We started with one question: can degraded land truly recover?
Twelve years and hundreds of hectares later, we know the answer is yes—when the work is done right.
Twelve years and hundreds of hectares later, we know the answer is yes—when the work is done right.
Neat Stakes began in 2014 when founder Alison Gardner saw the same problem repeating across rural New South Wales: landowners wanted to restore native vegetation, but the advice they received was either too expensive, too generic, or simply wrong for their site.
After years working in government conservation agencies and watching well-intentioned projects fail due to poor species selection or lack of follow-up, she decided to start something different. A consultancy that actually listened to what the land needed, not what looked good in a brochure.
The first project was 15 hectares of eroded farmland outside Goulburn. Six months of weed control, strategic soil amendments, and direct seeding with local provenance natives. Within two years, kangaroos were grazing there. Within four, threatened woodland birds had returned.
That project led to another, then another. The team grew as word spread that we delivered results without overpromising or cutting corners.
Founder & Principal Ecologist
BSc Environmental Science, Master of Ecology. Certified Environmental Practitioner (CEnvP). 18 years experience in threatened species management and vegetation restoration.
Senior Restoration Ecologist
BSc Conservation Biology, PhD Restoration Ecology. Specialist in post-fire recovery and soil microbiome restoration. Published researcher in applied ecology.
Biodiversity Assessment Lead
BSc Ecology, Graduate Diploma in GIS. Expert in flora and fauna surveys, threatened species identification, and vegetation mapping using remote sensing.
Wetland & Riparian Specialist
BSc Environmental Management. Trained in waterway health assessment and aquatic vegetation restoration. Former river ranger with NSW National Parks.
We don't believe in shortcuts. Ecological restoration takes time. Seeds need to germinate in their own season. Soil structure takes years to rebuild. Fauna returns when habitat structure is right, not when we want it to.
We work with what was there before. Every site has an ecological history. We research what plant communities existed prior to clearing, what species composition looked like, and what the soil profile would have supported.
We use local genetics. All our plants come from nurseries that grow from locally collected seed. A coastal banksia from Sydney won't thrive in the Southern Highlands, even though they're the same species.
We plan for succession. The first species planted aren't the final ecosystem. Fast-growing pioneers create shelter for slower-growing canopy trees. Ground covers establish before shrubs. We design for what the site will look like in 20 years, not just next year.
We base our recommendations on ecological research, historical vegetation maps, and site-specific soil and water testing. Not hunches or trends.
If a project will take five years to show results, we say so upfront. We never overpromise quick transformations that won't happen.
Drought, floods, and unexpected weed invasions happen. We adjust our plans based on how the site responds, not just follow a rigid schedule.
We teach landholders to recognize native plants, understand soil health, and continue management work themselves. Our goal is to make you independent, not dependent.
Our work complies with:
Whether you manage two hectares or two hundred, we'd like to hear what you're hoping to achieve.
Get in touch