Life and Death in the Cemetery SSiiggnniiffiiccaanntt vveeggeettaattiioonn iinn tthhee TToowwaamm bbaa CCeemmeetteerryy November 2006 Paul McPherson and updated 2008, 2010 Towamba School Class 3‐6, 2006 Life and death in the cemetery Significant vegetation in the Towamba Cemetery Acknowledgements In addition to the 2006 survey, this report incorporates information and findings contained in Jackie Miles’ report on the vegetation of the Towamba Cemetery prepared for Council in 2001. Thanks to Bega Valley Shire Council and the Towamba Cemetery Management Committee for permission to conduct the survey, and for delaying mowing until after the 2006 survey period. Class 3‐6 from Towamba School provided useful data on wildflower species in the cemetery, including mapped distributions and estimates of abundance (refer Attachment 3). Thanks to the kids for some fine survey work. The students participating in the survey exercise were: Ross Baker Claire McKenna Rowan Caldwell Siobhan McKenna Andy Clynch Caley McPherson Craig Clynch Lennon Reddy Cabrini d’Arcy Stewart Kali Samuels‐Connell Kane Gardaya Caleb Smith Jesse Hadley Sol Stone Miranda Hadley Shaun Vandermey Bill Harris Jack Webster Cale Harris Eli Wiebe Theo Kelly Will Wiebe Matt Knight Thanks also to Towamba Public School Principal/teacher Tanja Vogt, and teacher Donna Beaven for so enthusiastically supporting the survey exercise, to the parents ‐ Jo Caldwell, Phill and Kimberley Dodd and Nicci Grant ‐ who assisted on the day, and to busdriver Ken Connell for providing transport. Paul McPherson 38 Big Jack Mountain Road Burragate NSW 2550 Email: [email protected] Ph. 02 6496 7075 November 2006 Paul McPherson and Towamba School Class 3‐6 i Life and death in the cemetery Significant vegetation in the Towamba Cemetery Contents 1 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... 1 2 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 2 3 SIGNIFICANT PLANT SPECIES IN THE CEMETERY ................................................... 3 3.1 REGIONALLY RARE AND UNCOMMON SPECIES ........................................................................... 3 3.2 RARE SPECIES PROFILES ............................................................................................................... 5 3.2.1 Snake Orchid ................................................................................................................................................. 5 3.2.2 Brittle Greenhood ......................................................................................................................................... 6 3.2.3 Pipewort ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 3.3 OTHER WILDFLOWER SPECIES ..................................................................................................... 8 4 SIGNIFICANT PLANT COMMUNITIES IN THE CEMETERY ........................................ 9 4.1 BEGA WET SHRUB FOREST ........................................................................................................... 9 4.2 GRASSY WOODLAND .................................................................................................................... 9 5 SIGNIFICANT FAUNA .......................................................................................... 11 6 MANAGING KANGAROO GRASS COMMUNITIES ................................................. 12 6.1 THE IMPORTANCE OF KANGAROO GRASS ................................................................................. 12 6.2 GROWTH PATTERNS IN KANGAROO GRASS COMMUNITIES ..................................................... 12 6.3 THE NEED FOR REGULAR DEFOLIATION ..................................................................................... 12 7 MANAGING TOWAMBA CEMETERY .................................................................... 14 7.1 MANAGEMENT AREAS ............................................................................................................... 14 7.2 MOWING AND BURNING ........................................................................................................... 15 7.2.1 Mowing ....................................................................................................................................................... 15 7.2.2 Ecological burning ...................................................................................................................................... 16 7.2.3 Possible mowing and burning schedules .................................................................................................... 18 7.3 WEED CONTROL ......................................................................................................................... 20 7.4 TREE PLANTINGS ........................................................................................................................ 21 7.5 OTHER MANAGEMENT ISSUES ................................................................................................... 21 7.5.1 Grave plantings ........................................................................................................................................... 21 7.5.2 Grave sites and burial practices .................................................................................................................. 22 7.5.3 Visitor car parking ....................................................................................................................................... 22 7.5.4 Pile burning ................................................................................................................................................. 22 7.5.5 Rabbits ........................................................................................................................................................ 22 7.5.6 Sheep, cattle and horse grazing ................................................................................................................. 22 7.5.7 Bog patch protection .................................................................................................................................. 22 7.5.8 Education and interpretation ..................................................................................................................... 23 8 REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ................................................................ 24 November 2006 Paul McPherson and Towamba School Class 3‐6 ii Life and death in the cemetery Significant vegetation in the Towamba Cemetery Attachment 1 Plants recorded at the Towamba Cemetery Attachment 2 Photographs of some significant plants Attachment 3 School survey materials and results November 2006 Paul McPherson and Towamba School Class 3‐6 iii Life and death in the cemetery Significant vegetation in the Towamba Cemetery 1 SUMMARY Dry grassy woodland has dramatically declined in the Far South Coast region since European settlement, and continues to decline. There is virtually none included in conservation reserves in the region and most remnants are on roadsides, in cemeteries and on lightly grazed private farmland. Lowland Grassy Woodland has been listed as an Endangered Ecological Community under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. The Towamba Cemetery contains native grassland dominated by Kangaroo Grass that is closely related to Lowland Grassy Woodland. This vegetation may be remnant from an original grassy woodland formation, or the result of the effects of clearing, burning or other management practices on Bega Wet Shrub Forest. Although the tree layer has been largely removed, the grassland at the cemetery is diverse and supports a number of species which are rare in the region. The cemetery has the only recorded occurrences of the Snake Orchid and Brittle Greenhood in the region. The cemetery has at least a dozen other species associated with grassy woodland which are now uncommon in the region. These shrubs, lilies, daisies, peas and orchids provide an attractive flowering display in spring. Some of these species are only just holding on in the cemetery, and can be expected to be lost without sympathetic management. This report describes the significant plant species in the cemetery and identifies ways to ensure they are conserved into the future. The main recommended changes to current management are: dividing the cemetery into a Grave Management Area and three outer Grassland Management Areas; delaying mowing of the Grassland Management Areas until February to allow time for flowering and seeding; resting the north and south Grassland Management Areas (no mowing) on a three or four year cycle. Some weed control, fence repair and restrictions on ornamental planting are also considered necessary. Managed appropriately, the cemetery offers an important educational resource for the Towamba School and the wider community. It is possible to achieve human burial, educational and conservation objectives at the cemetery. With good will and good science, the Towamba Cemetery can be a model for integrated management in the Shire. November 2006 Paul McPherson and Towamba School Class 3‐6 1 Life and death in the cemetery Significant vegetation in the Towamba Cemetery 2 INTRODUCTION The Towamba Cemetery reserve occupies around 2.5 hectares and is managed by the local Towamba Cemetery Management Committee and