At the first Community work day in November, we.spread cardboard and mulch and then planted about 200 plants on path edge/river bank west of culvert. Approx 150 bidgee widgee (Acaena nova-zelandiae), but also some Poa ensiformis, Dianella longifolia, Wahlenbergia communis. and Goodenia ovata.At the second Community work day we planted about 20 kidney weed on north of path near Burke Rd. track, and weeded the area. Mowed path verges, and removed two bitou bushes inside golf course weed zone. These bushes were the last mature bushes in the area. We finished the day with a BBQ
We now have a new toilet. It has a lower floor so the step up is not as high, and a foot pump for handwashing and flushing. Made by the same company as the hired toilet, so it looks much the same.Five old tyres which had been left in the golf course triangle many years ago, have been collected and will be disposed of.
Our contractor, Mark Douglas of Bushland recovery has done more weed control spraying, and the results look great!
WILDLIFE
At the November bat check, all the bats had gone away – they did the same last year when the females had their pups. They must have found a better maternity roost.
I don’t understand why, but on US ebay and other US web shopping sites, they have ‘bulb planting augers’ which aren’t found on retail sites here or in China where they are made. They are 2’ (600mm) long and 2.75” (70mm) diameter, which is the perfect size for our standard 65mm plant tubes. So I ordered one, and on the couple of test holes at home and at the reserve, it was BRILLIANT! It had no problem with a few stones in the picnic area, and was magic through the mulch and cardboard in the main reserve area. My cheap 12v cordless drill had no problem with it.
Even though it is very late for planting, those last few small-leaf clematis (Clematis microphylla) will have a new home this Friday.
And next season’s planting will not be as onerous!
FRIDAY 12 DECEMBER 2014
9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
&
SUNDAY 25 JANUARY 2015
9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Stanley Barker,
Burke Rd. Billabong Committee of Management.
www.brbreserve.org