It's no secret Tamworth and the surrounds have done it tough with water availability, and even though restrictions eased on Monday one group has seen an increasing shift in people wanting to move forward sustainably.
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Tamworth Urban Landcare Group (TULG) saw an almost six-fold increase in people turning up to their propagation day on Sunday.
The group's president Paul Moxon said it could indicate a shift in people wanting to fill their gardens with natives instead of previously popular European plants known for being water-guzzling.
"We are finding that since last year, and the drought, people have had a yearning for community activities such as this," he explained
"We almost have 30 people, so if we got a third of the people we had today we'd be happy." A sentiment echoed by TULG project manager Anne Michie.
"Bulbs, roses, those traditional plants take a lot of water, but natives don't, so it's really great to see so many people interested here today."
Lyn Allen, with arms full of native cuttings, said she loved the challenge of working with natives.
"It's a challenge picking the right ones that are right for the area you are living in, but that's what I love about it," she said.
"But there are so many bee-friendly plants, and they don't take a lot of water."
Hardy, tough but also pretty, the interest is pleasing for Tamworth Nursery's Julie Clancey.
"Bees love native trees, and you never know if more people start planting natives in their gardens we may see populations increase," she enthused.
It seemed that interest in natives doesn't discriminate on age either. The group gathered encompassed every cohort, from a handful of children under 10, to those in their 20s to 40s as well as those over 50.
Several new comers said their motivation to go was to learn new things about natives to grow and nurture them at home.
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First-timer Tina Scales from Duri was busily harvesting seeds alongside Jason Stavert, a horticulture student at Tafe.
"I just wanted to come and learn about natives, we have a property and it's important to me to know more about the natives I can grow out there," Ms Scales said.
Mr Stavert had been coming along for around two months to TULG workshops and days.
"It's just a very feel good thing to do, plus it fills up my week," he laughed.
