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Newsletter #39 May 2002

The first 'breakfast in the bush' Dec '99, collecting seed for planting out
along the Lemnos Path (see Monitoring report below. Left to right are Judy Szabo, Alan Sharkey, Janice Marshall, Bronwen Tyson and Ady Emmerson (standing)
Photo: Chris Day
 

Changes at the helm

Janice has retired from the position of Convenor of the Friends of Shenton Bushland, though she still has a finger on the helm as Deputy Convenor.

Dani has agreed to become Convenor, and his role as Secretary has been taken by John Adeney.

Dorothy continues as Treasurer though she is trying to interest Bill Johnson in the intricacies of GST, BAS and other financial hazards that she has coped with over several years.

Thanks to Janice and Dorothy for your very hard work!

The task for our group over the next year is to maintain our programme of activities in the bushland while finding ways of attracting more people to become active in looking after the bushland.

Coming up are 4 big days that we need help to organise and for you to note in your diary so that you can come along.

The days are:
(a) Sunday, 9th June - our annual planting day
(b) Weekend 20th & 21st July - fungi foray & workshop
(c) Sunday 11th August - EcoPlan bushcare day
(d) Late August (possibly Sunday 24th) - Bush-to-beach walk

If you can help us organise refreshments, activity rosters, or publicity, please contact Dani on 9381 3470.

Monitoring

Since the Friends started a reconstruction programme by planting out tube stock, first in 1997, we have always counted the plants that survive their first summer and often after the second too.

This has given us an understanding of the species more likely to survive the harsh conditions found in degraded areas. It has also brought us face to face with the reality of how hard it is to 'bring back the bush'.

The results from counting the survivors along the new Lemnos Path (the old powerline) which was planted up last winter are shown in the table.
 

Plant	% of planted seedlings still surviving
Jackonia furcellata & Jacksonia sericea	66
Hakea prostrata	90  *
Acacia pulchella	33
Hardenbergia comptoniana	21
Kennedia prostrata	30
Gompholobium tomentosum	31
Banksia (menziesii & attenuata)	63
Acacia saligna	100

* There was significant self-seeding of Acacia saligna and Hakea prostrata - so our survival rate for these plants is artificially high.

The survival rates are pleasingly high, especially considering the dry winter. It was so dry we decided to water the plants a week after planting them - something we've never done before. They then had to pull through the long and dry, though not excessively hot, summer.

Frog College

As the title implies there have been a number of developments regarding the establishment of a frog breeding area on the North East side of Shenton Bushland. Shenton College has taken the lead in establishing a frog breeding area close to the north-eastern boundary of the Bushland. Trevor Wittle and year 12 students have prepared a frog breeding area near their Tree Nursery. The intention is to control the water level to encourage the breeding of the Moaning Frog (Heleioporus eyrei).

Although the Shenton College frog breeding area is about 50 metres from the Bushland boundary this distance (and associated area) has the potential to be developed into a bushland corridor. This will provide protected conditions for young froglets moving to and from the bushland. We commend Shenton College on their environmental initiative. We are pleased that many aspects of our design will be incorporated into the Shenton College frog breeding area. The Shenton College design is being constructed and stocked with froglets along the recommendations of Alcoa FrogWatch.

Next Meeting

NOTE: New location for meeting!

This will be held on Thursday 9th May at 7.30 pm at 117 Derby, Shenton Park. This will be followed by the bimonthly committee meeting. All welcome.

This newsletter is produced by the Friends of Shenton Bushland.
Contributions by Janice Marshall, John Adeney and Daniel Boase-Jelinek.