A new sign
We have received notification
from Minister Fitzharris, as Minister for Transport Canberra & City
Services (TCCS, formerly TAMS), that $2,000 has been allocated by the department towards the cost of
providing a sign for Mt Rogers. It will replace a wooden sign with galvanised
posts that has long been missing from alongside the carpark at Wickens Place,
Fraser.
The new sign consists of a
large boulder engraved with the name Mt ROGERS and supported by smaller rocks.
The engraving will be carried out by Phil Nizette of Wellspring Arts and
Design.
Phil selected the boulders
from the Mitchell Rocks depository on 1st February and he then
quoted $3,000 for his several days’ on site work + GST.
TCCS will contribute to the
project by moving the boulder and associated rocks and positioning them at
Wickens Place under Phil’s supervision. Two of our Mt Rogers community members
have offered contributions. If anyone else would like to make contributions the
Landcare Group would be most grateful.
6258 4724 for details of how to send the money via the Ginninderra Catchment
Group.
If you like the idea we could
obtain further approvals for adding some hardy native plants around the rock
sign….but of course they would need watering-in and continual care and
monitoring and Wickens Place is a challenging environment for groundcovers and
shrubs.
It’s coincidental that
sections of the decrepit fencing at Wickens Place have been replaced by
boulders. These will complement the new sign well and vice versa.
Weeds mapped
Steve Taylor, ACT Weeds
Officer, has prepared a map showing where weed species (African Lovegrass (ALG),
Serrated Tussock, Chilean Needle Grass and African Parramatta Grass) have been
sprayed within Mt Rogers’ 65 hectares. The map records Steve D’s volunteer efforts
as a landcarer and those of contractors who are contracted by TCCS to treat
weeds.
As sites go Mt Rogers is
relatively ‘clean’ but even so it’s not surprising that the main problem areas
are along the tracks used by feet, paws and wheels. The dense and probable
source of much ALG infestation at Wickens Place is not mentioned however.
As you know, the main vectors
of weed seeds are the mowers. Landcaring groups throughout Ginninderra Creek’s
Catchment have raised this issue for decades trying to ensure that mower
supervisors insist that the areas most free of weed species are mown before
infested places.
Grassland ‘special places’
There has been some progress
in that the value of native grassland places at Evatt and Latham has been recognised
by specific mowing procedures and directions.
Mt Rogers is a Grassy
Woodland ecosystem and does, as you know, have a few small areas of very good
native vegetation that are also relatively weed free. They’re the focus of our
detailed weeding and monitoring efforts.
Tree of Heaven
Two working bees have
focussed attention on the large Tree of Heaven infestation. The Ailanthus altissima has suckered from a
parent tree from, I assume, 40–50 years ago. We sought advice from the Urban
Weeds Officer but there are insufficient funds for the TCCS unit to tackle this
intractable problem. Phil G delved into the diverse research sources and we
have applied a combination of methods against 2/3 of the visible seedlings and
interconnected small trees. If you walk past the site you may notice the
debris. The cut-off stumps are a major trip hazard hidden amongst the rank
grass.
We welcomed Colin P to the
Monday 1st working bee and I hope we didn’t wear out his sawing
muscles. On Sunday 23rd Phil, Ted, Anne C, Ivan, Angharad, Ann M and
I began the effort. We used the cut & daub method but also tried Frilling
some of the thicker stems. (Photos from that day are in the April blog post, below.)
Steve D is poised to spot
spray new growth and new leaves once spring arrives. With the whole plant being
toxic one really does wonder at the logic of importing this species in the
first place. The trees’ autumn colour is interesting but there are many other
species that provide that feature.
Early Wattle
I noticed from the bus and on
the cutting sides of College Street that Early Wattle, Acacia genistifolia, is
in flower. The Guides planted a few just in from Wickens Place in 2010 so their
pale cream flowers may be visible on Mt Rogers. (The photo of this species, below, is from a site at Jerrabomberra in 2014, by Andrew Zelnik.)
Colour
Scarlet Robins are back in
some of their usual cool months haunts. They are increasingly threatened by
encroachment of housing in this region so are worth reporting if you see them.
Even more spectacular was a sighting at Giralang Ponds of an Azure Kingfisher.
Sacred Kingfishers are attractive in their own right and regulars in the ACT
region but the intense Azure blue of the “rare vagrant” in the ACT is a natural
wonder.
This photo is by Duncan McCaskill.
Natural Playgrounds
I’ve recently had three
inspiring experiences with natural areas as children’s play spaces.
a) The Open Gardens Canberra
scheme introduced The Children’s Garden in Holt. The parents allowed their
garden preferences to adapt to the arrival of children, now 6, 8 and 10. Large climbable
trees shade the garden where a deck is an outdoor room, where there are chooks,
a sand pit, an orchard area including plots for each of the children’s
vegetable preferences. A pile of soil proved much more popular for unstructured
play than the large sandpit. This possibly proved that the young bodies
instinctively knew that making mud pies, getting ‘dirty’, experimenting with ‘clay’
and water provided their bodies with beneficial microbes to enhance their
developing immune systems and gut biodiversity. The family also adopted and
weeded part of the easement alongside their place. This extended their play
space into public land and also allowed the children more play opportunities
with minimal supervision.
b) There was a meeting of
many of the Urban Landcare Convenors where three examples of reclaiming public
garden spaces were explained. They were near Curtin shops, an easement through
O’Connor and the Lyneham Commons garden not far from the shops. In each case
community groups, like ours, had formed to achieve restoration and reimagining
for a public place. Other locals had been drawn in, and TCCS personnel had
provided assistance and links for supplied materials including plants. They’d helped
communities apply for grants to cover costs.
c) Nature Play Canberra
invited Adam and Jill Bienenstock to explain how their Natural Playgrounds had
evolved in Canada. Spend some time browsing www.naturalplaygrounds.ca/adam-bienenstock
to discover how, time and time again, children
choose natural structures such as grassy slopes, logs, rocks, piles of soil,
hay-bales, nearby trees and natural collectables for their play over
manufactured slides, plastic seats and expensive, adult-designed climbing
equipment. They use their imaginations, communicate, collaborate, help each
other to climb, classify found objects, get messy and clean up after jumping in
puddles or making mud pies. The improvement in in-classroom skills, work and
enthusiasm after outdoor, unstructured play is incredible.
The session was
attended by Early Childhood teachers amongst other interested folk. It’s to be hoped that more ACT schools and
Child Centres are able to overcome the shackles imposed by litigious parents
and the insurance industry to give more children the natural, outdoor childhood
their bodies and minds need. Mt Rogers
gives health to us. We know there’s plenty to offer curious and observant
people outdoors. Let’s hope schools can rethink their definitions of
playgrounds and even use the bush near most schools to extend their students’
experiences on a daily basis.
..............
Our next WORKING BEE dates are Sunday 28th
May and Monday 5th June. For
both, meet at 09.30am. We’ll go after Cootamundra Wattle saplings in the
eastern part of the reserve. On the Sunday, meet at Mildenhall Place, Fraser;
and on the Monday meet at Snow Gum Corner ‘above’ east Schwarz Place, Flynn.
Rosemary 6258 4724
