Everybody needs good neighbours

People live in our part of the Hills for a variety of reasons. A few (a very few) still make their living off of the land. Most come here now for the open space, and the semi-rural lifestyle - while mostly retaining their jobs in the city. Largely, there's an appreciation that what we have in our area is pretty special, and worth preserving.

But every now and then you come across someone, as I did the other day, and wonder just what they're doing living here. A few days ago I bumped into a near neighbour that I'd not met before. I was roaming around doing a bit of bushcare, and pulling up the odd woody weed or two, so when I saw him out with his gardening gear on the roadside, I assumed he was doing the same.

Not so!

On politely enquiring, it emerged that he was digging up a mature grass tree (Xanthorrhoea semiplana) to put into a pot for around his house. Briefly speechless, I reminded him that this was all very illegal, to which he had two simplistic arguments

1. it was his land, so he could do what he liked (it wasn't, it was roadside reserve)
2. there were plenty of them anyway, so digging up one wouldn't matter (it does)
   

Then he proceeded to dig it up.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that such ignorant types still exist, but to find them in our little bit of paradise was a bit depressing. As hard as I work around here to keep the existing bush in good condition, morons like this are out there actively undoing it all.

But two wrongs don't make a right, and we'll keep on fighting the good fight. Catching up with our more like-minded neighbours for drinks the other night reminded me that we're not fighting this battle alone. Another of the neighbouring properties has just had their Heritage Agreement approved, so that's another hectare or two protected in perpetuity, and in the care of two people I know that will love and care for the bush.

In the main, we really are blessed with some great neighbours, which just adds to the pleasure of living here. But, while diversity is meant to be a good thing, frankly I think we could do without of the moron and his shovel.