Minimbah School

Ecosystem Rehabilitation,

Bruce Taylor

Ammobium alatum R.Br. (ASTERACEAE), A member of the daisy family.

Table of Contents Acknowledgements Introduction Study Area Temperate Grasslands Proposed Grassland Plantings Grassland Management and Riparian Vegetation Proposed Riparian Plantings Riparian Management Appendix 1 Weed Removal Techniques Appendix 2 Weed Species Description and Removal Notes Appendix 3 Teaching and Rehabilitation Schedule References

Acknowledgements

Firstly, I would like to thank Linda Foskey (who initiated & funded the project), University of New England Student Association (UNESA), UNE Environment Group and Dianne Roberts for making this project possible. Gabriela Shuster has been instrumental, helping me in all aspects of my work. Armidale Tree Group, Field’s Native Nursery, UNESA Landcare, NPWS have also been very helpful, as well as the following UNE lecturers, who have put in great effort and given up their time to implement the teaching of Minimbah students:

• Caroline Gross • Gisela Kaplan • Peter Lockwood • Peter Jarman • Andrew Boulton • Jeremy Bruhl • Nigel Warwick

Page 1 of 9 Introduction

Eucalypt woodland originally dominated Armidale (Ford 1985), but of the 434 plant species recorded in Armidale today, nearly 50% are exotic (ACC 1996). The small proportion of remaining natural ecosystems within Armidale are suffering badly from Eucalypt dieback, habitat clearance and altered fire regimes. The Armidale-Dumaresq Council has given little promotion to the native endemic flora and fauna of the area, while planting exotic trees throughout the suburbs. This has meant the original ecosystems of Armidale are continuing to disappear, unknown to most local residents.

Eucalypt woodland originally dominated Armidale (Ford 1985), but of the 434 plant species recorded in Armidale today, nearly 50% are exotic (ACC 1996). The small proportion of remaining natural ecosystems in Armidale is suffering badly from Eucalypt dieback, habitat clearance and altered fire regimes. The Armidale-Dumaresq Council has given little promotion to the native endemic flora and fauna of the area, while planting exotic trees throughout the suburbs. The result has been that the original ecosystems of Armidale are continuing to disappear, unknown to most local residents.

Today, we are at the leading edge of extinctions (Barrett 1997). About 70% of woodlands and over 99% of temperate grasslands in New South Wales have been cleared or degraded for agriculture, mining and human settlement. Many rivers have been denuded of vegetation or degraded by cattle, increasing siltation, lowering water quality, causing ecological damage, etc. (Raine & Gardiner 1995).

The Minimbah Preschool has recognised the potential to provide suitable habitat for native flora, while encouraging environmental awareness to students and the community. The rehabilitation of riparian and grassland habitat on the school grounds will complement the existing Eucalypt habitat. These habitats may be used as an educational resource. The importance and benefits of the ecosystems will be explained as part of the practical proponent of the project. A food (native and exotic) garden will be created as an example of sustainable land management. Minimbah students will be participating in the implementation of the project and the future maintenance of the site.

Study Area

Minimbah Preschool was opened in 1963 by the ‘Save the Children Fund’ and handed to Aboriginal control and management in 1987. ‘Minimbah’, which means “place of learning”, is located in the Narwan Aboriginal Village, within Armidale. Armidale is situated approximately 570 km north of Sydney and 470 km south of Brisbane and 1,080 metres above sea level on the New England Tablelands.

Minimbah Primary School is on the corner of Long Swamp Road and Galloway Street and has a high level of urban infrastructure - paved walkways, buildings and playgrounds. The school is a relatively small size and the proposed project site is shown on Map 1.

Temperate Grasslands

Temperate grasslands are scattered throughout Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), New South Wales (NSW), South Australia (SA) and Tasmania. Early survey maps of grasslands demonstrated that they did not occur throughout entire areas, but in patches (Kirkpatrick et al . 1995).

The temperate grasslands are xerophytic grasses of tall-grass communities ( Themeda-Poa ) up to 2m high and temperate short-grass ( Danthonia-Stipa ) communities up to 0.5m high Page 2 of 9 (Coaldrake 1966; Kirkpatrick et al . 1995). There are four floristically distinct types of temperate grasslands dominated by Kangaroo Grass ( Themeda spp.), Tussock Grasses (Poa spp. ), Wallaby Grasses ( Danthonia spp. ) or Spear Grasses ( Stipa spp. ) and there is a tendency for dominance of one or a few grasses. Despite this, the grasslands are extremely rich in other species of grass, perennial herbs (mainly Compositae), legumes, sedges, lilies and orchids that occupy the inter-tussock spaces (Tremont & McIntyre 1994; Kirkpatrick et al. 1995).

The distribution of temperate grasslands is associated with relatively fertile soils and less than 700mm per annum precipitation. They occur on relatively flat plains with organic rich, cracking clay soils underlain by basalt, dolerite, limestone, sedimentary material or alluvial deposits (Kirpatrick et al. 1995). Dominanceof plant species varies and species change with the texture and depth of soil horizons, topography, rainfall and its seasonality (Moore 1991).

Australian grasslands evolved under light and intermittent grazing by native marsupials (Lodge & Whalley 1989; Moore 1991) and there was once a rich diversity of vertebrate and invertebrate fauna associated with the temperate grasslands. The fauna included large vertebrates (emus, kangaroos, predatory birds, etc.) and smaller animals (small marsupials, birds reptiles, frogs, beetles, grasshoppers, etc.).

Today, natural temperate grasslands have been destroyed or grossly modified over 99% of their range in Australia and Themeda australis populations have been greatly reduced (Kirkpatrick et. al. 1995). The main threats to native grasslands include:

· Conversion to crops and introduced pasture;

· Overgrazing by introduced stock;

· Poor management of remnants;

· Urban expansion; and

· Invasion by exotic plants (Ross 2000).

Proposed Plants for the Minimbah Grassland

Common Name Species

Kangaroo Grass Themeda australis

Wild Sorghum Sorghum leiocladum Long Hair Plume Grass Dichelachne crinita

Redgrass Bothriochloa macra

Slender Rat’s-tail Grass Sporobolus elongatus

Paddock Lovegrass Eragrostis leptostachya

Wallaby Grass Danthonia racemosa Windmill Grass Chloris truncata Spear Grass Stipa scabra

Bulbine Lily Bulbine bulbosa

Flax Lily* Dianella longifolia Native Geranium* Geranium spp. Common Woodruff Asperula conferta

Page 3 of 9 Nodding Chocolate Lily Arthropodium fimbriatum

Grassland Wood-sorrel Oxalis perennans

Common Raspwort Gonocarpus tetragynus Native Goodenia Goodenia sp. Yellow Buttons Chrysocephalum sp.

Bluebells Wahlenbergia sp.

Narrow-leaf Plantain Plantago gaudichaudii Native Glycine Glycine sp. Tiny Stars Hypoxis glabella

* Denotes plants that will be planted at the site.

Grassland Management

The proposed grassland area already contains a wide variety of native grassland species. Maintenance of this area will require some continued disturbance of habitat to promote high diversity of species. This ‘disturbance’ should take place via infrequent mowing every 1 to 1-1/2 years, which will also help keep the area clear of trees. UNESA Landcare members and school children will remove weeds, trees and shrubs seedlings. (see Appendix 1 & 2).

Riparian Vegetation

The riparian zone is the land adjacent to a watercourse and consists of terrestrial and aquatic vegetation. Riparian vegetation is an important source of organic matter, dissolved oxygen, food, reduces erosion and turbidity, moderating water temperature fluctuations and is an important habitat for animals.

The poor state of most of Australia’s rivers is testimony to the widespread destruction of riparian vegetation (Raine & Gardiner 1995).

DRY IS NOT DEAD!!

• riparian zones can last through dry periods and sustain growth and reproduction from exploiting resources in the wetter periods. They can survive variable conditions via survival mechanisms:

- seed banks - hangers-on - migrants

• decomposition processes, aeration of soil & nutrients become bio-available during the dry period.

The riparian zone provides:

· Bank stability and channel integrity; Page 4 of 9 · Habitat value - as a food source for instream fauna

- increasing physical habitat diversity

- for terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna;

· Buffer/filter sediments and their attached nutrients & pollutants;

· Water quality (Water Resources 1992).

There are some records of the original vegetation of Armidale and we can be reasonably sure of the terrestrial riparian vegetation. Unfortunately, there is little knowledge of the local endemic aquatic vegetation.

Proposed Plants for Minimbah Riparian Vegetation

Common Name Species

Creek Sandpaper Fig* Ficus coronata

River Sheoak* Casuarina cunninghamiana

Jointed Twigrush* Baumea articulata

Tussock Sedge* Carex appressa Dirty Dora* Cyperus difformis

Common Spikerush* Eleocharis acuta

Sawsedge* Gahnia sieberana Waterwort* Elatine gratioloides Tussock Rush Juncus usitatus

Frogsmouth* Philydrum lanuginosum

Floating Pondweed* Potamogeton tricarinatus River Buttercup* Ranunculus inundatus

Common Bogrush Schoenus apogon

Long-leaf Matrush* Lomandra longifolia

* Denotes plants that will be planted at the site.

Riparian Management

The riparian zone is to be watered regularly for the first four months after planting, especially during severe dry spells. It is to be expected that some plants will not survive, even with constant care and this is to be expected. The students and UNESA Landcare group will remove exotic plant species (see Appendix 1 & 2). Seed banks, from the soil of local dams, will be introduced for increased diversity of aquatic plants.

APPENDIX 1

Weed Removal Techniques

(from Brody et. al. 1991)

Page 5 of 9 ‘Cut-scrape-paint’ method: This applies to woody shrubs, trees and some vines.

(a) Cut plant low to the ground at an angle.

(b) Scrape sides to reveal green tissues and apply herbicide with paintbrush.

(c) Take care that brush is not contaminated with soil.

‘Gouge-paint’ method: this method applies to plants with rhizomes or bulbs.

(a) Gouge out sections of base with a knife (first cut stem at base height).

(b) Apply herbicide with paintbrush.

‘Scrape-ditch-paint’ method: This method applies to vines and some shrubs.

(a) Scrape stem tissue on one side only for 20-30 centimetres.

(b) Apply herbicide with a paintbrush.

‘Crowning’ method: This method applies to weeds with their growing points below the surface of the ground.

(a) Grasp the stem and hold tightly, so base is visible (sharp leaves should be cut back).

(b) Insert knife close to the base of the plant at an angle, with tip underneath root system.

(c) Cut through the roots close to the base, 2 or more cuts may be needed.

‘Hand-pulling’ method: This method applies to soft weeds, seedlings and tufted grasses with shallow roots.

(a) For small plants, take hold of plant at ground level and pull.

(b) For larger plants, take hold of stem at ground level and rock the plant back and forwards until plant comes out.

APPENDIX 2

Weed Species Description and Removal Method

Phalaris ( Phalaris aquatica )

Naive of the mediterranean region. A clumped perennial grass 1-2m high. Swollen stem bases arising from branched rhizomes. Leaves blue-green with prominent midrib and membranous ligule. Spike-like panicle inflorescence, 1-2cm wide (Auld & Medd 1997). The gouge-paint method should be used to remove the plant.

Paspalum ( Paspalum dilatatum )

Native of South America. A tufted perennial grass up to 1m high, with short rhizomes. Leaf blades hairless, angled along the midrib. Inflorescence of 3-7 spike-like racemes about 5cm long (Auld & Medd 1997). Plants can be pulled out by hand.

Curled Dock ( Rumex crispus )

Native of Europe and Asia. A glaborous perennial herb up to 150cm high. Stems are red tinged, erect, smooth or ribbed. Bluish-green rosette leaves lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate. Flowers are reddish-green, in many flowered clusters along panicle branches. A thick underground root Page 6 of 9 that can be over 3m deep (Parsons & Cuthbertson 1992). The crowning method should be used.

Umbrella Sedge ( Cyperus eragrostis )

Native of the America’s. An erect perennial herb up to 80cm tall, with a thick rhizome. Stems are 3-angled, smooth with leaves arising from near the base. Leaf-like bracts subtend a simple or compound umbel of clustered, flattened, yellow-green to golden brown spikelets 7-15mm long. It is a noxious weed in Esperance, Western Australia (Parsons & Cuthbertson 1992). The gouge- paint method should be used to remove the plant.

Clustered Clover ( Trifolium glomeratum )

Native of Europe. A trailing herb with stems up to 35cm long. Leaves are 3 oval-shaped leaflets with fine teeth edges. Flower heads consist of many small, white-pink pea-shaped flowers (Auld & Medd 1997). Plants can be pulled out by hand.

Red Clover ( Trifolium pratense )

Native of Europe. Erect plant with hairy stems and leaflets. Leaves are finely toothed and variable in shape.Flower heads are globular, with purplish-pink petals (Lamp & Collett 1989) . Plants can be pulled out by hand.

Lamb’s Tongue ( Plantago lanceolata )

Native of Europe. Erect stemmed herb up to 80cm tall. Leaves up to 20cm long, lance-shaped and have raised parallel veins. Flower heads are cylindrical, brown and borne on deeply furrowed stalks (Kahn & Heard 1998). Plants can be pulled out by hand.

Blackberry ( Rubus fruticosus )

Native of Europe. An erect woody shrub (up to 5m high), with scrambling prickly stems. Stems can root at tips. Compound leaves of 3-5 leaflets and 5-petalled, white to pink flowers at the end of the branches. The fruits are globular aggregates, which ripen in late summer from green to red to black (Auld & Medd 1997). Plants should be removed via the cut-scrape-paint method. Family: Rosaceae

Flat Weed ( Hypochaeris radicata )

Native of Europe. A rosette herb with leaves up to 20cm long, sparsely covered with hairs and has toothed edges. Flower stems are not hollow, branched and up to 60cm tall. Flower heads are yellow (Kahn & Heard 1998). Plants can be pulled out by hand.

Dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale )

A rosette herb with soft, green, oblong-shaped with jagged grooves. Flower stems are erect, hollow, unbranched and are up to 30cm tall. Flowers are yellow (Kahn & Heard 1998). Plants can be pulled out by hand.

Appendix 3

Teaching & Rehabilitation Schedule

Page 7 of 9 Date Time Presenter/Topic 1st March 2-3:30pm NPWS - Biodiversity 8th March 2-2:30pm C. Gross - Native insects (bees) 2:30-3:30pm Survey area for plant species 15th March 2-2:30pm G. Kaplan - Birds 2:30-3:30pm Weeding & Planting 22nd March 2-2:30pm P. Lockwood - Soils 2:30-3:30pm Weeding & Planting 29th March 2-2:30pm P. Jarman - Mammals

2:30-3:30pm Weeding & Planting 5th April 2-3pm J. Bruhl – Terrestrial Plants 3-3:30 Weeding & Planting 12th April 2-2:30pm B. Taylor - Environment today

2:30-3:30pm Bushfoods

3rd May 2-3pm N. Warwick – Aquatic Plants

3-3:30pm Weeding & Planting 10th May 2-2:30pm A. Boulton – Aquatic animals & Water Quality

References

Armidale City Council (ACC) (1996) State of the Environment Report 1996. ACC. Aust

Auld, B. A. & Medd, R. W. (1997) Weeds . Inkata Press. Aust

Barrett, G. (1997) Birds On Farms: Repairing the Rural Landscape. Wingspan . vol. 7, no. 4: 10- 15.

Brody, L., Roxburgh, J. & Whiley, L. (1991) Bush Regenerator’s Handbook . NPWS. Aust.

Coaldrake, J. E. (1966) The Natural Grasslands of Australasia. In: Grass and Grasslands . (ed. H. I. Moore) Collins, NZ.

EPA, New South Wales (1997) State of the Environment, New South Wales . Environmental Protection Authority, NSW.

Ford, H. A. (1985) The Bird Community in Eucalypt Woodland and Eucalypt Dieback in the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, in Birds of Eucalypt Forests and Woodlands. Eds. A. Keast, H. F. Recher, H. A. Ford and D. Saunders. Surrey Beatty & Sons Pty. Ltd. And the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union (RAOU). Aust.

Kahn, L. & Heard, B. (1998) Pasture Plants of the Slopes and Tablelands of NSW. DLWC. Aust.

Kirkpatrick, J., McDougall, K. & M. Hyde (1995) Australia’s Most Threatened Ecosystems: the southeastern Lowland Native Grasslands. Surrey Beatty & Sons Pty. Ltd. Aust.

Lamp, C. & Collett, F. (1989) Field Guide to Weeds in Australia . Inkata Press. Aust.

Lodge, G. M. & Whalley, R. D. B. (1989) Technical Bulletin 35. Native and Natural Pastures on the Northern Slopes and Tablelands of NSW: a review and annotated bibliography. NSW Agriculture & Fisheries. Aust.

Page 8 of 9 Moore, R. M. (1993) Grasslands of Australia. In Ecosystems of the World 8A. Natural Grasslands: Introduction and Western Hemisphere. (ed. R. T. Coupland) Elsevier Science Publishers B. V. The Netherlands.

Parsons, W. T. & Cuthbertson, E. G. (1992) Noxious Weeds of Australia . Inkata Press. Aust.

Raine, A. W. & Gardiner, J. N. (1995) Rivercare: Guidelines for ecologically sustainable management of rivers and riparian vegetation. Land & Water Resources Research and Development Corporation. Aust.

Ross, J. (2000) Guide to Best Practice of Temperate Native Grasslands . WWF. Aust.

Tremont, R. M. & McIntyre, S. (1994) Natural Grassy Vegetation and Native Forbs in Temperate Australia: structure, dynamics and life histories. Australian Journal of Botany 42: 641-658.

Water Resources (1992) The Importance of the Riparian Zone in Water Resource Management: a literature review . Water Resources. Aust.

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