MT Rogers in May 2020; the surprising weather continues

At the beginning of the Covid 19 restrictions the Landcare Group was informed that we could not hold organised landcaring events for the duration. On 13^th May we were told that restrictions on Landcare activities had been eased provided there were not more than ten volunteers participating. We’re considering resuming official working-bees on Sunday 24^th May and Monday 1^st June. There’s no shortage of observation and weeding opportunities!  For example, do you recognise this rosette? (photo below)

Phil, Ted and Richard continued to spend hours walking across and observing Mt Rogers as their daily exercise routines. They’ve set themselves targets relating to specific weed species that have benefited from the sequence of warmth, rain events and sunny days. ALG,

Mustard, Prickly Lettuce, Verbascum, Fumitory, Capeweed, Plantain, Wild Oats are among the species making the reserve lush and green for the first time in years. The catch is that nothing eats the greenery tho pollinators visit blooms.

All round the region landcaring has continued with volunteers keeping their physical distances just as regular walkers on Mt Rogers have. Every time I’ve been there the track has been busy and most people have had smiles and greetings ready!

Congratulations to Mt Rogers’ regulars who were respecting the track repair project we began down from the Trig Point. Landcare volunteers’ dismay, anger, frustration have surfaced when Covid19 newcomers who don’t understand have undone the placement of branches on the Summit track descending east. They are determined to have their biking and running fun and test their challenges without any thought as to erosion’s effects on the terrain they are pummelling.

Rock-rolling has also been evident in reserves. Rocks are also moved as reptiles are sought. If only these people had the same awareness as the Mt Rogers’ caring community. Thousands of invertebrates are exposed by these actions. Lichens on the rocks are denied the cooler aspects most of them need to flourish and to exhibit the delicate collage of colours that autumn’s dampness stimulates. Lichens are a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and an alga.

Would anyone like to make a photographic collage of the Fungi species they’ve seen taking advantage of the warmth and dampness of recent weeks? Tall, tiny, puff-balls, Earth Stars, Slime Moulds, and the forests of sporangia from Lichens’ symbiotic partnerships. Bright orange bracket fungi hide under the tree trunks from which they’re recycling nutrients.

FungiMap can help with identifying what we find. Have you contemplated the hydraulic force needed to push through soil, asphalt and timber?

ABC Radio National’s Science Show led me to The Magic of Mushrooms. Listeners are introduced to a suite of research programs that instil optimism from the capabilities of the mycelia found throughout the Fungal Kingdom’s incredible diversity. From there I tried You Tube’s: The Fungus Whisperer aka Alison Pouliot who explains the essential nature of fungi in all aspects of our lives in an engaging and exciting way.

Kerri-Ann and Michael surprised a Brown Snake on 18^th April and took some spectacular photographs (above). By then we’d had a few cooler nights. Possibly the snake felt threatened by not being warm enough to react to their being near it by sliding away unseen. To confirm the pale-bellied snake’s identity Kerri-Ann sent the images to Canberra Nature Map where volunteer moderators agreed it was a Brown Snake. Anyone can send GPS-based images to CNM especially if the sighting is of an unusual organism. 

Mt Rogers has been visited by citizen science photographers in recent months resulting in an array of invertebrates being recorded as Mt Rogers’ residents. This is of great benefit to us as evidence of its being a place of biodiversity and conservation value on a par with the Canberra Nature P reserves that were gazetted as such. Other ways to go closer to identifying birds include the Canberra Birds’ or Canberra Nature Map’s websites.

Covid 19 has given many people time to be out and about with the weather often helping to encourage explorations busy lives couldn’t prioritise. More people have been out on Mt Rogers and appreciative. Some exceptional cubbies and tepees (e.g. photo below) have been created to, we hope, indicate that others feel a sense of belonging, as sense of home and even comfort in accepting the challenges of design, building and taking time just to BE in a special place surrounded by nature.

Angharad and Bob came across a Mixed Feeding Flock of small birds including several Jacky Winters. This sighting and a later one by Barbara is a major coup for Mt Rogers as Jacky Winters are rarely seen these days.  

I hope you’ve all seen or heard the Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoos during their visits or flying over our suburbs seeking cones and the grubs they hear under trees’ bark. There’s plenty of evidence of them using their strong beaks on a range of different trees’ trunks. It’s incredible to compare the cockatoos’ hearing with ours. They, and the Magpies I’m currently reading about, can hear the larvaes’ minute sounds before their beaks go into action.

And in The Guardian there's an important article on Flying Foxes, titled 'Fear of flying foxes: coronavirus is topping off a bad year for Australia's bats'. I don't know nearly enough about these incredibly important mammals but occasionally see them fly around the streetlights seeking insects attracted to the light. 

Native Sorghum has recently been found, flowering, in two places where I thought the clusters had died. They seem to have responded to the Hazard Reduction Burns in each case, though the rain sequences may have induced late flowering. I took the photo below at The Pinnacle some years ago; it shows the grass flowers' colours when fully out and in summer warmth. The Pinnacle is another of the special habitats we share with thousands of other species. 

Sorghum in flower on The Pinnacle, 13.12.13. 

This view is now altered forever by the Whitlam and Denman Prospect developments in the distance.

Grasses flowering west of Snow Gum corner now, on The Pinnacle. 

Being outdoors has become trendy but our community is observant too! 

Rosemary, Convenor, Mt Rogers Landcare Group.    6258 4724.

Mount Rogers in March 2020

Today, for the first time in ages I walked Mt Rogers whilst the dog ran himself into the ground exploring in, I assumed, a snake-free opportunity. 

The rain induced growth is both fascinating and amazing for plants and fungi. 

I went up to the summit via a zig-zagging route and pulling up a few weeds along the way.

  

I was keen to check out the rain's effects on the erosion measures we Landcarers put in place on 23rd February and 2nd March.

Eleven of us were there on 23rd to share solutions and begin the process of reducing the rainwater’s flow downhill. We put branches along the edges of the eroded path down from the Trig point. On 2nd we augmented that procedure by adding rocky-weirs into the track-gully itself to slow the water and also trap any debris. Water seems to have gone sideways across the reserve through new and older run-offs. 

 

Jennifer created several signs based on wording from Phil’s research. Sarah brought expertise in landscape repair from her own experiences in the region and David Tongway’s even broader Landscape Function Analysis. 

Julie and Jemima filled half a bucket with broken glass from around the Trig Point. Richard continued collecting on 2nd and later filled his own bucket with more pieces. 

We have therefore done our bit for the official Clean Up Day…but apart from the mindless bottle-smashing on the Summit you all keep Mt Rogers so clear of rubbish every day that an official event hasn’t been necessary for 2 decades. 

Today I noticed people have begun to use or recreate a track to the south of the Trig. At the moment they are going across the grassy slope and gradually going down towards the south-eastern section of the gravel path. This is great route because the grasses there are mostly introduced species; we won’t be losing any native vegetation. 

More on the erosion efforts and why, where, when, how and what…in the Page added to this blog site, at top right, called 'Mt Rogers Erosion project Notes 2020'.

Ted recorded that a contractor has been spraying African Lovegrass (ALG) between the main path and houses’ back fences in the past week (10th to 15th). Ted has joined Steve by daubing isolated ALG tussocks deeper into the reserve and alongside the cross-country tracks. Steve has persisted with spraying the ALG to the north of the Wickens Place Carpark as it threatens the most biodiverse part of the whole 65ha reserve.  

On Saturday 22nd February Chris sent two phone-photos of a Frogmouth he’d found in Keane Place. Later and after Angharad had checked the bird I took it to the Belconnen Veterinary Hospital in Weetangera. When I emailed on Monday I found out that it wasn’t seriously injured so euthanising was avoided. We had sound advice from ACT Wildlife 0432 300 033 who suggested the Belconnen vet and Gungahlin Veterinary Hospital would handle wildlife. 

The Frogmouth was collected from the vet’s by an ACT Wildlife carer. After it has recovered it will be returned to Mt Rogers as a result of the form I filled in. A good surprise for its mate as they mate for life I believe.

I noticed a couple reading the Information Sheets on the seats today. Another thank you for Morgan and family for reinstalling these and in such a sturdy way.

The next working bees are scheduled for Sunday 22nd March and Monday 6th April.

We’ll be in touch again briefly to notify about the details.

Thanks for the community you have created and maintained on Mt Rogers,

Rosemary

Mt Rogers’ first newsletter in the new decade, 2020

Heavy machinery has been used to clear shrubs and understorey in the land north of Fraser and parallel to Kuringa Drive. In spite of the invasive weeds that have taken advantage of this grassy woodland remnant it was a linear haven and connectivity space for native fauna. Kangaroos and birds paused and foraged there between Mt Rogers and the broad open spaces of CSIRO land, Hall’s habitats and the grazing country around Gungahlin.

We’ve heard that the clearing is to protect assets and lives from potential fires.

When we despair at the devastation the 2019 – 2020 summer has wrought in Australia here is a link that may bring some hope.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-23/what-i-learnt-about-the-australian-bushfires-living-on-the-edge/11885000

It’s also an example of the thousands of effective, grassroots actions that are not newsworthy enough for the majority of media outlets.

And, with case studies in our region, follow another line of visionary practice through regenerative agriculture and rehydrating soils: the Mulloon Institute, Martin Royds and Charles Massy … though I’m not sure how they have been affected by fires in the Braidwood area.

And close to the subject of fires, there was post from Steve Taylor, Invasive Species Officer, on the ACT and SE NSW Invasive Plants Facebook page. He said that the fire that swept rapidly towards Queanbeyan from near the airport was burning large areas of African Love Grass that his weeds unit had mapped.

Mt Rogers’ folk were among the first to respond to the humane logic of putting water out for wildlife. They included partially submerged sticks or flat rocks in the water for animals with short legs.

Maybe you’ve noticed unusual visitors in your gardens?

Some young and later adult Eastern Spinebills had a great time on an orange-flowered Grevillea. They behave like L-plated Humming Birds at times hovering whilst protruding their tongues into the flowers’ tubular petals. I suspect they may be ‘high’ on the nectar’s sugary content but then burn off energy chasing each other around. Our Correas are flowering now and the Spinebills visit them.

Twice now we’ve heard a Koel fledgling calling from shrubs near the back fence.

I watched out for the cuckoo chick’s host and saw it being fed by a Red Wattlebird. The adult Koels are still heard from time to time. I wonder what benefits come from having other birds incubate and raise cuckoos’ chicks?

Less appealing, we’ve also had flocks of Indian Mynas and Starlings around due to two-doors-down’s indiscriminate feeding of birds. Anyone been trapping Mynas recently? With food so scarce we can’t afford poachers!

Lyndon reported “3 Straw-necked Ibis on Mt. Rogers, Flynn, at 5 pm today. My first ever sighting of these birds on Mt. Rogers in the 43 years I have lived here.” We’ve seen the Ibis flying over Mt Rogers and on school ovals but never digging amongst the reserve’s grass.

Barbara photographed Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos in their Bainton Crescent garden also on 6^th January. It’s early, I’d suggest, for the big cockatoos to be back in Canberra foraging.

I finally ‘got round to’ sending reports of my Echidna sightings to Echidna Watch on Kangaroo Island. Peggy Rismiller and her team have been studying these iconic monotremes for many decades and welcome sighting reports from our region. I went back through photos and filled out forms for each memorable event. The Pelican Lagoon Research Centre has a website but the online reporting facility isn’t working at the moment. Thank you for the several Mt Rogers sightings you’ve mentioned to me. Let’s ensure the Mt Rogers’ echidnas are on Peggy’s maps. Sightings can also be sent to Canberra Nature Map.

Far less happy are the reports of dead trees on Mt Rogers. Each of our gardens shows similar effects of the drought and the desperate lack of soil moisture that is even killing long-established species. We have had some rain but the soil has been hydrophobic for months, preventing rain from soaking into the soil to restore thirsty plants if it falls too quickly.

Ted commented that Mt Rogers has been “in survival mode”. It will be interesting to see which invasive species are the first to spring back to being green after the rain we’ve had. Mustard, Prickly Lettuce and Skeleton weed are three species I’ve seen most frequently green and flowering with a background of beige on pulverised nature strip grass.

Phil seems cautiously optimistic about the after-the-rain-state of the erosion run-offs he tirelessly creates and monitors on Mt Rogers. The main path would be much more uneven were it not for Phil’s efforts. The ACT budget would be redder without the thousands of volunteer hours people contribute to Landcaring and the hundreds of other ways volunteers support the communities they believe in.

We will resume our customary 4^th Sunday and 1^st Monday working bee sessions on Monday February 3^rd. Angharad, Ted and Phil have already contributed activity suggestions based on their regular walks and the observations they’ve made. Thanks to feedback from them, we’ll meet at the Wickens Place carpark at 08.30am unless anyone’s forecast suggests it will be cooler than Friday 31^st’s 39 degrees.

If there is a Total Fire Ban or the forecast is for temperatures above 35 degrees the working bee will be cancelled. In December we created a coffee-based planning meeting out of the cancelled Monday working bee. So a pleasant precedent has been set!

A revised introduction to Mt Rogers is now on the Ginninderra Catchment Group’s website, as our Landcare Group’s volunteering happens in the catchment of Ginninderra Creek.

https://ginninderralandcare.org.au/mount-rogers-landcare-group/  

Thanks again to Ann who diligently updates the Mt Rogers blog: mtrogerslandcare.blogspot.com for us.

Rosemary 25.01.20. 6258 4724

A late November 2019 working bee

We had a working bee at “Bridget’s” (the section of Mt Rogers that was 'Hazard Reduction Burnt' in April 2019)  and the bush to the north of the carpark area at Wickens Place, Fraser.

Our 08.30 start was a precaution against the day heating up, but cloud cover didn’t clear until we were home again. Our rewards for another eight hours of volunteering were that working conditions were ideal; the cool start being enjoyed by a score or more of other Mt Rogers people walking along the track.

Before we even began we had fly-pasts from at least five Superb parrots. Angharad began seeing a pair of Superbs on 14th November.

Angharad, Phil and Ted were apologies as they had other calls on their time for Sunday 24th.

It was great to welcome Jemima and Ivan back to the workforce from unavailability through UniCan studies and a sore shoulder respectively. 

Chris came over to return pairs of gaiters he and Margaret had borrowed for more active landcaring. They’re part of the team that collects rubbish on their daily walks. Morgan and her family have replaced the information sheets around Mt Rogers’ seats with more robust editions.

The essence of Landcare volunteering is that we offer and share skills as and when we can, appreciating the valued contribution of those who visit Mt Rogers and share their appreciation for this special place.

Angharad has been watching the Frogmouth family she found once they’d established their 2019 nest. The photos are gorgeous. Here is one of them. 

Ivan noted seeing Frogmouths in their Spence garden. This is possibly another pair as the 65 hectare size of the reserve could support 4–6 families because of the flowers, shrubs and therefore insects we have in nearby gardens.

Chris reported that Margaret had found evidence of Satin Bowerbirds using the reserve’s shrubby cover for a bower site. Bowerbirds are another species that enjoys visiting and sometimes raiding gardens for fruit and vegetable delicacies. 

We walked over to “Bridget’s” (named after Bridget who used to live in Woodger Place and walked Mt Rogers regularly in those days) to check on the African Lovegrass (ALG) growth that threatens the biodiversity of the bush there.

We did a circuit of the area, digging or pulling out Paterson’s Curse, daubing isolated ALG tussocks, Mustard, Skeleton Weed and Flatweed.

As we worked we learned and shared stories, experiences and information.

The Paterson’s Curse we found in this area is its Boraginaceae family relative, Viper’s Bugloss. There are real Paterson’s Curse plants elsewhere in the reserve but not as many as there once were.

The ALG infestation is recovering well from the Hazard Reduction Burn although the isolated tussocks are more affected by the dryness than those nearest the footpath.

There were scattered Flatweed plants; worth digging up so they didn’t take more moisture from the recovering native vegetation.

The Flatweed flowers are dandelion-yellow. They’re held aloft on long, thin stalks to attract pollinators whereas Dandelions’ stalks are hollow and exude white sap when cut.

Each Flatweed flowerhead is a composite of 50–70 individual florets which, when pollinated, produce 50–70 seeds to be blown away on the wind … as infested, unkempt nature strips show all around the ACT and beyond.

Farther away from the path and carpark we were treated to an almost-swathe of yellow native daisies: Chrysocephalum apiculatum & Chrysocephalum semipapposum. Both have clusters of pom-pom flowers, the first being a ground cover species.

There were a few native St John’s Wort plants just beginning to flower.

Greenish-beige patches of native Plantain were affected by the dryness. We dug out a few of the introduced plantain plants and tried to tell the difference from their leaves and flowers. 

Bluebells, Convolvulus and native grasses were more cryptic. A Tricoryne lily would wait until the sun was really shining before opening its yellow petals. These natives each have a robust root system to withstand the cool burns from April.

Many of the Grevillea bushes had white scale infestations on them.

Closer to Woodger Place were several regenerating Indigofera adesmiifolia bushes and the offspring they’d produced over the years.

The huge ALG patch was daunting but we dug out a score of the tussocks. We cut off flowers on some of the isolated African Lovegrass plants and bagged them.

Too much digging would make the soil prone to erosion.

On the way back to the cars we couldn’t resist doing some cosmetic landcaring by digging out the large and smaller Mustard plants growing amongst the carpark’s mown ALG. This was a salute to Phil who’s dug out hundreds of Mustard plants in the bush behind Schwarz Place. We filled 4–5 bags with Mustard and Prickly Lettuce plants earlier in the year and TCCS were quite prompt in taking the bags away to be mulched into compost.

We shared stories of poorly managed “dogs off leash”, the few irresponsible owners who brought their dogs to Mt Rogers regardless of others’ and wildlife’s safety and others whose dogs caused attacks within the suburbs. We agreed on, and Marion later confirmed, appreciation for the Dog Compliance Rangers who have visited Mt Rogers and got to know several of the law-abiding Mt Rogers community in conversation … and dealt with deviants.

Today I met the man who brings mince to the Mt Rogers magpies. Let’s hope he uses preservative-free mince.

Most Mt Rogers people would have shallow bird baths for the birds that visit their gardens. We have a broken piece of terracotta pot in the saucer-shaped dish so bees and small birds can reach the water without risk of falling in. 

Mt Rogers and so many gardens already have a February–March look. 

Let’s hope the next edition of Our Canberra has advice on how and when to water for those new to our region and to gardening.

Rosemary

24 November 2019

MT ROGERS WORKING-BEES late August early September

SUNDAY 25 AUGUST

Working from above the easement between Hammett and Carey places on the east side of Mt Rogers from 09.30 am.

MONDAY 2 SEPTEMBER

Walk, Wonder & Weed from the Wickens Place (Fraser) carpark from 09.00 am.

WEAR working-gear & hat, sturdy footwear, sunscreen. BRING water to drink & a snack. Gloves, gaiters and tools provided.

NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE OR LANDCARE KNOWLEDGE NEEDED!!

MT ROGERS NEWSLETTER……. AUGUST 2019

Yesterday, 5^th August, we held a scheduled Working Bee though I’d fallen down on timely notices and email alerts. Angharad, Ted and I set off on a wander and weed walk through the reserve checking regrowth at the Honeysuckle patches. 

Today I walked to south of the Second Summit with double-ended hoe at the ready. Our respective treks prompted the following observations and news items.

The Cootamundra Wattles are coming into their peak flowering. Insectivorous birds will be glad of invertebrates amongst the blossoms after the continuing dryness and consequent lack of food. At several places in the Prescribed Burn area of April 2018 we continued our task of pulling out Cootamundra Wattle seedlings. This will reduce their chances of creating monocultures where little else will grow.

Wattles’ seeds split after exposure to extreme heat allowing mass germination. In a number of places we found that other wattle species had germinated and the seedlings were thriving. They, even in smaller numbers, will go on to enrich the soil for the eucalypts, native shrubs, wildflowers and grasses.

Were it not so dry it would be an interesting exercise to plant Red-Stemmed wattles, Bursaria and Cassinia in places where the locally occurring wattles haven’t come up after the burn.

Mustard and Prickly Lettuce seedlings are responding to the fertility from the ash in several places. As you’ll have seen, Phil has filled four wool bags with Mustard plants to reduce the number of seeds they have shed into the fertile ashy soil. There are dense crops of Fumitory in places too. Prickly lettuce can be eaten, according to the Weed Forager’s Handbook, but I’m not sure about the other two. Allan from TCCS has asked the operations team to collect the bags for us.

Allan is the liaison person between volunteer Landcare groups and TCCS, formerly TAMS. He has shown interest in an ALG management Trial in the area that was burnt earlier this year south of Woodger Place. Ted and Angharad are interested in being part of the organising and monitoring, with a planning meeting scheduled for Monday 26^th.

Honeysuckle seems to be quiescent at the moment though we found a few green leaves at each of the sites where we’d previously removed large infestations. As with most weed situations, persistence at the sites and long-term monitoring are the keys to success.

We checked the Tree of Heaven site and “all was quiet” there also but that’s how the species behaves in winter. Some of the apparently dead stumps can be pushed over but will that stimulate suckers, we wonder?

We’re working on a ‘Management Plan’ for Mt Rogers with Angharad using the Richardsons’ weeds book to compile a list of invasives that grow on Mt Rogers.

The management plans have existed in our heads for years so a written document will be more formal.

During my meanders today I found about 50 Serrated Tussock plants to dig out.

They were south of the Second Summit. It’s quite a well-used lookout to the south-west and kangaroos regularly visit the open space which was burnt in April 2018.

After a previous and “accidental” fire in this area many Prickly Lettuce germinated. By January they were starting to flower. We cut them down just below soil level early in the morning and they didn’t regrow as it was too hot for soil moisture to help. Maybe we’ll use a similar process for the current incursions of Prickly Lettuce.

Cutting down weeds and leaving the debris to decay with the help of soil microbes is a method championed by Peter Andrews in NSW’s Bylong Valley.

The Mulloon Institute and other regenerative agriculture adherents include the use of slashed, weedy debris to shade exposed soils and retain moisture.

If the prospect of further land clearing and mining fragile Australian soils by large-scale agricultural methods worries you there are world-wide efforts to restore soils and native grasslands. Charles Massy on the Monaro and Martin Royds near Braidwood give us hope for a future locally as they’ve changed their methods by “reading the landscape” on their properties. They also slow and divert their creeks’ waters across the landscape as Phil does with Mt Rogers’ run-off flows.

Spring brings us another opportunity to read the landscape in that, with the addition of water, annual weeds readily take over vacant space in our gardens. The Weed Forager’s Handbook illustrates common edible weeds and how they can be used. Suitably prepared, weeds such as Chickweed, Fat Hen, Dandelion, Prickly Lettuce, Sticky Weed and Stinging Nettles are nutritious additions to our meals.

The under-fives are especially observant if they’re outdoors. I had a cheering experience today in the middle of the ex-Belconnen Police Station site. A young boy and his mother were busy watching and studying the Apina callisto caterpillars that were finding something to graze on amongst the site’s weeds. These incredible larvae have antifreeze in their bodies so they survive the –5C winter mornings. 

Later they pupate in tunnels they’ve dug in compacted soils before emerging as Pasture Day Moths in about April. 

I gave the family Nature Play Passports so they could record their story and perhaps go on other exploration ideas from the Nature Play website. It has activity lists for all up to the age of 12+. If you’d like FREE passports let me know and I’ll send them to you. Or Alesha from Nature Play CBR will mail them to you. 

Elan has been devising the wording for our own signs about dog behaviour and owners’ responsibilities. These have been necessary for years but there is still no word from Domestic Animal Services about signs we wanted following the On-leash – Off-leash saga in 2014. Thanks to Chris and Angharad for input on the wording.

I’ve made a note of the Information Sheets that are missing. Others are missing along Ginninderra Creek’s paths at Latham too, so I must get organised with reprinting them.

Rosemary, Mt Rogers Landcare Group Convenor…… 6258 4724……..07.08.19.

June 2019 on Mt Rogers

As another misty start to our daylight creates jewelled cobwebs on the bushes and dew-dropped branches here’s a June gathering of news for Mt Rogers.

The other day I came across an article showing that 2 hours of connection with nature each week keeps people healthier….which confirms that Mt Rogers folk are ahead of health “discoveries” by two+ decades!!

There’s a new and appealing exhibition at Belconnen Arts Centre: Barka the Forgotten River. Badger Bates' and Justine Muller’s evocative images speak for the plight of the Darling River and the diverse communities that depend on its health and water cycles. The exhibition is on until 21st July. (10am Tuesdays to and including Sundays).

I had a look at the new wetlands structure created below Lake Ginninderra’s dam wall recently. It’s at Evatt, accessible by parking at Croke Place off William Webb Drive and by walking past on the footpath to and from Belconnen beside Ginninderra Creek. 

Also nearby are the Native Grassland plots that are part of Ken Hodgkinson’s decades-long grassland restoration experimental projects. These studies show effective ways to restore the natural grasslands on which Canberra was built.

There’s another new wetlands project off Copland Drive with links to stormwater management works at Florey…and ALL AFFECT THE WATER GOING INTO GINNINDERRA CREEK and thus the Murrumbidgee and Murray-Darling Basin system.

These welcome works are part of a Federally funded initiative for urban waterways: The Healthy Waterways project has a public education H20K (H two O) component that tries to prevent pollutants from entering waterways from households. And that includes excess garden fertilisers that encourage blue-green algae under increasingly regular conditions. If anyone wants to help volunteer to stencil drains as part of this awareness campaigns please contact Waterwatch and GInninderra Catchment Group on 6278 3309.

Ann and I helped introduce CIT horticultural students to grassland management by showing them how to identify and manage African Lovegrass near the inspiring creekside Landcare site cared for by North Belconnen Landcare Group. 

Lenore initiated Landcare for Littlies there at Evatt with landcarers from babes-in-arms to ninety year olds. Check out their Facebook site for regular creek-side activities.

The next Mt Rogers working bees are scheduled for:

• Sunday 23rd June starting from 09.30 and meeting at the Wickens Place carpark. We’ll take out a few saplings so the mowers can cut a deeper swathe of African Lovegrass beside the Wickens Place entry road.
• Monday 1st July starting from 09.30 and meeting near the Notice Box north of Rechner Place, Flynn. We’ll continue the work on seedlings and saplings that have germinated after the Hazard Reduction Burn of April 2018.