Land for wildlife at Yelverton Brook

Stakeholder and community involvement and education –

All chalets have “Wildlife Journals” for clients to record fauna sightings which offer an invaluable insight into movements of fauna around the chalets and walk trails. They offer great input from their clients into their conservation work.

Also clients are encouraged to email fauna pictures to be placed in the website in a special “Guests Photo Gallery”.

Yelverton Brook is offering the area to school & tertiary students for research projects with this unique site secure from predators. Studies into our diverse frog population are also on the agenda & need cataloguing. They are registered with Frogs Australia and listed on their website. They have been working closely with Earth Sanctuaries in SA. They offered an educational visit to the Ecotourism students from Edith Cowan Bunbury campus twice for a real working site for inspection. Joy Ensor lectured on Ecotourism for students studying at Edith Cowan University in Joondalup Campus in Perth in Aug ’05.

They are also members of “Land for Wildlife” run by DEC.

Conservation Week WA 2005 was supported by Yelverton Brook and made aware their local tourist bureaus of this event.

Offering a safe release site for orphaned and injured native fauna. Stage 2 with the Eco Centre, conference centre/educational facilities, café/kiosk, bbq area with picnic setting, chapel & small conference centre will allow more community interaction & offer a wide range of activities.

Quote – 2002- 2006 – The Busselton Agricultural Show – On behalf of the President and committee of this society I thank you sincerely for your sponsorship of a trophy for the “Fauna Carers Award” in the Busselton Show.

Cultural considerations – is offering the property to the local indigenous aboriginal people to run bush tucker tours through the property, plus building a close working relationship with the local Warden Centre.

The Ensor’s are committed Christians and believe in helping their local community, they are only caretakers of this precious land.

Flutes Restaurant near Margaret River by Yelverton Brook

A short time ago we took mother out for a drive to their old farm in Willyabrup which now is the home of Flutes Restaurant and Brookland Valley Vineyard.

The cafe/restaurant is situated over looking the Willyabrup River and a large dam come lake on it. Have a look at the pics below.

Offering beautiful gardens, great food, notice the Peter Pan in the family picture on the right hand side. A popular place for special events, birthdays and weddings.

When the Ensor’s owned it was a 1,000 ac farm stretching from Caves Road to the coast. A most beautiful place with an 80′ gorge country section along the river cutting through granite. They put the local Marron into the lake which grow to a fair size in this large body of water.

Even a great quick stop for a wine tasting or afternoon tea, the Devonshire tea is great.

Imagine the Ensor kids swimming in the dam, surfing the dam using the old beetle (car) with a very long rope………or being towed around by their farm dog who enjoyed a swim in the dam.

Definitely worth a visit whilst staying at Yelverton Brook Eco Spa Retreat & Conservation Sanctuary near Margaret River in Western Australia. A most beautiful region for fine wine and dining options.

Some history of Yelverton Brook Eco Spa Retreat

Over the 20 years of ownership by the Ensor’s they have restored cattle damaged riparian zone and the littoral zone by fencing out stock, this area and showcases the living stream to all their clients of what can be achieved by careful management & common sense. The entire repairing/littoral zone is fenced from stock, watering points have been established in the paddocks so if stock is returned they will not have to access to riparian zone.

The regeneration by removing stock has been tremendous, especially the pineapple palms which the cattle seem to relish. The Ensor’s have committed to weed eradication program, mainly by hand pulling to maintain the chemical free status. Weeds entering from neighbouring properties are still a concern, they have for several years now done the actual spaying or hand weeding of Scotch Thistles so it gets done quickly before seeding can take place. Spring 2007 showed an increase due to a good season, this has been dealt with.

Feral animal eradication has been undertaken since living on the property. The last fox was caught in March 2007 thank goodness after 10mths of trying to get her, a story in it’s self!

Then the last 3 feral cats over the next few months.

Fire management has seen it most the property except the riparian zone “cool burnt” over the last 20 years, re-growth is greatly benefited for this style of management.

The water quality in the stream is very good, a tan colour from the vegetation with a pH 6. Like a black tea in colour but it tastes good.

The endangered native Dunsborough Burrowing Crayfish has been recorded here a tiny crustacean with vivid cobalt blue colourings and a near translucent body.

Wwoofing and Yelverton Brook in Western Australia

We have another Wwoofer called Alex from the UK staying at the moment.

He was at Cambray Cottages and Sheep Cheese’s before here, now getting a real wildlife fix!

What with Bandicoots, Kangaroos, Possums and Woylies at the front door! It has been quite amazing the wildlife the last few nights. Lucky I brought some more nuts & fruit for everyone.

Our place always has lots of little jobs and the “Wish List” of things to be done. Alex is currently raking leaves away from the predator fence and then putting into piles to burn. It is an important job to do and our predator free status depends on the fence and gate working 100% of the time.

A wily Bandicoot is trying to escape by pushing and digging under the fence. Believe he is currently outside, hope he is safe and does not meet a fox or cat.

We have have a few Wwoofers from Japan, Austria, UK, Perth all great people. We are registered hosts with Wwoof Australia. Look us up in the current Wwoof book.

Regards Joy

“# 1 of 16 Specialty lodging in Margaret River in Western Australia”

See why Yelverton Brook Eco Spa Retreat & Conservation Sanctuary has achieved the honor of being No 1 of 17 travel reviews on www.Tripadvisor.com on the 11/4/08.

This travel review site is written by guests on their experiences by themselves. So it is a truely independant travellers review.

Don’t trust my word just drop into their website and check it out for your self!

Trip Advisor & Yelverton Brook

Remember you can add to this review as well and even include any pictures taken the latest review has added their own pics into their review.

A new online instant confirmation booking system is about to be launched for Yelverton Brook so stay tuned. It will help make your holiday planning a little easier and tours will also be able to be added in, an extra feature for you.

Regards Joy

p.s. check out the Possums pic below

Stay a night with a Woylie

In this months Australian Traveller magazine the April/May 2008 issue they have a great annual

“100 Things you can only do in Australia” and Yelverton Brook Eco Spa Retreat & Conservation Sanctuary was lucky enough to get recognition for there Woylie breeding program running for the last 4 years.

On page 133 a WHOLE page is on “Stay a night with a Woylie” the picture is almost life sized!

Stating “There is only one place in the world you can have a slumber party with a Woylie”

All conservation work is self funded by guests staying at Yelverton Brook plus

If you wish to learn more about these delightful 10″ high Kangaroo members visit this webpage for greater details Woylie

Eloping to Yelverton Brook near Margaret River in Western Australia

If you can not stand all the pressure and family arguments why not Elope for a fabuolous simple and elegant wedding to Yelverton Brook Eco Spa Retreat & Conservation Sanctuary near Margaret River in the beautiful south corner of Western Australia.

Check out some of the couples who also thought it a great stress free way to get married and keeping it simple and all about you!

Eloping @ Yelverton Brook

Check out the other closely linked pages on the great local services, where to get married onsite or a great local winery or on a white sandy beach or a jewelled cave the choice is amazing down here.

Try the fantastic Private In-house service for a great start to married life,  Catherine organise her man to get a massage before the wedding to help him relax whilst her hair was being done.

Yelverton Brook has been twice Voted Best Romantic retreat in 2005 & 2006 by a Readers Choice Award by previous guests.