BUSHCARE BULLETIN BUSHCARE VOLUNTEERS KEEPING IN TOUCH July 2017 - Issue 40

BUSHCARE UPDATE by Kevin Seymour This year Sutherland Shire Bushcare has been looking to extend its engagement to the wider Community by simply being more visible and more accessible. People from all ages and backgrounds can participate in Bushcare in some way at any time in their long lives and we hope to be able to connect with much of the community through community events and improving our branding. Perhaps our most exciting and grandest promotional event of the calendar will take place Sunday 17th Finally, you may notice that Bushcare is looking to September when Bushcare celebrates Bushcare’s Major improve branding with each of its vehicles now proudly Day Out at Parc Menai with our Inaugural Sutherland sporting the Bushcare logo. Next time you see one of Shire Bushcare Fair. Bushcare’s Major Day Out is a our vehicles passing by, give a wave or a toot! National day and opportunity for all Bushcare Groups to further engage the community to raise awareness of the efforts of this volunteer force. Bushcare and all its partners will showcase their achievements in a festival BUSHCARE CALENDAR style environment at Parc Menai, which is well exposed, July easy to access and has plenty of space. Many of our 12, 20 & 26 Nursery Propagation partners will take part including Council’s Science 15 Nature walk: Wattamolla to Marley Unit, Australian Plant Society, Wires, Fishcare and 30 National Tree Day many more. Displays will be supported with a series of August workshops, demonstrations and mini talks on everything 6 Annual Bonnet Bay Wildflower Walk from composting to identifying native plants. We’ll also 9, 17 & 23 Nursery Propagation have a native animal show and native plant giveaway. 12 Introduction to Bush Regeneration Keep an eye out on Councils website and try not to miss 19 Gunnamatta Farm Loop Trail 20 Prince Edward Park Walk the rather large signs we plan to have placed at several 23 Spotlighting in the Royal places throughout the Shire. 30 Bush Whackers Ewey Creek Reserve September 6 Spotlighting in the Royal 9 Native Bee Habitat Workshop One of the best ways of reaching out to any community 13, 21, 27 Nursery Propagation is through kids and Bushcare Officer, Bradley van Luyt 17 Bushcare Fair has over the years been at the coalface, so to speak. 27 Hang Out with the Bats at Camellia Brad is often invited to present a talk or provide an Gardens activity at one of the many early education centres or 30 Bushcare’s Spring Gathering pre-schools throughout the Shire. Although this is not our core business, it’s no doubt a great place to foster awareness of the natural world around us and is an amusing insight into the minds of our youngest citizens. Don’t forget our Facebook Kids are fascinated by all things poo, bugs and dirt, page. It is a hub to share information, and they ask the most astounding questions! But by photographs and video sharing a love for the bush at this early age it’s hoped amongst users. Log onto facebook, search an appreciation will develop which could last a lifetime. ‘Sutherland Shire Bushcare’ and ‘like’ the page. VALE PHIL CREMER Although bounded by New and Old Illawarra Roads, Menai Public School and the urban interface, this by Kevin Seymour site is in relatively good condition and is extremely Most people retire well represented floristically. However, there are a from work but some few challenges for our Bushcare volunteers who work continue to work tirelessly to address the prevalence of weeds along the hard and contribute many walking tracks and regenerate areas disturbed by towards making the past human habitation. planet a better place. The Hall Drive Crown Reserve Bushcare Group would Phil Cremer was one love some help to maintain this bushland gem. The of those people and group meet on the third Saturday of each month sadly the world is a from 9am to 11am. If you’d like to help out, head to: poorer place for his http://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/Community/ passing in late May. Volunteering/Bushcare-Volunteers Phil was a Sutherland Shire Bushcare Phil Cremer volunteer in the WORKSHOP ON THE RAINFOREST Menai area for nearly 20 years and during the last nine was a regular AND WET SCLEROPHYLL TREES at the Sutherland Shire Council Nursery where he AND SHRUBS OF THE SYDNEY would “clock on” three days a week to help with the production of our native plant stock. Always a pleasure REGION to be around, Phil became part of the Nursery Staff family and will be sorely missed. Van Klaphake is A lover of rugby and an avid reader, Phil was also renowned for his an enthusiast for the natural world with a particular plant identification affection for the wildflowers of the southern Sydney workshops which are area. designed to equip Bush Phil was farewelled Friday 2nd June at the West Regenerators, Botanists Chapel, Woronora Cemetery by 100 or so of his family and plant enthusiasts and friends. From us all here at the Bushland and alike with the to Nursery Headquarters: Thank You, Phil for all you expand their knowledge contributed and goodbye. of specific families of plant types. For many years, Van has SPOTLIGHT ON HALL DRIVE CROWN hosted entertaining and RESERVE informative workshops on the Grasses and Sedges of greater by Sabrina Thompson Pittosporum undulatum The Hall Drive Crown Reserve Bushcare Group tends to Sydney and more seven hectares of bushland at Menai which is home to recently the Eucalypts an Endangered Ecological Community, Shale Sandstone of the Sydney Region. Transition Forest. This Reserve, together with Parc Now Van looks to conduct a series of workshops looking Menai and Menai Conservation Park represents one of at the Rainforest and Wet Sclerophyll Trees and Shrubs the last remaining remnants of a once wider distribution of the Sydney Region. Rainforest and wet scerophyll of this plant community in the Sutherland Shire. trees and shrubs are members of a large number of Shale Sandstone Transition Forest was always limited unrelated families of plants. Usually, the only character in its distribution throughout the Shire. At Hall Drive they have in common is a “green leaf” appearance and Crown Reserve most either lack distinctive or attractive flowers and you’ll find such flowers might be too high into the canopy so that some plant identification is difficult. These plant communities are species that are highly vulnerable to weed invasion after disturbance due atypical for the to the open appearance at the ground and mid strata. Sutherland Shire, Knowledge about this group of plants is important to be like Syncarpia able to regenerate these areas effectively. glomulifera Van’s workshop and accompanying manual covers (Turpentine), all but a few of the rarest species in the region. The Bursaria spinosa manuals include fine illustrated line drawings of leaf characteristics, arrangement, colour, texture and shape, (Black Thorn), Corymbia gummifera Brunoniella produced in a user friendly key to aid identification. pumilio (Dwarf Blue Trumpet), Pseuderanthemum Van will be hosting his workshops over the next few variabile (Pastel Flower) and Linum marginale (Native months at various locations around Sydney and should Flax) to name a few. you wish to book one of these workshop contact Van for details on 9602 8589.

2 BUSHCARE NEWSLETTER l Sutherland Shire Council www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au DWARF WEDGE PEA (GOMPHOLOBIUM MINUS), FAMILY FABACEAE by Lloyd Hedges Gompholobiums have the largest flowers of any in the pea Gompholobium minus (Dwarf Wedge Pea) family. This common species is a small prostrate to low shrub (usually 10-30cms high) but its flowers are still quite large. The lemon-yellow flowers can be an eye catching feature of the local bush in Spring. Gompholobium minus can be quite a neat small mat when young, often with a bluey hue to the foliage. The leaves have three leaflets which are small (<12mm x<1mm) and linear (parallel sided) to oblanceolate (getting wider towards the outer end). The leaf tip is recurved and has a small point and margins are recurved to revolute. Flowers are terminal and solitary or in short, few flowered racemes on short pedicels (stalks) with the corolla up to 15mm long. Gompholobium minus is quiet common in open forest habitats of the Sutherland Shire.

BIKE TRACKS: A CONTENTIOUS ISSUE

by Kevin Seymour There are many interests in our Bushland Reserves and sometimes it’s easy to forget that Bushcare is just but one of those. The charter of Bushcare is to support the preservation and restoration of the Shire’s natural beauty. The formation of our 100 plus groups serve as a formidable force and in many circumstances is the only coordinated resource targeting the many threats to the integrity of bushland biodiversity. Without these dedicated people we may have lost not only large tracts of bushland but also the important diverse qualities of other smaller pockets. So, it is sometimes disconcerting for our volunteers that other users may use our Bushland Reserves for activities which may sometimes appear inconsistent with the goals of our groups. We all know the feeling of turning up to a much loved patch of bush to find that during the school holidays the kids have been hard at work digging, chopping, building, moving and transforming the site into a BMX track. It’s times like this when the Bushcare team will often be reminded that urban bushland is for all residents and visitors. Riders learn the value of protection of the bushland in the Lucas Heights Conservation Area where track works are carried out under the guidance of But it would be nice if those users were just a bushcare. little more mindful of the fragility of the plant communities that these areas host. I grew up on the fringes of Sydney suburbia and absolutely loved the natural world (which was conveniently placed just beyond the gaze of my parents) and I’m sure that my passion for protecting our bushland areas was born at this time. I’m also sure that my activities weren’t always seen as respectful of the true value of the bushlands contribution to biodiversity. But, I do feel that I was better off digging, chopping, building , moving and learning about plants and animals than I would be had I remained indoors watching Bulldog Brower and Mario Milano go head to head on World Championship Wrestling. Still, there’s no doubt some boys (and it’s nearly always boys) could be a lot less destructive. In that case it may be worth it the next time you discover the kids in your little patch, showing them some of the work that’s been undertaken or revealing the precious secrets of the Shire’s bushland. I reckon this is a preferable outcome to shooing them back home to sit in front of the computer screen.

www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au Sutherland Shire Council l BUSHCARE NEWSLETTER 3 GARDEN ESCAPEE OF INTEREST: REPORT ON THE NATIVE BEE ARISTOLOCHIA ELEGANS HABITAT WORKSHOPS by Chris Banks by Bill Howse Over the past 8 years, working down in Coonong Bushcares native bee habitat workshop has proven to Creek Bushland Reserve, Gymea Bay I have become be extremely popular. We have had nearly 60 people accustomed to an unusual and intriguing plant growing take part in 4 sessions, and we are still working through on a slope behind a couple of houses in Carter Crescent. the waiting list from the first course. During the 4 hour This plant was identified as Aristolochia elegans, though workshop, participants learn about the different types more commonly referred to as Dutchman’s Pipe or of native bees and their lifecycles, what they like to eat Calico Plant. It’s vigorous, climbing growth habit in and where they like to live. Then there is a quick tour this disturbed embankment and our lack of familiarity of the bee garden to look at some of the bee attracting suggested it was probably an exotic garden escapee, plants and also some examples of bee hotels. After primed to gradually envelop the surrounding bushland. that is the fun part, building your own bee hotel to Our suspicions were right, as it turned out to be a native take home. Bushcare will be running more Native Bee of South America. workshops towards the end of the year. This fast growing vine, belonging to the family Aristolochiaceae, can grow up to 9m vertically and/ Native Bee Habitat Workshop or laterally. Along its stems are borne large (15-30cm) crepe-textured, kidney shaped leaves and at present it bears dangling cucumber-shaped, 6 chambered seed capsules. Upon ripening, the capsule splits to release numerous triangular, winged seeds (similar to those found on Formosan Lily). In summer, purple and white “calico” patterned flowers are produced which are quite beautiful though almost alien in appearance. It is the resemblance of these flowers to the shape of Dutch smoking pipes to which the common name can be WEED PROFILE attributed. Typically a naturalised inhabitant of tropical and Asparagus asparagoides (Bridal Creeper) subtropical Queensland and Northern NSW, it has also There’s normally not a lot going on with weeds through been recorded uncultivated in all states except Tasmania. the colder months as most of our problem plants It’s fast, aggressive growth in warm, wet conditions and show their tropical origins and slow down their growth ability to quickly smother and overcome native vegetation accordingly. Bridal Creeper is an exception, being a cool has seen it declared as season perennial this one is usually dormant during the a Class 3 Noxious weed hot, dry conditions of summer. in Queensland, meaning Bridal Creeper is an aggressive, invasive plant and it’s sale and supply is classified as a Weed of National Significance. Once prohibited and removal a popular for wedding bouquets it has escaped to become legal requirement when a serious threat in bushland. Not yet common in the found in environmentally Sutherland Shire, Bridal Creeper, a native of Southern significant areas. This Africa is present throughout Australia, except in “Noxious” declaration Northern Territory. has also considered the Bridal Creeper forms an impenetrable network of detrimental impacts upon twining stems and grows to a height of 4m. This growth the wondrous Richmond Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia elegans) will smother and exclude native vegetation and the Birdwing Butterfly storage tubers will strongly compete for water with (Ornithoptera richmondia). This butterfly is now listed native plants. Below ground, clumps of rhizome and with Vulnerable status in Queensland, where it has tuber mats establish to 10cm deep. These break easily disappeared from one-third of its range. Aristolochia making removal and herbicide use very difficult. elegans unfortunately closely resembles the native For small infestation and seedlings, the plants can be larval host food plant of the Richmond Birdwing. This confusion has dire consequences as the larvae which hatch from the eggs laid on the leaves of A. elegans are subsequently poisoned by the toxins contained within the leaves. If sighted in the bush, the best method of control (as with most vines) is to give the stem a long scrape at least 30cm from the base up followed by a quick application of undilute glyphosate to the scraped surface. The plant can then be left in-situ. Juvenile plants which are more difficult to scrape may be hand removed. If in fruit, be sure to remove and bag those that can be accessed. Bridal Creeper

4 BUSHCARE NEWSLETTER l Sutherland Shire Council www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au dug out. Remove plants in autumn and winter when THE FRAY soils are moist and seeds are yet to form. Use hand tools and carefully excavate around and under the Bushcare’s shire partners are active all year round and rhizome-tuber mass before attempting to lever out. continue to host events. All welcome volunteers to help To keep up to date, visit http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/ run the programs that help protect the Shire’s natural about-us/legislation/list/noxious-weeds areas. For contact with the groups see below.

BOTANY BAY BUSY BEES HOORAY FOR THE HORI HORI! Kamay Botanybay National Park Mishy McKensy: 9668 2005 by Brad van Luyt As an incurable gear freak I am always on the lookout for the nifty new bit of kit that no one else has yet. I THE PORT HACKING WILDFLOWER GROUP want to be the first boy on my block to have this widget Glen Harvey 0422 966 010 (after hours) or that gubbin. Yes, it does go against my views on consumerism, waste and general way of life but this is an addiction. Generally, I keep it under control but this MENAI WILDFLOWER GROUP year I cracked and gleefully bought a Hori Hori! Website: www.menaiwildflower.ausplants.com.au “What is a Hori Hori?” I heary heary you ask. Well, it’s a new for bushcare but an old tool for Japanese ROYAL NATIONAL PARK (FRIENDS OF THE gardeners; with an Oak handle, stainless steel blade, ROYAL) slightly dished like a but viciously serrated like Patsy Nagle, Ranger: 95420632 one of Rambo's finest pieces of cutlery this tool looks Web: [email protected] like the product of a one night stand between a trowel and a combat knife. Developed in Japan, the Hori Hori (Hori means "to dig" in Japanese), was designed for the bonsai gardener to enable him or her to dig up plant stock from the mountains in order that they could take the plant home and torture. So I got me a hori hori and I've not looked back. A great tool for bush regenerators; fine enough for fiddly work on Erharta in Microleana and long enough to get down deep removing weeds with taproots. I can scrape vines, AUSTRALIAN PLANTS SOCIETY (SUTHERLAND ochna and cestrum with one edge and saw through GROUP) Asparagus roots with the other. Its trowel like shape Ralph Cartwright: 02 9548 1074 also allows me to use it when planting and it's even hefty enough to use as a small or to chop Open Gardens Day – into some woody weeds for poisoning. It doesn't have a Saturday 26 August 2017 corkscrew or bottle opener but I'm sure I could work out some way of using it as such. 10 am to 3 pm. Since getting my new toy, I mean tool, I have dispensed with my knife, trowel and even my beloved plasterboard Enjoy three native gardens saw that I used for Asparagus, allowing me to move of members of the Australian through the bush with less stuff. All in all I think it was Plants Society Sutherland a good investment. I wonder what the Bradley sisters Group. There will be plant would've thought of such a tool. sales, refreshments and friendly APS members to talk to. Entry to each garden by gold coin donation.

Hogue garden – 75a Wattle Rd, Jannali • Mostly level with colourful shrubs and small plants in the sun of a northern aspect. McColl garden – 13 Shorland Place, Jannali • Steep block with stairs and garden art. Aitken garden – 44 Buchanan Place, Bonnet Bay. • Stair access to steep block with shaded ferns and shrubs under a canopy of trees.

More information: Leonie Hogue ph 0416 286 083 www.sutherland.austplants.com.au www.facebook.com/APS.Sutherland

Hori Hori www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au Sutherland Shire Council l BUSHCARE NEWSLETTER 5 BUSHCARE WORKDAYS

Workdays can be cancelled at 3RD SUNDAY Simpson Rd, Bundeena 11.30am (J) short notice. (B) etc after the Prince Edward Park, Woronora 8:00am (Bill) Ninth Ave Nth - Dunwell, Loftus 1.00pm (B) Hakea Street, Yarrawarrah, 8.30am (B) 2ND WEDNESDAY time denotes the first initial of Honeysuckle Reserve, Jannali 8:30am (J) Cabbage Tree Point, Bundeena 9.00am (B) the Bushcare Officer responsi- Paruna Reserve, Como West 9.00am (D) Constables Point, Maianbar 9.00am (J) Grays Point Reserve 12.30pm (J) ble for the group. See page 8 Green Point Rd Res, Oyster Bay 9.00am (S) Eurabalong Reserve, Burraneer 1.00pm (Bill) Yowie Bay Old Baths Reserve 9.00am (Bill) for contact detail. Bundeena Res, Bundeena 1.00pm (D) Gooyong Reserve, Bangor 1.00pm (Bill) 1ST SATURDAY Victory Reserve, Engadine 1:00pm (B) 3RD WEDNESDAY Mill Creek MTB, Lucas Heights 8.00am (J) 4TH SUNDAY Gunnamatta Park 8.30am (Bill) Croston Rd, Engadine 9.00am (B) Darook Park, Cronulla 8.30am (Bill) Wanda Beach, Cronulla 8.30am (S) Gooyong Riverside Res, Woronora The Glen Reserve, Bonnet Bay 8:30am (D) Whitton Street, Heathcote 8:30am (B) 9.00am (Bill) Savilles Creek, Kirrawee 8.30am (J) Columbine Close, Loftus 1:00pm (B) ANSTO, Blue Trail, Lucas Heights 12.00pm Marina Crescent, Gymea Bay 12:30pm (J) Sesquicentenary Pk, Heathcote 1.00am (S) (J) Riverhaven Res., Oyster Bay, 1.00pm (D) Tea Tree Place, Kirrawee 1.00pm (Bill) Ninth Ave Nth - Dunwell, Loftus 1.00pm (B) Rutherford Reserve, Burraneer, 1.00pm (Bill) Albert Delardes Reserve, Illawong 1.00pm (S) 2ND SATURDAY 1ST MONDAY Fremantle Place, Yarrawarrah 8.00am (B) 4TH WEDNESDAY Brigalow Place, Engadine 9.00am (D) Forbes Creek, Woronora 8:30am (Bill) Forest & Corella Roads, Kirrawee 9.00am Taren Point Shorebird, Taren Point 9.00am Freya Street, Kareela 8.30am (S) (B) (Bill) Yarra Vista Court, Yarrawarrah 1.00pm (B) Newcombe Street, Maianbar 9.00am (J) Drysdale Place Res., Kareela 1:00pm(Bill) 2ND MONDAY Wattlebird Reserve, Caringbah 9:00am (Bill Tradewinds Pl/Struen Marie, Kareela, Delta St, Sutherland 9.00am (Bill) Wonga Rd Res., Yowie Bay 1.00pm (Bill) 1.00pm (S) Koolangarra Res, Bonnet Bay 8.30am (D) 1ST THURSDAY 3RD SATURDAY 3RD MONDAY Kareela Golf Course 7.00am (J) Burraneer Park, Caringbah 8.30 am (J) Port Hacking Rd Res., Sylvania 9.00am (D) Joseph Banks Native Plant Reserve 9.00am Corinth Road, Heathcote 8.30am (B) Australia Rd, Barden Ridge 9.00am (Bill) (J) Hall Drive, Menai 9.00am (S) Louden Avenue, Illawong 9.00am (B) Alcheringa Reserve, Miranda 1.00pm (S) 4TH MONDAY 2ND THURSDAY Beauford Park, Caringbah 1.00pm (J) Lilli Pilli Pt Baths Res, Lilli Pilli 8.30am (Bill) Bimbai/Bangaroo, Bangor, 1.00pm (B) alt Young Street Reserve, Sylvania 9.00am (D) Kareela Golf Course 7.00am (J) Prestons Gully, Engadine 1.00pm (B) alt Parc Menai 8.30am (B) 1ST TUESDAY 3RD THURSDAY 4TH SATURDAY Dunoon Place Reserve, Bangor 9.00.am (Bill) Bottle Creek, Heathcote 8.00am (B) Menai Conservation Park, Menai 9.00am (S) Kareela Golf Course 7.00am (J) Akuna Avenue Oval, Bangor 8.30am (S) Surrey Place, Kirrawee 1pm (Bill) Eighth Avenue, Loftus 8:30am (B) Maandowie Reserve, Loftus 8:30am (Bill) Savilles Creek Reserve, Kirrawee 9.00am (J) 2ND TUESDAY The Esplanade, Cronulla Point 8.30am (J) 4TH THURSDAY Gooyong Reserve, Bangor 12.30pm (S) Lilli Pilli Point Reserve 9am (Bill) Ninth Avenue North, Loftus 1.00pm (B) Hungry Point Res, Cronulla 12.30pm (S) Kareela Golf Course 7.00am (J) Crescent Creek, Woronora 1.00pm (Bill) 3RD TUESDAY 1ST FRIDAY Various reserves, Maianbar 1.30pm (J) Forest Grove Drive, Menai 9.00am (S) Coonong Creek Reserve, Gymea 8:30am (J) 1ST SUNDAY Kareena Park, Caringbah 9:00am (Bill) Ewey Creek, Miranda 8.30am (B) Carina Bay, Como 8:00am (J), Corea Steet Reserve, Sylvania 1.00pm (S) 2ND FRIDAY Darook Park Sth, Cronulla 1.00pm (Bill) Bass & Flinders Point, Cronulla 8.30am (Bill) Ninth Ave Rd Reserve, Loftus 9.00am (B) Myra Creek, Loftus 8.30am (B) 4TH TUESDAY Burnum Burnum Sanct., Jannali 9.00am (D) 3RD FRIDAY Lilli Pilli Point Reserve 9.00am (S)) Banksia Res, Engadine 1.00pm (D) Farrer Place, Oyster Bay 8.00am (B) Loftus St, Bundeena 9.00am (Bill) John McKinn Park, Cronulla 1.00pm (Bill) Kyogle Place, Grays Point 8.30am (J) Oyster Creek Gully, Jannalli 1:00pm (J) 1ST WEDNESDAY Gunnamatta Foreshore, Cronulla 1pm (J) Upper Forbes Creek, Engadine 1:00pm (B) Bottle Creek, Heathcote 8.30am (B) 4TH FRIDAY 2ND SUNDAY Windy Point, Cronulla 8.30am (S) Kiora Road South, Yowie Bay 8:00am (B) Bundeena Reserve, Bundeena 9.00am (J) Caravan Head Res., Oyster Bay 8:30am (B) Shiprock Reserve, Lilli Pilli 9.00am (J) Fernleigh Road Res, Caringbah 9:00am (Bill) Prices Reserve South, Woronora 9.00am (Bill) Kareena Park, Caringbah 9.00 (D) Forbes Creek South, Engadine 1:00pm (B) Ingrid Rd/Anitra Reserve, Kareela 1.00pm (D) Kareela Reserve, Kareela 1.00pm (Bill)

6 BUSHCARE NEWSLETTER l Sutherland Shire Council www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au COUNCIL ACTIVITITY this free event and mingle with NATURE WALK: WATTAMOLLA representatives from Sutherland TO MARLEY (RETURN) Bookings are essential for all Shire Bushcare, Sutherland Saturday 15 July 8am- 2pm Shire Greenweb, Sutherland Join us for a walk along the Royal activities and are made on Shire Community Nursery, Menai Council’s website. For any National Park coast with noted Wildflower Group, Australian nature expert Steve Anyon-Smith. enquiries contact Bushcare on Plant Society, Rural Fire Service, There should be lots of birds 9524 5672. NOTE: Entry fee Fishcare, Wires and many more. including albatross and maybe even applies to events in National a whale or two. Bring morning tea, Parks. BUSHCARE SPRING lunch and water. Note: National GATHERING Parks fee applies. BUSHCARE SPECIAL Saturday 30 September Location: Hazelhurst Gallery, ANNUAL BONNET BAY EVENTS Theatre: 10am – 2pm WILDFLOWER WALK This is the highlight of the Sunday 6 August 10am – 3pm NATIONAL TREE DAY Bushcare calendar. Don’t miss Join Bushcare for a series of Sunday 30 July this day of talks, catching up with guided walks through the bushland There’s no doubt this is one friends and having your say. reserves of Bonnet Bay where of Australia’s longest running The ‘Gathering’ will finish with we will pass through a range environmental programs and a meeting and forum where an of ecological communities and participation is available to all. invitation of agenda items for enjoy the spectacular display Registration is via the Planet Ark discussion is most welcome. of wildflowers that the Sydney Tree day web site. Booking are essential for this event, Sandstone landscapes are famous • Wanda Beach (South), Cronulla so be quick! for. A free sausage sizzle lunch, 8.30am to 1.30pm supplied by Bushcare will follow at • Banksia Reserve, Engadine the Bonnet Bay Public School. 9.00am to 12.00pm SCHOOL HOLIDAYS GARAWARRA FARM LOOP BUSH WHACKERS KIDS EVENTS TRAIL Ewey Creek Reserve, Miranda Saturday 19 August 8am - 2pm Wednesday 30 August: 9am - Meet at the Garawarra Farm 12.00pm carpark (beginning of Burning Ok. So you’ve heard about Palms Track) in the Royal National Bushcare but what is it all about? If Park for an 8km walk with noted you’re curious, come along to Bush nature expert Steve Anyon-Smith. Whackers at Ewey Creek Reserve Bring binoculars if you have them, and meet the whole Bushcare water, morning tea and lunch. Bookings are essential. The walk is team. This special Bushcare event Grey Headed Flying-fox is the perfect excuse to get out graded medium to hard, with a few of the house, meet new people, long hills. learn about the Shire’s beautiful HANG OUT WITH THE BATS! bushland and get some exercise. All Wednesday 27 September: PRINCE EDWARD PARK equipment, gloves and morning tea SPRING WALK will be provided. 5:30pm – 6:30pm This SSC Bushcare event is perfect Sunday 20 August 8.30am – holiday fun for the kids, but it’s for 12.30pm BUSHCARE’S FAIR 2017 all ages and it’s free! Come along Fancy a guided bushwalk on a PARC MENAI to Camellia Gardens and watch the Sunday Morning? Come and enjoy Sunday 17 September Grey Headed Flying-foxes fly out an informative morning of bird watching and spring flowers of the Bushcare’s Major Day Out 2017 of the park as they head off to all Woronora valley. is a national day designed to parts of the Greater Sydney region encourage us all to take part in looking for food. Other activities the restoration and maintenance will include a demonstration of the of our bushland. For this year’s microbat echolocator app. Bring a key date we will engage the wider blanket or chair and some nibbles. Events Cont. pg 8 community with our Bushcare Fair which will bring all our BUSHWALKS To Book go to: www. Bushcare partners together. sutherlandshire.nsw. This inaugural event will feature GUIDED displays, workshops, power gov.au and Search for talks, demonstrations, giveaways NATURE Bushcare Events and a barbecue. Come along for WALKS www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au Sutherland Shire Council l BUSHCARE NEWSLETTER 7 SPOTLIGHTING IN THE ROYAL FREE COURSES NATIVE BEE HABITAT WORK- Wednesday 23 August: SHOP 6.30pm – 8.30pm INTRODUCTION TO BUSH Saturday 9 Sept. 8.30am – 12pm Wednesday 6 September: REGENERATION WORKSHOP Join Bushcare Officer, Bill Howse 6.30pm – 8.30pm Saturday 12 August 8.30am – for a short Native Bee Habitat Building workshop. This “hands on” What goes bump in the night? 3pm Come along and help spot the workshop will teach participants This single day workshop consists what to plant in their garden wildlife of weed identification & bush that go to create a pollinator friendly regeneration techniques, perfect environment. Also, you’ll have the to work for anyone interested in Bushcare when we chance to build and take home your whether you volunteer or not. The own native bee habitat creation. go to bed. morning session is at council’s Be sure to nursery, 345 The Boulevarde, book early Gymea with a field trip in the as this afternoon. Wear sturdy shoes or event fills boots, long-sleeved shirt and long quickly. trousers for the afternoon session. BYO Morning tea will be provided. torches please and all children under the age of 16 are to be accompanied by an adult. Blue banded bees BUSHCARE CONTACT JONATHAN BILL 0434 327 755 0414 193 709 DETAILS [email protected] (Sat-Wed) BRADLEY [email protected] PHONE 0414 193 710 SABRINA 9524 5672 and follow the prompts (Wed-Sun) 0414 193 873 FAX [email protected] (Tues, Wed, Sat) 9526 6610 JASON [email protected] EMAIL 0414 193 874 KEVIN [email protected] (Wed-Sun) 0414 194 824 WEB [email protected] [email protected] www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au DAYNA 0414 193 712 (Sun-Mon) [email protected]

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Bushcare Bulletin: July 2017 Print Post Approved PP297537/00150

If undelivered please return to: Sutherland Shire Council Bushcare Locked Bag 17, Sutherland NSW 1499