Did you know that there are 5 Bushcare groups operating on the Western Shores supported by Council with four more groups locally led. And on top of that there’s our Community Bush Food garden. That’s wonderful community support throughout the three Bays for our Pittwater Spotted Gum Forest and BaysNews congratulates each and every one of our volunteers.
Interestingly each group operates in a different way. Over the next year we will be profiling these groups to provide a summary of the options open to our newer residents who may be interested in learning a bit more about their environment.
First cab off the rank is ……..
ROCKY POINT BUSHCARE
Founded by Rocky Point residents Judy James, Rouge Hoffmann and Lesley Stevens in 2003 the group started weeding the Lovett Bay Beach banks then covered in lantana, asparagus fern, bidens, dandelions etc – you name it the Lovett Bay Beach had them all and very little else!
Council soon came to the party and, with the aid of a skilled bushcare officer and a very helpful Council grant, the local team was invited to spread their wings to Rocky Point itself as it was deemed to be a very scarce patch of intact Pittwater Spotted Gum Forest on a headland facing the danger of a complete takeover by all of the above weeds. Yes good people – weeds can kill a forest if unchecked.
Skipping along the subsequent 21 years – the possible bushcare team has grown to its current size of 19. Getting everyone there usually only happens at our Xmas party, but enough turn up every week to to keep ahead of the weeds and even allow us to dream of our two sites completely clear of weeds somewhere in the future. The volunteers mostly come from our local residents but astonishingly we also have friends who come from North Sydney, Manly, Newport and Scotland Island. While its tempting to think they come because we are such a wonderful bunch of people but we think its actually the cakes….
So what exactly happens at Bushcare? Let me run you through last week’s offering….
The text went out on the weekend reminding the group it was bushcare on Monday and it would be a Rocky Point starting at 0930 (a later than normal bushcare start to accommodate Monday’s Tai Chi regulars.)
No rain Monday morning so Bushcare was on! I wish I could tell you it was sunny with a light breeze. But alas no. This has to be an honest account. It was in fact one of our worse days. Only five of us turned up. Rocky Point was akin to a battleground as the gusts lashed the site and the dead trees threatened to drop their decaying limbs at any time. Our mood was not improved by the sight of unauthorised tree clearing and dumping carried out by the Lovett Bay water front property to the west.
However, having made it to the site we were determined to make the trip worthwhile. Huddled under smaller trees we attacked one of our ongoing problem plants – the grassy Ehrharta erecta or Panic Veld Grass from the Poaceae family and native to southern and eastern Africa. This grass is almost constantly in seed and develops large populations very quickly. Because it is so prolific it dominates the ground layer in native vegetation, restricting the growth and regeneration of indigenous plants and eventually eliminating smaller native species.
Dedicated as we are – we dont seek to be heroic and after a particularly wild wind gust it was suggested that we have a slightly delayed morning tea after which we would call it day.
This proved to be a very popular solution and In the shelter and comfort of a local home (with actual seats to sit on!) tea and coffee was served with chocolate crunch squares, macademia nut shortbread rounds, and fruit and hummus and crackers for the diet restricted amongst us. Topics discussed included the on-site dumping; the Forestry Corporation of NSW and their criminal management of conservation areas; the recent achievements and changes up at South West Rocks led by our very own Alan Hill aided and abetted by Alan Yuille and ex-local Caroline Adams; and some delicious local gossip that had us all giggling.
Finally we resolved to be more targeted and mobile each month. To that end we decided that October Bushcare will concentrate on the banks of the beach-facing properties along Lovett Bay Beach. It will be a shoulder to shoulder standing weed out with the goal of completing the sweep across the five properties in 2 or 3 sessions.
First Monday of the month good people @0930. Just roll up – we welcome newcomers – or, if you prefer the more formal approach, telephone Lesley on 0408623554 and receive your own personal invite to this exclusive gathering.