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Bushcare NewsAutumn 2013

The Waverley Bushcare Inc. Newsletter

If you are interested in Bushcare activities or would like to write an article for the newsletter, please contact Waverley Council’s Bushcare Coordinator.

PHONE 9386 7915 (9am–5pm Mon–Fri) EMAIL [email protected]

Hello All!Greetings to all and welcome to the first newsletter of 2013!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas break (it already seems ages ago!). For me, 2012 was a year with a few changes. To introduce myself, I’m Paul Angel, formerly of the National Trust and Bushcare Supervisor at Eastern Reserve and Hugh Bamford Reserve, and now the Bushcare Co-ordinator with Waverley Council. Although I was sorry to say goodbye to colleagues at the National Trust, it seems that I am still working with the same great people, just in a different role .... a new hat, as they say!

Deb’s shoes will be hard to fill, but, as she is still around Council (she’s now the Biodiversity Officer), I can still pick her brain if, and when, I need a bit of advice. I’ll also invite her to come along to the Bushcare days and events. I’m hopeful that we can have some

collaborative projects and field days together though the year for the benefit of the volunteers and other interested parties. We also said goodbye to Derek Walker from the local Bushcare scene as he and his partner have moved to Nelson in New Zealand. I’m certain that ‘greener pastures’ await them in the Land of the Long White Cloud!

Since I stepped down as Bushcare Supervisor at Eastern and Hugh Bamford, I’m happy to say that we have 2 fantastic new supervisors- Robert Parkinson and Mark Green. I’m sure they received a warm welcome from the volly teams at their sites. Both have got lots of local knowledge and work day-to-day in the bush. Make sure you test them out with some tricky plant ID questions!

On behalf of Deb, Sue and Bianca I’d like to thank you all for your efforts and interest in Bushcare. If anyone would like to make a contribution to future newsletters, or has anything interesting to suggest or report, such as any curious observations on their sites you would like to share, please send them in.

On a more serious note, please consider 3 things: 1. Some warm-up/warm-down stretches2. Slip, Slop, Slap (shirt, sunscreen, hat)3. Enjoy your Bushcare... the more you put into it, the more you get out of it!

See ya round.

Paul Angel Waverley Council’s Bushcare Coordinator

C ompetitio

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Resurrected by popular demand in 2013 is the Waverley Bushcare Volunteers Photography Competition.

The best of these works of art will be exhibited at the Bushcare Christmas Party.

Prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

• Floral• Cute or not-so-cute animals• Rare or usual plants • Happy bushcarers• Scenic or blue skies• Before and after

A special prize will also be awarded to the bushcare volunteer group who submits the most photos.

So get snapping at any Waverley Bushcare site. It could be an arty shot or an action shot, a wide angle shot or a close up.

The only rules are that photos must be taken on Bushcare days and entries will only be accepted

from active Waverley Bushcare Volunteers. So get out there, do some Bushcare and shoot away, so to speak!

Photographs will be posted on the Waverley Council website and used in future Council promotions and publications – so your fame will live on! Send your photographs to me at [email protected]

Entries close on 1 November 2013.

Photo


On a wet and windy Saturday in March we had 70 enthusiastic volunteers carry out a weed blitz at Tamarama Gully. They removed over 100 bags of weeds and planted 100 trees and groundcovers. Some of the worst areas were almost unrecognisable after their efforts.

RockCorps are an Optus-sponsored volunteer organisation that links up with charities and community groups to provide a great example of ‘people-power’. At Tamarama Gully and the remnant they targeted three persistent and invasive weed species, which I’m sure all readers have had much experience with: Madeira Vine, Turkey Rhubarb and Asthma Weed.

RockCorps at Tamarama Gully

The volunteers are mostly aged 16-24 and had loads of enthusiasm despite the wind and rain. For their efforts they receive tickets to a rock concert in April where three popular acts are performing. They were certainly a positive and energetic group and it was great to be a witness to a ‘good news’ story about youth.

Thanks to Optus and Rock Corps for making it possible and to the participants for their efforts. We will now be engaging bush regeneration contractors to maintain these sites into the future.

Enthusiastic RockCorps volunteers registering at the start of the day. Photo by Paul Angel

Removing Madeira Vine from besice the Wolaroi Cres Steps in Tamarama Park. Photo by Paul Angel


Robert Parkinson is the new Bushcare Supervisor at Eastern Reserve and Hugh Bamford Reserve. Robert also supervises professional bush regerneation teams in the Eastern Suburbs.

How and why did you become involved in bush regeneration?

I was studying horticulture and working as a landscaper/gardener, and became more interested in native plants. Studying Bush Regeneration came next, and once I had experienced the magic of regeneration, I never wanted to push a mower or lay pavers again.

What’s your favourite vegetation community and bush regeneration site and why?

Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub (ESBS). I work at several sites, from Centennial Park Bird Sanctuary to NSW Golf Course at La Perouse, and each has its own character. Alongside Bunnerong Rd at Chifley are some incredible patches of ESBS, mostly hidden behind a screen of weeds. If you venture inside you will find rare Acacias, Grass trees, orchids, and many more interesting native plants.

What exciting discoveries have you made in bush regen on the sites you’ve worked?

Last Monday at Maroubra Beach I found a Marsh snake, in a weedy clump of Ehrharta, about 50m from the clubhouse, and recently I sampled the fruit of the Billardiera - it had a strange pasty texture, and a lovely flavour which reminded me of tinned peach. Don’t pick one from the plant, though. It will not be ripe, and will be like eating a lot of peppercorns. You must find the fallen fruit (before it spoils).

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not regenerating the bush?

I’m into bodysurfing, playing the guitar and ukulele, movies and making wooden sculptures.

What does morning tea and or lunch consist of when you are out in the field?

Frozen oranges (best lunchbox food ever), Greek salad, homemade bread, peaches, figs and walnuts.

What is some lessons you’ve learned about bush regen that they don’t teach you at TAFE?

Bush regenerators are the most amazing people. They are friendly, funny and interesting, and great to work with. Bush regen sites are all different: some regenerate quickly, some very slowly. They are variously degraded - in the Eastern Suburbs the sandy soil ranges from clean and white (in good condition) to almost black (heavily impacted by urban development). With time you learn to “read” a site and understand how best to work with it.

Interview with...........

Do you collect old bottles that you find in the bush?No, I collect particular new bottles, empty them carefully, and then put them in the recycling.

Any treasure you’ve found in the bush?

I found a large galvanised iron finial (the topmost part of a domed roof or steeple). I am yet to find out which building it may have come from.

Any tips about having a long and healthy career in bush regen?

Wear a hat, sun-cream, protective glasses, move carefully (most injuries are the result of tripping over). I like to swim after work – it’s relaxing and seems to prevent aches and pains developing.

Robert Parkinson

New Waverley Bushcare supervisor Robert Parkinson. Photo by Paul Angel


The density of the vegetation cover is directly related to the rainfall of the site. So, sites with high rainfall will have a dense cover of vegetation.

However, there is always some added complexity. Water is always needed to make the soil nutrients available to plant roots, so sites with rich soil but little rainfall will still not produce a tall vegetation community. Highly seasonal rainfall or inundation can have other effects.

What does this tell us about our Bushcare site?

Most of the Bushcare sites in Waverley receive quite high rainfall, compared to western Sydney. So the vegetation

Bush Ecology 101 with Paul: “It’s all about soil and rainfall”There are two main descriptors for the physical structure of a vegetation community- height of the dominant stratum and density (crown cover of vegetation). The widely-used classification system created by the renowned Australian Botanist, Ray Specht, used these two parameters to create a simple method that is still widely used today:

Now what does this tell us about the natural bushland environment?

The height of the tallest layer is directly related to the nutrient availability of the soils. For example, volcanic soils, rich in all the essential plant nutrients will generally have tall trees growing on them.

Form & height of tallest layer

Approximate crown cover %> 80% 50-80% 20-50% < 20%

Structural formation classes

Trees > 30 m Tall closed-forest Tall open-forest Tall woodland Tall open-woodland

Trees 10-30 m Closed-forest Open-forest Woodland Open-woodland

Trees 5-10 m Low closed-forest

Low open-forest Low woodland Low open-

woodland

Shrubs 2-8 m Closed-shrub Open-shrub Tall shrubland Tall open-shrubland

Shrubs 0-2 m Closed-heath Open-heath Low shrubland Low open-shrubland

Specht’s system of vegetation classification.

is very dense - almost a continuous layer. But, the soil is very sandy and typically low in nutrients. So the height of the dominant layer is low- a shrub layer. Therefore looking at the table below, many of the sites in Waverley are “Closed Shrublands” or “Closed Heathlands” resulting from this combination of high rainfall and low-nutrient soils.

Much of western Sydney, by comparison, is open forest or woodland owing to the local conditions of lower rainfall but higher nutrient (clayey) soils. Parts of the north shore of Sydney probably have the most productive conditions of good soils and high rainfall, hence the Blue gum high forest that grew there (once upon a time!).

I happened to be at Bronte for the Bushcare day on March 24 and was pleased to meet 4 new recruits at the site. Katie, Clair, Prahba and Van were certainly welcome and have the makings of excellent bushcarers. Under the tutelage of Vera, Stefan, Vanna and Paul (as well as Glen of course) I’m sure they will be experts in no time. Along with Nadine, who came along last time, this group is growing in more ways than one.

New Recruits at Bronte Gully


Around the Sites Waverley Bushcare in February

Being my first month in the new job, I’ve keen to pop in to the Bushcare sites and meet friends old and new (weather permitting).

TamaramaAlthough I got there late in the day Tony was still hard at it with Liina and Anthony both vigorously tackling Turkey Rhubarb. Liina must be so impressed with Bushcare that she is now a professional bush regenerator.

Hugh Bamford Reserve Robert Parkinson has taken up where I left off as the supervisor at Hugh Bamford. The day started with an introduction to the team (Anne, Anne and Dazza were all on site for the day, and Robyn popped in to say hello). This team has some of the most experienced volunteers who are really dedicated to this site. I’m sure Robert will be in safe hands.

Eastern ReserveRobert has also taken on supervising at Eastern Reserve and had his first day on the job in February. Robert knows the site well as he also leads the National Trust team contracted to carry out works in the reserve. Although weather threatened, Maria Llyd arrived and we got stuck in. The seeding Ehrharta, Sowthistle and Fleabane were targeted as a priority. Maria got involved deseeding some Turkey Rhubarb. Just as the team was staring to think about morning tea, the heavens opened up and the Bushcare team made a dash for the shelter of the cars nearby.

Diamond BaySue and Maryanne got caught in the same cloudburst that surprised us at Eastern Reserve. I’m sure they will be back for more next month but in the meantime I will pop around to see their site. Fernanda works her site on Sunday afternoons and I can’t wait to see the changes and progress she’s made.

Bronte Gully Glen’s been inviting me for a while, and finally I found a clear day to drop by. Paul, Stefan, Vanna and Vera were on site with Glen, and I was glad to see a new recruit, Nadine, join us for the day. The night before there had been some wild windy weather and much of the day was spent removing fallen Coral Trees from the Bushcare site. This was all done with great spirit. Special mention to Paul whose efforts with the saw were beyond the call of duty. Needless to say, the worst of the problem was solved and the shrubs and trees damaged by the fallen trees were freed up and full recovery seems likely. At the end of the day we got stuck in to some Turkey Rhubarb which was starting to set seed- a very worthwhile task! Great to finally meet this team dedicated to a the recovery of this unique site.

Robert and Maria at Eastern Reserve. Photo by Paul Angel


Sustainable Living Workshops Composting and Worm Farming Workshop

6th Apr 2013 10:00am-12:00pm

Join the Compost Revolution! This free workshop shows how easy it is to reduce household waste through the art of composting and worm farming.

Learn how to turn organic waste into food for your garden using a compost bin or worm farm. Topics covered include: principles of composting and worm farming, troubleshooting your compost or worm farm, what is better for you - a compost bin or worm farm, how to use compost and worm castings; and the environmental benefits of composting and worm farming. At the end of the workshop, residents of Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra will receive a voucher for a FREE compost bin or worm farm to take home.

Venue: Barrett House, 6 Barrett Place, Randwick

Bookings are essential, and spaces are limited. For more information and to secure your spot, contact:

City East Community College, Ph: 9387 7400 Web: www.cityeastcc.com.au/courses?s=compost

Eco-mushrooms; 10th Apr 2013 1:00pm-3:00pm

In this FREE practical workshop, you will learn all about the eco-mushroom pulp-to-protein sustainability project, including successful techniques for growing your own mushrooms. You will also create your own mushroom growing kit to take home.

Venue: Queens Park Room, Waverley Council Chambers, Bondi Rd, Bondi Junction

Bookings are essential, and spaces are limited.

For more information and to secure your place, contact: Environment Officer Ph: 9369 8045 [email protected]

Birds in the Backyard Wed 8 May 2013 9:30 am to 12:30pm In this workshop, we’ll explore design tricks using native plants and habitat creation.

How can we create bird-friendly spaces in our backyards, community gardens and parks? What do native birds need to live, breed and bring up their families? Birds find their food, shelter, water and nesting sites in a

natural environment, but what about in our backyards? We’ll learn some design tricks to create suitable habitat for birds using plants, ponds and other elements, and learn about the food and shelter needs of birds. Seed Saving Wed 5 June 2013 9:30 am to 12:30pm

It’s easy to grow vegies, but have you ever thought about collecting your own seed for the next season? Jane Mowbray, a local seedsaver, will show us how at this workshop.

We’ll explore the difference between preparing dry and wet seeds, and the techniques of threshing, winnowing and fermenting. We will also tour the Barrett House permaculture garden looking for suitable seeds to save, and we will learn about self-pollinating, open pollinated and hybrid plants and about choosing locally adapted seed that we can replant.

Both these courses will be held at Barrett House, 6 Barrett Place, Randwick.

For enquiries and bookings, contact:Environment Officer Ph: 9369 8045 [email protected]

On Saturday, 23 March we had a big cleanup to remove the litter and garbage that festooned so much of Tamarama Gully. Local Bushcare and Pocket Park volunteers teamed up the Responsible Runners group to give the Gully an extreme makeover. As we found beer bottles dating back to 1958 and soft drink cans that were measured in fluid ounces, it must have been a first! We also removed loads of shopping bags, coffee cups, plastic bottles, toys, building materials, clothes and shoes, packaging materials.... you name it, we found it. It was quite insightful in terms of human behaviour, as well as a study into the water flow processes of the gully which acts as a reservoir preventing garbage and litter from the streets from going straight out into the ocean. Hopefully we won’t need to do this again for a long time... Wishful thinking?

Tamarama Gully Clean-up

Tamarama Gully Clean-up

before (left) and after (right)

Photos by Paul Angel


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Bushcare Group locationsHugH BAMFoRd RESERVESecond Saturday of the month 9am–12noon

Meet at the end of the laneway between 46 and 48 Wentworth Street, Dover Heights.

BRonTE gullyEvery second Sunday 10am–1pm

Meet at the Bronte Park end of the gully.

TAMARAMA gullyNote that this group is now only meeting once a month until June. First Sunday of the month 9.30am–12.30pm

Meet at the bus stop on Tamarama Marine Drive (opposite beach).

dIAMond BAy RESERVE (RoSA gully)Third Saturday of the month 9am–12noon

Meet at the end of Diamond Bay Road, Vaucluse.

EASTERn RESERVEThird Saturday of the month 12noon–3pm

Meet at the end of Lancaster Road, Dover Heights.

TAMARAMA PoCKET PARK Second Saturday of February 2 pm–4 pm

Meet at the base of the waterfall at the ‘back’ of Tamarama Park on Tamarama Marine Drive.

Note that this group currently meets quarterly.

Autumn 2013 Bushcare datesAPRIl 2013Sunday 7 9.30 am–12.30 pm Tamarama GullySunday 7 10 am–1 pm Bronte Gully Saturday 13 9 am–12 noon Hugh Bamford ReserveSaturday 20 9 am–12 noon Diamond BaySaturday 20 9 am – 12 noon Eastern ReserveSunday 21 10 am–1 pm Bronte Gully

MAy 2013Sunday 5 9.30 am–12.30 pm Tamarama GullySunday 5 10 am–1 pm Bronte Gully Saturday 11 9 am–12 noon Hugh Bamford ReserveSaturday 11 2 pm to 4 pm Tamarama Pocket ParkSaturday 18 9 am–12 noon Diamond BaySaturday 18 9 am – 12 noon Eastern ReserveSunday 19 10 am–1 pm Bronte Gully

JunE 2013Sunday 2 9.30 am–12.30 noon Tamarama GullySunday 2 10 am–1 pm Bronte Gully Saturday 8 9 am–12 noon Hugh Bamford ReserveSaturday 15 9 am–12 noon Diamond Bay ReserveSaturday 15 9 am to 12 n oon Eastern ReserveSunday 16 10 am–1 pm Bronte Gully Sunday 30 10 am–1 pm Bronte Gully

noTE: Some dates may change, please phone Council’s Bushcare Co-ordinator on 9386 7915, or your Site Supervisor, to confirm.

Don’t forget to visit www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/things_to_do for a great list of events and happenings in and around Waverley.

hello all! - waverley council · consider 3 things: 1. some warm-up/warm-down stretches 2. slip,...

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