October 1999 Friends of Warrandyte State Park N ewsletter Friends of Warrandyte State Park (FOWSP) Inc. P O Box 220 Warrandyte 3113 Not Just Propagation By Pat Coupar lthough dark clouds loomed, the threat of undoubtedly, if the plants do well, ferns of local rain did not deter around a dozen people provenance will be available for members to take from enjoying the Thursday morning home. Awildflower walk. The walk was timed to Orchids, like ferns, are also popular. And it perfection with many wattles still flowering, was exciting, the other week, to find a spider bush-peas starting to bloom and a colourful array orchid, rescued from the Jumping Creek Road of creepers, climbers, lilies, orchids and other construction site, in full flower. In fact all rescued wildflowers. It was Fourth Hill at its best. And species of orchids and ferns, brought back and those who know the Hill well all agreed that the potted up at the nursery, have done very well. It is rabbit control program, undertaken by many of hoped that at an appropriate time and place many the local residents whose properties abut this area of these will be planted back into a secure of the Park, had significantly reduced the number location within the Park. of rabbits and therefore lessened their impact on A bonus for the Thursday workers each week this wildflower haven. is a free plant or two or three. These are not the One of the highlights of the walk was Brown scruffy old ‘free to good homes’ Beaks. After not having been seen for over ten variety, but a selection of years, this orchid. Lyperanthus suaveolans, was healthy trees, shrubs, lilies and rediscovered in Warrandyte State Park only three grasses from the current stock. years ago. It appeared two years after a fire at the Over the years there has site of its last known location on Fourth Hill. been the suggestion of starting a Several leaves were found at that time, but only a Saturday working group aimed single flower. The population was enclosed in a at younger adults, but of course small fence to protect it from rabbits. The open to anyone who is following year there were leaves, but no flowers. interested. The possibility of This year, to our delight, the population had this actually happening has increased and several of the orchids were resurfaced although it may not flowering - some with up to three flowers on a be until next year. However, if single stem. anyone thinks they might like to It has been pleasing to see a number of new be involved they can contact a faces at the Thursday group over the last few member of the committee. The months. Advertised primarily as a propagation more interest shown in the morning, Thursdays are more than just that. There Saturday group, even at this are always some surprises in store. A few weeks early stage, the greater the ago it was pricking out tiny ferns grown from chances of it becoming a reality. spore by the nursery manager at his home. More Brown Beaks fern propagation is promised for the future and (Lyperanthus suaveolans) New Newsletter Warrandyte State Park now has their own newsletter artistically compiled by ranger Brian Phifley. In brief it covers the following items: Jumping Creek Reserve • remains open during road & bridge reconstruction • works expected to be completed by November Mount Lofty • new boardwalk, walking tracks & a bridge over Brushy Creek at Witton’s Reserve • picnic tables at strategic sites along the river • dogs & horse riding no longer permitted in the area Rabbit Information Field Day • local councils have joined forces with residents to control rabbits • priority areas include - west side of Ringwood/Warrandyte Rd & Betton Cr, Beveridge St, Blair St & Trezise St on the west side of Fourth Hill • Rabbit Control Information Day is on Saturday October 30th 1999 For more information on any of these issues ring the Park on 9844 2659 Opportunity for the Musically Talented The 1999 FOWSP Annual General Meeting and Nursery Open Day will be a Gala Sunday afternoon event (3.30pm-6.30pm), and the committee are looking for musicians and performers to provide atmosphere and colour. Remuneration will be FREE native plants and we’ll gladly take ANY form of Music, Poetry or Juggling. Please volunteer for a five, ten or fifteen minute gig by calling Geoff Speedy on 9437 0894. Musical Joke : Question: What do you get when you play a Blues song backwards? Answer: Your wife comes home, your dog returns from the dead and you get your job back !! came a pair of Rainbow Lorikeets incessantly A Vote for Freedom squawking, as they do, for attention. These normally aggressive little birds were also driven By Pat Coupar away by the Currawongs. And so the harassment t was not quite the peaceful Saturday I had continued. Twelve and a half hours later and with been hoping for. From the dusk approaching the moment I awoke - around 6.00 Currawongs were still at Iam - I heard them. It was probably it. they that woke me. Loud wailing What was it all about? calls ringing from the trees outside It was election day. Did my bedroom window. Currawongs - the Currawongs know the pied ones. There were dozens of something we didn’t? them. Maybe the birds were Throughout the day they came registering a vote for the and went. They were restless, retention of their habitat, briefly alighting on the balcony for the preservation of a nervous drink of water from the bushland and for wildlife dish provided for all the birds. corridors. They chased the cockatoos out of Did anyone else notice the trees. The cockies retaliated with all this frenetic activity on yellow crests raised and raucous Saturday September 18th screeching. Still protesting loudly in and around seven of the irate cockatoos landed on the balcony Brackenbury Street (the eastern one), or anywhere to soothe themselves with a drink. Then else in Warrandyte for that matter. And just what were the birds up to? birds being shot, chemical sprays drifting across Worth Repeating houses, and irrigation dams and chemical runoff affecting water quality and flow rates In streams Greens see red over Yarra Valley feeding the Yarra River. wine boom He said residents were worried that if vineyards went bust, the valley could be left with By Claire Miller a forest of poles- instead of trees, and there would he bucolic charm of the Yarra Valley be increased pressure for subdivision on hardship belies an emerging battle over the grounds. environmental costs of the region's The Wine Grape Growers, Council warned in dramaticT resurgence in winemaking. December last year that Australia faced an over Behind the lines, drawn in a war of words supply of grapes unless the speculative through the local papers, are landowners and developments ceased. The industry's 30-year plan companies rushing to cash in on Australia's wine has reached its target Of 97,000 hectares under boom while residents and conservationists say vines in only three years, fuelled by a 93 per cent enough is enough. rise in grape prices over the past six vintages. The area under vines in the valley has more The vice-president of the Yarra Valley than doubled over the past five years to 2500 Winegrowers' Association, Mr Alan Smith, said hectares; the industry estimates another 800 to winegrowers also had a vested interest in the 1000 hectares could be planted in the next three valley's rural character, which attracted city years. tourists. "If someone wants to clear a large copse New entrants favour uncleared blocks because of trees, we would be against that because it is the land is cheaper, and then they raze the trees. part of the landscape and habitat," he said. With 92 per cent of the valley cleared even before Mr Smith said that while there were some the vineyard explosion, habitat preservation was newcomers who made mistakes out of already a critical issue. inexperience, his members wanted to be good The president of the- Group for Lilydale and neighbours and the association had worked with District Environment, Mr Kieran Martin, said the Shire of Yarra Ranges on its recently released residents were also concerned about noise - guidelines for prospective vineyards. vineyards are at times 24-hour operations native Source: The Age 22/6/99 Consider the Environment When shopping, choose the more environmentally friendly products and avoid excessive packaging. Whenever possible ‘reduce, re-use, recycle.’ If you are interested in participating in the survey F a u n a N ews: “PLEASE COME ALONG”! When & Where? by • This year the survey is on Sunday 7th D a v id F a rra r November 1999 (F r a n k ie ) • Meet at the Park - Pound Bend Friends Folly, Pound Bend Road (Melways Ref- 23 C-10) • Starting Time: 10:00am Finishing about he Warrandyte State Park Koala Survey is 2:00pm on again. It is expected that surveys will What to bring? cover the same sites as last year. These sites Comfortable walking clothing, supportive footwear areT at Pound Bend, Gold Memorial, Jumping Creek, and a good hat. Binoculars if you have them? Also a Stane Brae, Bend of Isles and Mount Lofty. water bottle is a good idea with a snack. Last year a total of 33 koalas were recorded Parks Victoria will supply sunscreen. throughout the Park with 28 of these being found at How to do the survey? Pound Bend. There are six survey sites to chose The koala survey adds important from and I will direct you to a site information to current Park with a map and survey clip board knowledge.