 years rehabilitating 970 hectares of damaged country on their property in the Riverina region of NSW. Former dairy farmers Ken and Jill Hooper have spent the past 20 years rehabilitating 970 hectares of damaged country on their property in the Riverina region of NSW. Australian lifestyle Still wielding a chainsaw at 85: the Australians restoring nature in retirement For a growing band of older Australians, retirement has become an unlikely second act, spent rewilding mountains, counting sea slugs and coaxing damaged country back to life
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When Susan Downes stepped into the hallway of an old farmhouse for sale in York, Western Australia, she felt an oddly certain sense of knowing. “Oh, this is my house,” the retired GP remembers thinking. There was just one problem: it came with 200 hectares.
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