The aim of bushland management plans is to guide the work of land holders (such as councils) and bushland friends groups in their activities within the bushland.

Unfortunately, most bushland management plans rarely serve this purpose well, and end up gathering dust on a bookshelf.

Why is this so?

Our observations are that:

consultants often work to a tight budget - so they tend to recycle old plans, updating them with revised maps etc ,
most plans do not take into account the work that has already been done in the bushland - they look only at what has to be done,
since they do not assess what has been done in the past, these plans do not help land holders and bushland friends groups learn from past mistakes,
because there is no learning about past mistakes, those past mistakes tend to get repeated into the future.

We are keen to avoid these problems in developing our next management plan for Shenton Bushland.

To ensure that the consultants have access to all of the information they need to assess our bushland management activities over the past few years, we have put it all on the web.

You are welcome to contribute to our discussions also. The links to this information are:

record of our Sunday morning activities - is on our blog site
static website with links to plant species lists etc - (click on the links in the left menu)
draft management plan

We will be meeting with the consultant (Jean-Paul Orsini) at our next committee meeting - Monday 1st September.

In the Bushland

With the great rain that came in Autumn and Winter we have been kept busy weeding. Vicki has organised spraying for Lachenalia, Blackflag and Veldgrass. We have been weeding Geraldton Carnation Weed and Watsonia.

At this time of year it is a great joy to be in the bushland - so many wildflowers are out, the Sunday mornings are fine and mild, and the bushland rings with the songs of birds.

Why not join us in the bushland? It is much more fun than sleeping in!

Coming Event - Bush to Beach Walk

The annual Bush to Beach walk within the western suburbs is on again and scheduled for Sunday the 19th October. This 11.5km walk (three and a quarter hours) moves away from the coast, and will be passing through Cottesloe, along the Swan River with spectacular views at Peppermint Grove and Mosman Park, to finish at Buckland Hill car park (with a limited number of parking bays). The one-way guided walk will start from Grant Marine Park, Grant Street, Cottesloe, and walkers are required to register from 9am for a 9.30am start. Morning tea will be at Chidley Point, approximately 11.45am. The walk will continue along in a westerly direction through Minim Cove to finish at Buckland Hill car park at approximately 1.15-1.30pm.

Those using public transport may walk from Cottesloe train station (Fremantle line) to Grant Street, the starting point, or join in the walk at the Forrest Street end of the Cottesloe Station at about 10am. On completion of the walk there is a short walk from Buckland Hill up to Victoria Street Station to catch the Fremantle line.

Alternatively those in a car pool may like to leave a car at Leighton Beach car park, opposite the footbridge (an additional 15 minute walk) and the other car at Grant Marine Park, the starting point.

The event is free, the sights are wonderful, and we'd love to see you there! Contact Lesley at 93847983 or Peter at 0416631421 for more information.

Registration will be on the day.

Next Meeting

Our next committee meeting will be discussing our management plan with Jean-Paul Orsini.

The committee meeting will be held on Monday 1st September at 8pm - 117 Derby Rd Shenton Park. Dani will be providing refreshments.

Contact Dani (9381 3470 or Dani's email for details.

Created by Daniel Boase-Jelinek August 2004

All photographs are copyright of Daniel Boase-Jelinek unless otherwise indicated.

The logo of the Friends of Shenton Bushland is copyright of June L. Weller

Last updated February 2008