Newsletter #3

(June 2013)

 

SEASONS & CYCLES – NATURE-BASED WALKS AND TALKS
We had an amazing turn out at our 2nd tour at Echo Point Park, Roseville Chase with over 70 people attending! A few of which snuck onto the tour! Unfortunately the weather put a dampener on the 2nd walk at Gibberagong, Bobbin Head, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. But the good news it has been postponed until August, so you have another opportunity to come along! Be guided by Les Mcleod, Aboriginal Discovery Ranger and Fran Bodkin, D’harawal Traditional Knowledge holder and Author. They have an abundance of stories and knowledge of our natural environment, culture, history, native food and medicinal plants.

NATIVE OF THE WEEK: Eupomatia laurina Bolwarra
It is hard to believe that this beautiful plant is an Australian Native! Eupomatia laurina, known as Bolwarra or sometimes Native Guava or Copper Laurel is a shrub to small tree, often seen between 3 and 5 metres tall. However larger specimens may attain a height of 15 metres and a trunk diameter of 30 cm. Native to eastern Australia, from as far south as Nowa Nowa in the state of Victoria and as far as north as Cooktown in tropical Queensland and also New Guinea. It is a primitive flowering plant, usually growing as an understorey in rainforest or wet sclerophyll forest.

This one was found Cabbage Tree Palm Forest at RSL War Vet’s village at Narabeen Lagoon.

QUOTES WON

1. Flora and Fauna Report at Narrabeen War Vets – $2,200
2. Estimate Cost for frog ponds and salt mash in Newcastle – to be disclosed…
3. Weed Management Recommendation for a Developer- $2,000
4. Bilgola Bends – quote submitted awaiting response
   

Watch this space!

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEED OF THE WEEK: GIANT FLEABANE
After the ladies Deb, Monique and Jen came across this skyscraper Fleabane we had to acknowledge it as our weed of the week!

So what it is and where does it come from? Lets see what the NSW Department of Agriculture says about it…

There are three main species of fleabane in Australia:

1. C. bonariensis (flaxleaf fleabane)
2. C. canadensis (Canadian fleabane)
3. C. sumatrensis (tall fleabane). Of the three species, flaxleaf fleabane is the most common across Australia.

Fleabane characteristics:

• Flaxleaf fleabane can grow up to 1 m tall and has deeply indented leaves. Its branches often grow taller than the main plant axis.
• Tall fleabane can grow up to 2 m tall. Its leaves are less indented than flaxleaf fleabane and its branches do not grow taller than the main plant axis.
• Fleabane is a prolific seed producer, each plant producing up to 110,000 seeds! and of these, up to 80% can be viable. The seeds do not possess dormancy so they can germinate whenever temperature and moisture requirements are met. Prevention of seed-set is vital for control.
• Inconsistent control is often obtained with herbicide treatments, especially once plants exceed a diameter of 30 mm.
• Often fleabane germinates under a winter crop after the normal application time for post-emergent herbicides. The plants develop unobserved until harvest, when they begin to elongate for flowering. The harvest machinery cuts the tops off the plants but they survive in the summer fallow as woody deep-rooted plants with little leaf area to absorb herbicides. It is uneconomical to control these surviving plants with herbicides. However, if left unchecked, they continue to produce seed through the summer.

A BIG THANKYOU!
Thank you to everyone that worked hard on the recent planting jobs at Blacktown and Beaumont Hills. It was a huge effort with over 38,000 new native plants in the ground. Well done team!

THE AUSSIE SUN AND YOUR SKIN
Working in the great outdoors amongst nature is beautiful, to receive the warmth and radiation of the sun and the benefits of Vitamin D giving us strong and healthy bones nothing beats it! Not to mention the sun makes us happy! However with this also comes an increased risk of Skin Cancer. Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, and In 2011 more than 2000 Australians died from it. How do we know what signs to look for? Should we get skin checks?

Lets see what the Cancer Council recommend…

These are some changes to look out for when checking your skin for signs of any cancer:

• New moles.
• Moles that increases in size.
• An outline of a mole that becomes notched.
• A spot that changes colour from brown to black or is varied.
• A spot that becomes raised or develops a lump within it.
• The surface of a mole becoming rough, scaly or ulcerated.
• Moles that itch or tingle.
• Moles that bleed or weep.
• Spots that look different from the others

Although you may notice one or more skin changes, it does not necessarily mean that you have skin cancer, however it is important that you visit your GP to have them investigated further. Your GP can discuss your skin cancer risk and advise you on your need for medical checks or self-examination.

Gateway Medical in Mona Vale (bulk bill):
www.gatewaymedical.com.au
Ph: 02 9998 3400
Level 2, shop 4, Mona Vale Rd.

DRAGONFLY OUT AND EDUCATION THE CENTRAL COAST COMMUNITY
Team checkout Mia educating the local Wyong Community on the benefits of Saltmarsh regeneration! Great work Mia!

WHY WE LOVE WHAT WE DO!
Jocelyne showing us that she is going above and beyond achieving our Valuable Final Product VFP: 

“Cared For and Restored Natural Areas Resulting In Improved Environments for Now and the Future!”

And look what is above her in the tree! 🙂

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