Reclaiming swamps on farms: a publication series for community members

We were approached by a local community group to help them reclaim swamps. Though this is not the swamp reclamation favoured by property developers, but the reappropriation of the term 'swamp' as a positive; a unique ecosystem home to some very special organisms.

Swamps are rare on the Fleurieu Peninsula and most that are left are found on farming properties. A dwindling number of critically endangered emu wrens depend on them for survival. It is therefore essential that these serious issues get the attention (and love) they deserve. The local action planning group's swamp project officer wanted us to help communicate 'to local landowners, schools and the general community about the value and importance in protecting the rare Fleurieu swamps within the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges'.

Ecocreative developed a fresh design to brand a suite of publications and rearranged and edited content and imagery; a package to help people identify and manage these valuable ecosystems in agricultural landscapes. We created a flexible design structure that could balance a wide variety of content, ranging from tables and charts though to instructional diagrams and ensured printing costs were balanced with sustainable production methods . Perhaps the most important thing was ensuring we had great photographs to help everyone connect these 'forgotten' places to the lives and livelihoods of a special array of plants and animals.