One of the Cape’s most recognisable tourism businesses is playing a hands-on role in local conservation and biodiversity, with Empire Retreat and Spa tackling revegetation and weed control as part of the Cape Naturaliste Conservation Enterprise (CNCE).
When the new local owners purchased Empire, they immediately began work to enhance the property’s natural assets — tackling arum lilies and invasive wattle species, and restoring degraded areas with native vegetation.
This year, they joined the CNCE, a collaborative conservation program supporting landholders and community groups across the Cape Naturaliste region to protect and restore biodiversity through on-ground environmental works.
With support from CNCE and local native plant nursery Green Bird Gardens, Empire is focusing on revegetation around a front dam and nearby paddock, along with a spring arum lily control program. The project has already seen around 900 natives planted, thanks to a generous in-part donation of seedlings, tree guards and stakes.
A long term vision to boost biodiversity
Empire Retreat and Spa owner Ben McCarthy said the project was part of a long-term vision to improve the property’s ecological health.
“The first summer here, the dam was like a nutrient soup,” he said. “We’re aiming to improve water quality by stabilising the banks and reducing sediment and nutrient runoff.
“At the same time, we’re rehabilitating otherwise bare areas of the property with local species and enhancing the natural environment for the long term. We’re particularly excited to encourage local birdlife. We’re incredibly grateful for the generous in-part donation of around 900 tube stock, along with stakes and tree guards.”
The on-ground work is being led by local horticulturalist Lisa Bell of Green Bird Gardens, with support from Empire employee Ruby Burrow. Both are playing a key role in planting and caring for the new vegetation and supporting weed control efforts during the critical early stages.
An inspiring example to local landholders
Cape Naturaliste Conservation Enterprise officer Mandy Polley said the project was an inspiring example of local landholders stepping up to protect and restore biodiversity.
“It’s super inspiring to be working with such enthusiastic landholders, who are keen to do what they can to bring more biodiversity back to the property,” Mandy said.
“Empire Retreat and Spa is one of the Cape’s high-profile businesses, and to have them on board with the CNCE and putting a significant amount of time and resources into conservation is a big win for our local environment.”
More on the Cape Naturaliste Conservation Enterprise
The Cape Naturaliste Conservation Enterprise is a partnership project between Friends of Meelup and Nature Conservation Margaret River Region, with funding from the State Natural Resource Management program.
It is a community-based initiative driven by local landholders, conservation professionals, and government. It helps deliver practical, science-based conservation on private land, including weed control, habitat restoration, revegetation and erosion management — with the goal of enhancing the ecological resilience of the wider landscape.
Top Photo: The Empire team — including owner Ben McCarthy, horticulturalist Lisa Bell, and staff member Ruby Burrow (pictured) — have planted around 900 native tube stock around their dam and paddocks, helping to stabilise banks, reduce nutrient runoff, and bring back birdlife. Picture by Mandy Polley.