The Friends of
Shenton Bushland
Inc.
How will we find our wild hearts inside this city;
How will we find the deep peace?
A. Stevens
Bushland Activities page (blog)
Bushland Management Strategies
Newsletter archive:
Newsletter #56 July 2005
What is that smell?
Flies attracted to the smell of meat from Colus pusillus (red fingers)
The winter rains have encouraged many fungi to emerge in the bushland, including the strange 'red fingers' fungi (Colus pusillus) which looks and smells like meat. This appearance and smell attracts flies that disperse the spores of the fungus.
Colus pusillus (red fingers)
The fungus emerges from a white egg-like structure buried in the leaf litter amongst a thicket of Jacksonia furcellata within Shenton Bushland.
Merger proposal
The committee of the Friends of Shenton Bushland Inc are exploring opportunities for merging with other friends groups to form a single umbrella group to co-ordinate bushland activities in our area.
Our aims in exploring opportunities for forming such an umbrella group are to:
- reduce the duplication of administration
- save costs (each group has to pay $300/year insurance)
- create a more self-sustaining structure for community involvement in bushland management.
At present, we (like other conservation groups) are struggling to survive in the long-term as a community group. It takes a lot of effort to continually try to attract volunteers to the committee to administer the group, and to bushland work days to carry out our work. Many groups like us have a core group of active members, however, that core group tends to become exhausted over time. What will happen to the Friends of Shenton Bushland Inc if that happens? What will happen to our accumulated knowledge?
We believe that an umbrella group will provide more resources and support to help us survive into the future.
What do you think? Please send your thoughts to Dani (9381 3470).
New management plan being developed
The City of Nedlands has contracted EcoScape to update our management plan for the next 5 to 10 years. This plan documents the current state of the bushland, and sets out the strategies for maintaining its biodiversity into the future.
One issue where we would like your comments and suggestions concerns The Barrens - an area on top of the ridge near Lemnos Street that was used for many years as a rubbish dump, and is now weeds infested.
Although all of the rubbish has been removed, there are many mounds of soil left, which makes it difficult to control the weeds.
It would not be difficult to level or remove the mounds. However, what do we do afterwards?
- Option 1: try to regenerate it to bushland - this would require many more resources than we presently have - for many decades into the future.
- Option 2: leave it as it is - it will not get any worse, and is cheap to maintain - but it does continually infect adjacent bushland areas with weeds.
- Option 3: create a public place that attracts people to the bushland - a grassed area planted out with trees and shrubs, maybe provide a picnic area.
What do you think? Please send your thoughts to Dani (9381 3470).
Coming Events
Our annual 'Bush-to-Beach' walk is due in August or September. Our experience from previous years is that people prefer the walk to be conducted by an expert who can provide an entertaining and informative experience to participants.
We would like your suggestions for:
- the length of the walk - how long are you interested in walking for - one hour? two hours? three hours? a whole day (with picnic)?
- the timing of the walk - the orchids and wildflowers are at their peak in late August - but that time often coincides with late winter storms. September has better weather, but less spectacular wildflowers. Which do you prefer?
What do you think? Please send your thoughts to Dani (9381 3470).
Next Meeting
Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 21st July (7.30 pm, 117 Derby Road, Shenton Park). We will be discussing the issues raised above.
Contact Dani (9381 3470 for details.
This newsletter is produced by the Friends of Shenton Bushland Inc. Contributions by Daniel Boase-Jelinek . Edited by Daniel Boase-Jelinek, 117 Derby Road, Shenton Park WA 6008.