Soil health will be the focus of the first workshop of a free four-part series, and will be held next week in the Adelaide Hills.

The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board, in conjunction with the Adelaide Hills Wine Region Environment Committee, are presenting four workshops, each exploring an aspect of biodiversity and vineyard practices.

The first workshop will take place on Wednesday 31 August and will cover topics such as soil organic carbon, biochar, monitoring indicators of soil health, organic and biodynamic practices, compost additions and property planning.

The event will be presented by: Darren Golding (Golding Wines), Amanda Schapel (RSSA), Belinda Rawnsley (SARDI), Janet Klein (Ngeringa Vineyards) and Katie Webster (Compost for soils).

Janet Klein of the Adelaide Hills Wine Region Environment Committee says the workshops are of high calibre and will bring a new focus on biodiversity in the region.

“The Environment Committee believes these workshops will bring enormous value to members both in their practical application, as well as reinforcing our region as being sincerely committed to biodiversity and the health of our vineyard environments,” Klein said.

The following workshops will focus on managing healthy water ways (September), managing remnant vegetation (October) and the role of native plants in and around vineyards (November,) with further details to be announced.

The first workshop starts at 8.30am-1pm at Lobethal and will be followed by a BBQ lunch.

All workshops are free and places are limited.

To register or obtain further information, contact Melanie Bullers on: (08) 8389 5913 or 0408 000 842.