bushcare bulletin - sutherland shire · bushcare volunteers keeping in touch april 2016- issue 35....

BUSHCARE CALENDAR

BUSHCARE BULLETINBUSHCARE VOLUNTEERS KEEPING IN TOUCH April 2016- Issue 35

BUSHCARE UPDATEWell. What a long hot summer that proved to be. For some of you it must have seemed the sweaty days would never end. After a fairly wet start to the New Year we were then dealt a record breaking warm stretch that left everyone a little exhausted. Thankfully, cooler days have arrived so it’s time to get back out there.We’ve got a full program of Bushcare activities planned for this year. Coming up on April 30 we have the Bushcare Autumn Gathering at the Hazelhurst Gallery, speaking will be Dr John Martin, Wildlife Ecologist from the Botanic Gardens & Centennial Parklands to talk about foxes. Not the flying type but the type that sneaks around and creates havoc in our Ecological Communities. We will also see the return of Ken Griffiths who will be giving us an insight into the lives of many of the birds of the Shire and in particular, the Royal National Park. Ken’s astute photography captures a sensational array of birds doing their thing in all kinds of situations. Register early to avoid disappointment.This edition of the Bushcare Bulletin is a mixed bag. If ever privet got up your nose the item where Bushcare takes on the deepest, darkest privet forests of Oyster Creek Gully may interest you.Dr Adrian Davis’ item on Hollows as Homes explains how you can get involved in his citizen science project looking at the role of tree hollows in an urban environment. Adrian will be bringing his talents to the shire in May (see pg 7) and we’re hoping to have Adrian as a guest speaker at the Spring Bushcare Gathering

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION – THERE’S STILL TIME!There’s still time for those who wish to submit their entries for the photo competition. Images which reflect the broad aspect of the Shire’s bushland and the bushcare program are most welcome. We invite entries with several themes; landscape, flora, fauna, and people. Forward your digitised images to [email protected] by 30th May.A selection of the best will be displayed in the Sutherland Shire Council Administration Building few several weeks and at Sutherland Library shortly after.

April13, 21 & 27 Nursery Propagation20 The Burning Issue20 Coonong for Kids23 Birdwatching: Garrawarra Farm Loop Trail30 Autumn gathering

May4 Spotlighting in the Royal 7 Edible Weeds Workshop11, 19 & 25 Nursery Propagation12 Hollows as Homes Workshop14 Introduction to Bush Regeneration21 Native Plant ID Workshop

June8, 16 & 22 Nursery Propagation25 Birdwatching: Wattamolla – Eagle Rock29 Bushwackers - Wanda Beach

STAFF NEWSOccasionally Sutherland Shire Council strikes it lucky. For the last three years the Community Nursery has been host to apprentice horticulturist, Kirsten Eden as she enthusiastically embraced the life of native plants. Kirsten started here as a young 16 year old, not so shy but always attentive and a keen worker who has evolved into a true asset for the horticultural team. Her talent did not go unnoticed and she was this year awarded top gong with HVTC Young Apprentice of the year. Sadly, when her apprenticeship term was completed it looked as though we may lose Kirsten to the bigger horticultural world. Thankfully, her value has been realised and she has just commenced her new role as a fully fledged Horticulturist with council.Thank you, Kirsten for your valued contribution to the Nursery and Bushland Unit and we wish you all the best in your next chapter.

2 BUSHCARE NEWSLETTER l Sutherland Shire Council www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au

HOLLOWS AS HOMES In urban and agricultural areas large hollow-bearing trees are in decline but many species of animal rely on tree hollows. In NSW hollow-dependent species include at least 46 mammals, 81 birds, 31 reptiles and 16 frogs. Of these, 40 species are listed as hreatened with extinction. This is why the ‘loss of hollow-bearing trees’ has been listed as a key threatening process.

The Hollows as Homes project was launched in March 2016 and is coordinated by the Royal Botanic Garden, University of Sydney and Australian Museum. The Hollows as Homes is a project which aims to assess the availability of tree hollows and their use by wildlife across the Sydney region. Hollow-bearing trees in urban areas are commonly removed as a safety precaution. However, a new method of cut-in hollows has been developed which aims to safely retain trees and increasing hollow habitat which is important to conserve biodiversity. Cut-in hollows complement the established method of nest boxes. An aim of Hollows as Homes is to collect data to inform Councils decision-making process when installing supplementary hollows to support biodiversity. The ‘Hollows as Homes’ team wants the help of the community to help by reporting on tree hollow(s) in your

backyard, street, park and/or paddock through www.hollowsashomes.com. Hollows as Homes therefore welcomes reports of nest boxes and cut-in hollows in addition to natural tree hollows.

Participants will take measurements of the hollow-bearing tree and periodically conduct monitoring and report wildlife using the hollow(s). Training is available through workshops and the website. The information you provide will be used to build a

picture of the location, type and number of hollows available in your local area, as well as the wildlife using these hollows. The information will inform Councils’ plans to retain important habitat trees, plant future habitat trees and supplement missing habitat (e.g. small, medium or large hollows). For more information contact Dr Adrian Davis [email protected] or facebook.com/hollowsashomes.Sutherland Shire Council is one of 30 Councils encouraging community participation in this project. Hollows as Homes is supported by the Sydney Coastal Councils Group through funding from the Australian Government.Join Adrian for a presentation and workshop (see pg 7) to be held at Cronulla Central, Thursday 12 May from 6.30pm.

GREENWEBNot only does Council’s Greenweb program encourage residents to make their backyards more bushland friendly but it also recognizes that schools can also play a vital role in the conservation of our bushland.Many schools participate in Council’s Greenweb program, where students create and plant native garden beds, or assist with weeding and revegetating areas with native plants, as well as enjoying educational talks and walks through areas of bushland.Recently, two schools Bundeena and Woolooware Public, have had a wonderful lesson in protecting native flora. Students with the assistance from Council’s Greenweb Officer undertook a project to collect the seeds from native trees growing in the school grounds and grow them on and then replant within the school. These trees will eventually replace the current mature and aging trees.In Bundeena, seeds were collected from a heritage listed Angophora costata (smooth bark apple) which had up-rooted and fallen in a serve storm. While at Woolooware, seeds were collected from several mature Eucalyptus paniculata (Ironbarks) trees which are remnants from an endangered ecological community known as Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest.

www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au Sutherland Shire Council l BUSHCARE NEWSLETTER 3

WEED PROFILE: THE GREAT PRIVET EXPERIMENTFor a few years now I’ve been dreaming. I dream about a place where there are no privet. No Large Leaf Privet, Ligustrum lucidum and no Small Leaf Privet Lucidum sinense. My options include moving to Antartica but the coffee there is reputedly very poor. So, I’ve been thinking what it would be like to have no privet at our bushcare sites. What would it take to rid the Shire of privet? I really do think that even on a landscape scale those weeds which we may see as insurmountable could be brought under control and even eradicated. But what methods could be used to control privet in such situations where multiple generations persist over a considerable area? Usually, the most effective means of pest control target the subjects’ weakness, and privet for that matter has a couple. One is that it can stand out like a sore thumb at certain times of the year. Right now (as I type) Large Leaf Privet is a showy extrovert with a flush of creamy flowers poking out through the canopy. Its saying “here I am, catch me if you can!” The other potential weakness (and this is optimism at its most) is that the viability of its seed is quite short, limited to about 24 months, after which the germination failure is precipitous. How can we use these two facts to our advantage? Currently, Bushcare is undertaking an experiment of sorts in deepest, darkest Oyster Creek Gully where the privet are long established. This experiment involves only targeting those plants which come to maturity (i.e. flowering age). Picture the privet forest floor; it is often a mass of seedlings, maybe a thousand or two per square metre. If we leave them be, after a couple of months and a war of competition there may only be one hundred plants per square metre. Eventually, after a year or two only one or several plants will have survived.Now, let’s say that during this time (24 months) we were controlling the mature privets capable of producing seed. No fresh seed other than the smaller quantities’ brought in by birds and animals will have entered the plot. All this while, any seed that was in the soil has reached the end of its viability. We are now left with no new emerging seedlings and assuming we target the existing plants as they come to maturity we may have effectively broken the privet cycle.I may be Pollyanna but at the landscape scale of Oyster Creek Gully, where the privet jungle has intimidated

NATIVE PLANT PROFILE

Platysace linearifolia: Carrot Tops Family ApiaceaeThere is not much in flower at this time of the year but Platysace linearifolia is one plant that, although modest is reliablePlatysace linearifolia was one of the first native plant names to lodge in my brain as a child and this may in part be that Carrot Top was an occasional school boy nick name but the main reason was the smell of the crushed leaves. Smell is a most primal sense because it is our way of instantly sorting out the edible from the poisonous even as a morsel is on its way to our mouth. I am also reassured because as biochemistry runs in plant families (carrots are also apiaceae); perhaps there is a point to the botanical systemCarrot Tops is a frequent under shrub of dry sandy sclerophyll forests. Its wispy nature makes it easily hidden by other plants.Platysace linearifolia is an erect shrub to 1.5m; leaves soft, narrow linear, hairless to 25mm long, <1mm wide.Flowers: white, very small, in compound umbels at the end of the branches

Platysace linearifolia (Carrot Top)

many a bushcarer it will take a novel approach to privet control in order to win this battle. If we combined this with a “privet muster” of those plants on neighbouring private properties every November and supported by the Council’s chipping service it could be that we may be able to rid whole blocks of the privet menace. One can only dream! (What do you think? Could this possibly work? If you think you’d like to help out with this experiment drop us a line at Bushcare.)

Don’t forget our Facebook page. It is a hub to share information, phoographs and videa amongst users. Log onto facebook, search ‘Sutherland Shire Bushcare’ and ‘like’ the page.


AUSTRALIAN PLANTS SOCIETY (SUTHERLAND GROUP) Our 2016 program is looking good and visitors are always welcome at any of our meetings.We meet on the third Wednesday of each month at the Gymea Community Centre, Gymea Bay Road, Gymea from 7.45pm.Our next meeting on Wednesday 20 April features Sandra Guy from the NSW Dept of Environment talking about flying foxes and the essential role they play in the environment. There will be a live flying fox (in a cage) for visitors to study. It should be an exciting night.If you have questions about flying fox camps, then this is your chance to hear the reasons why we shouldn’t be moving them on.On Saturday 30 April we have a Walk and Talk on Banksias. Details can be found on page 7 - Council Activities.At our meeting on 18 May, Robert Atwood, a very experienced TAFE teacher in horticulture will talk about and demonstrate pruning techniques. If your idea of a boy-prune is to get out the chainsaw, then this meeting is one for you to learn about other approaches!On 15 June, our speaker is Narelle Happ from the

BOTANY BAY BUSY BEES Botany Bay Busy Bees are based at Kurnell. They meet 2nd and 4th Thursday each month at the Kamay Botany Bay National Park Visitor Centre from 9am til 12pm. Activities are generally graded medium difficulty. Please contact Ranger Mishy Mckensy 9668 2005 for the full program and information on participation.

ROYAL NATIONAL PARK (FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL)

Friends of the Royal run a number of events and a volunteer program which are FREE to attend and generally run from 9am-12.30pm. Enquiries can be made via Royal National Park office on 9542 0632. New Volunteers need to be registered and receive training that is offered each quarter, email queries to be directed to Ranger Patsy Ross on [email protected]

THE FRAY

BANKSIA RESERVE, ENGADINE NEEDS YOUR HELP!The recently formed Banksia Reserve Bushcare group meet on the first Sunday of each month at 1pm. They have commenced looking after a once disused vacant block containing bushland suffering from years of neglect.Council acquired the land more than 5 years ago and has since constructed a big playground complete with BBQ’s and facilities. All the essentials are here for kids and most days the playground is full of them.But, the adjoining bushland has become quite degraded so it’s time to give it a helping hand. If you’d like to help out, contact Bushcare on 9524 5672 and we’ll tell you how.

BUSH WHACKERS SUCCESSOnce again the whole Bushcare team got together for Bush Whackers Day in March at Oyster Creek Gully to blitzkrieg privet and asparagus. Helped out by a cameo from the Georges River Combined Councils Committee Aboriginal Riverkeeper Team (phew!), Chris Bank’s Bush Regeneration team and a couple of hardcore bushcare volunteers (Steve Deards, Kevin Cane and Ron Fraser) we managed to smash through the weeds to confirm

our suspicions. Underneath the weeds remains some excellent and resilient bushland. We managed to cart away a literal truckload of green-waste in three hours. This bush really is at the proverbial tipping point. Another

five years or so and the resident Petrophile sessilis, Xanthorea sp. And Banksia serrata would have likely become locally absent.

Before the ‘bam’

‘BAM’ That is how its done


THE PORT HACKING WILDFLOWER GROUPmeets at 8pm on the second Friday of every month, February to November at the Multi-Purpose Centre, Flora Street, Sutherland. Visitors and new members are always very welcome.We have a guest speaker every meeting, followed by plant identification and supper. Although the Group’s focus is on the wildflowers of the local area, our speakers cover a wide range of interesting topics. For more information please contact Glen Harvey on 0422 966 010 (after hours).The speaker for our meeting on 8th April will be Eric Whitby who will speak on ‘Native Bees’.On May 13th, Geoff Doret will speak on the new Sutherland Shire Council App which will help you select native plants for your garden.

Look out for the ‘fruit’ of Ficus rubiginosa which should be ripening in the next few months. The genus Ficus is unusual in that the flowers are hidden inside the ‘fruit’.

MENAI WILDFLOWER GROUPOur Clean Up of the old Kooyong Scout camp was a great success thanks largely to the efforts of the Woronora Rural Fire Brigade and the Alfords Point/Menai Scout troop. With the amount of help we had it was all over by 11am and we could settle down to enjoy one of Ron’s sausage sangers.

Our next meeting on Wednesday 13 April will feature Tony Wales ‘The Riverkeeper’ who will be along to share his enthusiasm for our rivers. It was Tony that suggested the old Scout camp as a worthwhile cleanup site. On Wednesday, 11 May we will have a David Noble

Sydney Wildflower Nursery at Heathcote. She will be talking about how to set-up a bush-tucker garden and grow your own native plant foods.We have a plant identification table at our meetings, so bring along a plant, (or weed), to be identified and learn how to grow (or control) it. Supper provided. Plants are for sale. Raffle each meeting. No entry charge and a friendly bunch of people.For more information on Australian Plants Society (Sutherland Group), please contact Ralph Cartwright on 02 9548 1074 or via email at [email protected] or check our website http://sutherland.austplants.com.au/ for our monthly newsletter and meeting details. Our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/APS.Sutherland has lots of plant photos.

Ficus rubiginosa

talk featuring ‘Fantastic Fungi’, he will also follow up by leading a field trip to Bola Creek on Sunday 15 May.On the first Sunday of each month at 1pm we have a Free Propagation Day at our mini nursery at the IRFB. Come and learn how to produce your own plants using our facilities or yours. Bring your own material if you wish or use the resources of the IRFB garden. All our meetings are held at the Illawong Rural Fire Brigade, Old Illawarra Rd, Illawong. We have meetings each month except January. Most meetings are on the second Wednesday at 7pm. Meetings in June, July and August are going to be held on the second Saturday at 1pm.To have a look at what we do and for further information check out our Facebook page www.facebook.com/Menaiwildflowergroup or menaiwildflower.austplants.com.au for our web site. Or email us on [email protected]

Kooyong Cleanup Day


BUSHCARE WORKDAYS

Workdays can be cancelled at short notice. (B) etc after the time denotes the first initial of the Bushcare Officer responsi-ble for the group. See page 8 for contact detail.1ST SATURDAYLucas Heights Conservation Area, Lucas

Heights 8:00am (J)Gunnamatta Park 8.30am (Bill) Wanda Beach, Cronulla 8.30am (S)Whitton Street, Heathcote 8:30am (B)Columbine Close, Loftus 1:00pm (B) Oyster Creek Gully, Jannali 1.00pm (J)Sesquicentenary Pk, Heathcote 1.00am (S)Tea Tree Place, Kirrawee 1.00pm (Bill)

2ND SATURDAYFremantle Place, Yarrawarrah 8.00am (B)Forbes Creek, Woronora 8:30am (Bill)Freya Street, Kareela 8.30am (S)Yarra Vista Court, Yarrawarrah 1.00pm (B)Drysdale Place Res., Kareela 1:00pm(Bill)Tradewinds Pl/Struen Marie, Kareela,

1.00pm (S)

3RD SATURDAYBurraneer Park, Caringbah 8.30 am (J)Corinth Road, Heathcote 8.30am (B)Hall Drive, Menai 9.00am (S)Alcheringa Reserve, Miranda 1.00pm (S)Beauford Park, Caringbah 1.00pm (J)Bimbai/Bangaroo, Bangor, 1.00pm (B) altPrestons Gully, Engadine 1.00pm (B) alt

4TH SATURDAYBottle Creek, Heathcote 8.00am (B)Akuna Avenue Oval, Bangor 8.30am (S)Maandowie Reserve, Loftus 8:30am (Bill)The Esplanade, Cronulla Point 8.30am (J)Gooyong Reserve, Bangor 12.30pm (S)Ninth Avenue North, Loftus 1.00pm (B)Crescent Creek, Woronora 1.00pm (Bill)Various reserves, Maianbar 1.30pm (J)

1ST SUNDAYCarina Bay, Como 8:00am (J), Bass & Flinders Point, Cronulla 8.30am (Bill)Myra Creek, Loftus 8.30am (B)Burnum Burnum Sanct., Jannali 9.00am (D)Joseph Banks Native Plant Reserve 9.30am (J)Banksia Res, Engadine 1.00pm (D)John McKinn Park, Cronulla 1.00pm (Bill)The Esplanade, Sylvania 1:00pm (J)Upper Forbes Creek, Engadine 1:00pm (B)

2ND SUNDAYCaravan Head Res., Oyster Bay 8:30am (B)Fernleigh Road Res, Caringbah 9:00am (Bill)Kareena Park, Caringbah 9.00 (D)Forbes Creek South, Engadine 1:00pm (B)Ingrid Rd/Anitra Reserve, Kareela 1.00pm (D)Kareela Reserve, Kareela 1.00pm (Bill)

3RD SUNDAYPrince Edward Park, Woronora 8:00am (Bill)Hakea Street, Yarrawarrah, 8.30am (B)Honeysuckle Reserve, Jannali 8:30am (J)Paruna Reserve, Como West 9.00am (D)Grays Point Reserve 12.30pm (J)Eurabalong Reserve, Burraneer 1.00pm (Bill)Bundeena Res, Bundeena 1.00pm (D)Victory Reserve, Engadine 1:00pm (B)

4TH SUNDAYDarook Park, Cronulla 8.30am (Bill)The Glen Reserve, Bonnet Bay 8:30am (D)Savilles Creek, Kirrawee 8.30am (J)Marina Crescent, Gymea Bay 12:30pm (J)Riverhaven Res., Oyster Bay, 1.00pm (D)Rutherford Reserve, Burraneer, 1.00pm (Bill)

1ST MONDAYBrigalow Place, Engadine 9.00am (D)Taren Point Shorebird, Taren Point 9.00am

(Bill)

2ND MONDAYDelta St, Sutherland 9.00am (Bill)Koolangarra Res, Bonnet Bay 8.30am (D

3RD MONDAYPort Hacking Rd Res., Sylvania 9.00am (D)Australia Rd, Barden Ridge 9.00am (Bill)

4TH MONDAYLilli Pilli Pt Baths Res, Lilli Pilli 8.30am (Bill)Young Street Reserve, Sylvania 9.00am (D)

1ST TUESDAYDunoon Place Reserve, Bangor 9.00.am (Bill)Menai Conservation Park, Menai 9.00am (S)Surrey Place, Kirrawee 1pm ( Bill)

2ND TUESDAYLilli Pilli Point Reserve 9am (Bill)Hungry Point Res, Cronulla 12.30pm (S)

3RD TUESDAYForest Grove Drive, Menai 9.00am (S)Kareena Park, Caringbah 9:00am (Bill)Corea Steet Reserve, Sylvania 1.00pm (S)Darook Park Sth, Cronulla 1.00pm (Bill)

4TH TUESDAYCabbage Tree Point, Bundeena 9.00am (BillLilli Pilli Point Reserve 9.00am (S))Loftus St, Bundeena 12.30pm

1ST WEDNESDAYBottle Creek, Heathcote 8.30am (B)Windy Point, Cronulla 8.30am (S)Bundeena Reserve, Bundeena 9.00am (J)Prices Reserve South, Woronora 9.00am (Bill)Simpson Rd, Bundeena 11.30am (J)Dunwell Avenue Reserve, Loftus 1.00pm (B)

2ND WEDNESDAYCabbage Tree Point, Bundeena 9.00am (B)Constables Point, Maianbar 9.00am (J)Green Point Rd Res, Oyster Bay 9.00am (S)Yowie Bay Old Baths Reserve 9.00am (Bill)Gooyong Reserve, Bangor 1.00pm (Bill)

3RD WEDNESDAYCroston Rd, Engadine 9.00am (B)Gooyong Riverside Res, Woronora

9.00am (Bill)ANSTO, Blue Trail, Lucas Heights 12.00pm (J) Dunwell Avenue, Loftus 1.00pm (B)Albert Delardes Reserve, Illawong 1.00pm (S)

4TH WEDNESDAYForest & Corella Roads, Kirrawee 9.00am (B)Newcombe Street, Maianbar 9.00am (J)Wattlebird Reserve, Caringbah 9:00am (BillWonga Rd Res., Yowie Bay 1.00pm (Bill)

1ST THURSDAYKareela Golf Course 7.00am (J)Joseph Banks Native Plant Reserve 9.00am (J)Louden Avenue, Illawong 9.00am (B)

2ND THURSDAYKareela Golf Course 7.00am (J)Parc Menai 8.30am (B)

3RD THURSDAYKareela Golf Course 7.00am (J)Eighth Avenue, Loftus 8:30am (B)Savilles Creek Reserve, Kirrawee 9.00am (J)

4TH THURSDAYKareela Golf Course 7.00am (J)

1ST FRIDAYCoonong Creek Reserve, Gymea 8:30am (J)Ewey Creek, Miranda 8.30am (B)

2ND FRIDAYNinth Avenue Reserve, Loftus 9.00am (B)

3RD FRIDAYFarrer Place, Oyster Bay 8.00am (B)Kyogle Place, Grays Point 8.30am (J)Gunnamatta Foreshore, Cronulla 1pm (J)

4TH FRIDAYKiora Road South, Yowie Bay 8:00am (B)Shiprock Reserve, Lilli Pilli 9.00am (J)


PLEASE NOTE THAT

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL

FOR ALL ACTIVITIES SO

CALL 9524 5672

COUNCIL ACTIVITITY

Bookings Essential PH: 9524 5672. All activities are FREE.

THE BURNING ISSUE: a look at how fire helps sustain bushland in The ShireWednesday 20 April 9am - 11.00amThe Glen Reserve, Bonnet BayFire is an important evolutionary influence from which most of our bushland ecology has been derived. Join us on this walk as we explore one of the Shire’s larger bushland areas and observe some of the results of strategic fire management and the implications in an urban setting.

The Burning Issue

COONONG FOR KIDSWednesday 20th April 9.00am – 11.00amOld School Park, Gymea BayThis SSC Bushcare event is perfect holiday fun for the kids and it’s free! Join experienced Bushcare Officer, Jason Salmon as he leads a walk through the Coonong Creek Bushland Reserve. If your kids like to dig, poke, touch and experience the wonder of the bush this walk is for them. Recommended for primary school ages, parents are welcome to accompany their children.

WALK AND TALK ON BANKSIAS Saturday 30 April: 9.45 - 11amJoin Rhonda Daniels from the Australian Plants Society Sutherland Group for a walk and talk on banksias at Joseph Banks Native Plants Reserve at Manooka Place, Kareela. Autumn is a great time to see banksias in flower.

Walking on paved paths, we’ll focus on local banksias which are easily seen at the reserve and some of the WA banksias which are successful in Sutherland Shire. Learn about botanist Sir Joseph Banks who gave his name to the Banksia genus and the reserve. After the walk, stay for refreshments and plant sales.

HOLLOW AS HOMESThursday 12 May: 6.30pm – 8.30pmCronulla CentralThis workshop/presentation will provide an overview of urban ecology, the importance of conservation and biodiversity in urban and agricultural regions as well as the role that tree hollows play in providing valuable habitat. Join Dr Adrian Davis, Honorary Associate from the University of Sydney to find out how citizen science can help with this project.

BUSH WHACKERSWednesday 29 June: 9am - 12.30pmWanda Reserve, WandaLead by Bushcares’ very own pixie, Sabrina Thompson this bush wackers event will be the perfect place to be on a sunny winter’s day. If you particularly like your Bushcare with a view this rare example of Coastal Foredune Wattle Scrub is the place to be. Join the entire Bushcare Team for this fascinating bush whackers day. Even if you’ve never joined us at Bushcare before then this event is for you. Meet at the Mitchell Road Carpark, Don Lucas Reserve. Morning Tea supplied.

BUSHCARE AUTUMN GATHERINGSaturday 30 April Hazelhurst Gallery Theatre, Gymea 10am – 2pm This event is certainly one of the highlights of the Bushcare calendar and the response to our speakers last spring was terrific. So don’t miss this day of talks, catching up with friends and having your say. The ‘Gathering’ will finish with a meeting and forum where an invitation of agenda items for discussion is most welcome.

BUSH & GUIDEDED NATURE WALKS

GARAWARRA FARM LOOP TRAILSaturday 23 April: 8am - 2pm.Meeting at the Garawarra Farm carpark (beginning of Burning Palms Track) in the Royal National Park for a 8km walk with noted bird expert Steve Anyon-Smith. Bring binoculars if you have them, water, morning tea and lunch. The walk is graded medium to hard, with a few long hills.

SPOT LIGHTING IN THE ROYAL Wednesday 4 May: 7 – 9pmWhat goes bump in the night? Come along and help spot the wildlife that go to work when we go to bed. Be sure to book early as this event fills quickly. BYO torches please and all children under the age of 16 are to be accompanied by an adult.

WATTAMOLLA TO EAGLE ROCK (RETURN) Saturday 25 June: 8am- 2pmJoin us for a walk along the Royal National Park coast with noted bird expert Steve Anyon-Smith. There should be lots of birds including albatross and maybe even a whale or two. Bring morning tea, lunch and water.

See page 8 for Courses.

BUSHCARE CONTACT DETAILS

PHONE9524 5672 and follow the promptsFAX 9526 6610EMAILbushcare@ssc.nsw.gov.auWEBwww.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au

JONATHAN0434 327 755 [email protected] 193 710 (Wed-Sun) [email protected] 193 874 (Wed-Sun)[email protected] 193 712 (Sun-Mon) [email protected]

BILL0414 193 709 (Sat-Wed) [email protected] 193 873 (Tues, Wed, Sat) [email protected] 194 [email protected]

www.facebook.com/pages/Sutherland-Shire-Bushcare/172348962805274 Printed on recycled paper

If undelivered please return to:Sutherland Shire Council BushcareLocked Bag 17, Sutherland NSW 1499

POSTAGE PAID

AUSTRALIA

Bushcare Bulletin:April 2016

Print Post ApprovedPP297537/00150

COUNCIL ACTIVITITY

FREE COURSES

EDIBLE WEEDS WORKSHOPSaturday 7 May: 9.30am – 12.30pmHate weeds? Like eating? Combine the two when Sydney artist and wild weed connoisseur Diego Bonetto will be guiding a weed foraging walk with SSC Bushcare. Come along and see which weeds are edible, how they can be prepared and hear about the history of weeds and how our appreciation of them has changed over generations.

INTRODUCTION TO BUSH REGENERATION COURSESaturday 14 May: 8.30am – 4pmThis new single day course consists of weed identification & bush regeneration techniques, perfect for anyone interested in Bushcare whether you volunteer or not.. The morning session is at council’s nursery, 345 The Boulevarde, Gymea with a field trip in the afternoon. Wear sturdy shoes or boots, long-sleeved shirt and long trousers for the afternoon session.Morning tea will be provided.

NATIVE PLANT IDENTIFICATION WORKSHOPSaturday 21st May: 8.30am - 2.30pm

This workshop will look at the common native plants found in many of our remnant bushland reserves with simple tips on how to identify them. It will include a field trip to a bushland reserve in the afternoon to view the studied plants in their natural environment. Morning tea and lunch will be provided. Remember to bring your own water and your walking shoes.

PLEASE NOTE THAT

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL

FOR ALL ACTIVITIES SO

CALL 9524 5672

bushcare bulletin - sutherland shire · bushcare volunteers keeping in touch april 2016- issue 35....

Documents