NEWSLETTERwww.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/bushcare

SUMMER 20 19 – I SSUE 44

As many of you would know, our draft Bushland Rehabilitation Plans (2019-2029) were recently placed on public exhibition for a little over six weeks. During this time, we received around twenty submissions from Bushcare volunteers and other members of the public. At the time of writing this update, the Bushland Team were in the process of evaluating the submissions and amending the plans where appropriate. I’d like to thank everyone who read through the drafts, whether they went on to make a submission or not.

I’d also like to thank Bushcarers Nick Perry, Gill Barton, Bud Coffey, George Barbouttis, Victoria Whitney and Anita Semler for helping (at short notice) with our recent promotional video shoot in Primrose Park. This is an initiative that we have discussed with our Bushcare Group Convenors on several occasions, as a way of increasing engagement with the North Sydney Community and ‘telling the story’ of how rewarding it is to be a part of Bushcare. In addition to the Bushcare promo video, we filmed a short clip highlighting Council’s Native Havens – home habitat garden program. Huge thanks to our garden host and new star of the silver screen Robyn Lilienthal for showing off her ‘Native Haven’ and

sharing her enthusiasm for native plants and wildlife!

While we’re on the subject, a very special thank you must go to Ruth Mitchell. Ruth has been coming into the office regularly this year and helping Ramin with the mammoth task of entering hundreds of fauna records reported to Council though our Wildlife Watch program. Having up-to-date access to this data is invaluable to the Bushland Team and we are truly grateful to all our Wildlife Watchers, and of course Ruth’s steadfast data entry.

As another year draws to a close, I’d like to extend our thanks and appreciation for all the Bushcare Group Convenors. Your regular assistance with contacting fellow volunteers, sharing information, encouraging involvement and attending the Convenor meetings is greatly appreciated. So, thank you Kim, Mary-Lyn, John, Lynne, Mark, Ann, Victoria, Cathy, Steve, Andrew and Lyn!

In September, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of our Landcare Award-winning urban/rural environmental partnership project ‘Building Bridges to Boorowa’. A celebratory dinner was held on one of the local properties, with special guests including North Sydney Mayor Jilly Gibson, Hilltops Council Mayor

Brian Ingram, State Member for North Shore Felicity Wilson and State Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman. It was a fitting tribute to this unique partnership that has seen over 65,000 native plantings go into the ground with care and optimism.

Please note, the timing of next year’s trip to Boorowa is changing from the usual second weekend in September to the last weekend in May (29-31). This is in response to

changing rainfall patterns in the Boorowa region and a greater reliance on winter rainfall to help plants establish before summer. Please contact me if you would like further details or to book your place on the 2020 trip.

As many of you will know by now, our much-loved member of the Bushland Team Rachel Gleeson has decided it’s time to hang up her tool belt and is moving to a new role at Lane Cove Council. Rachel has been an indispensable member of the team for over ten years. Her work ethic, personality, attention to detail and innate ability to get along with anyone has been an asset to the team and a large factor in the ongoing success of our Adopt a Plot program. Thanks for being such an important part of the team Rachel – you will be sorely missed.

Before finishing up for 2019, I’d just like to extend my deepest gratitude to the Bushland Team for being such a wonderful group of dedicated professionals, whose passion for bushland conservation and desire to function cooperatively, make them a joy to work with. See you next year!

Gareth DebneyBushland Management Coordinator

COORDINATORS UPDATE

Caption: Johnson & Johnson undertook a corporate Bushcare activity with the Bushland Team on Wednesday 29 September, they weeded, mulched and then planted a revegetated area, to enhance a wildlife corridor at Berry Island Reserve and enjoyed a guided walk along the Gadyan Track.

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On the banks of the Myall Creek, directly in front of my home in Dalby, is a monument to a moth. Dalby is a rural town in the middle of the Darling Downs west of the Great Dividing Range in southern Queensland. That monument is a symbol of the side-effects suffered in colonising Australia and it has shaped my thinking.

My love for the natural world developed on the banks of Myall Creek, paddling in homemade rickety boats, amongst tortoises, waterbirds and even the occasional koala up a gum tree in our yard. That early passion for nature has led me in the granddad stage of life to Bushcare in North Sydney and the never-ending task of controlling introduced weeds.

The monument honours the Cactoblastis Moth. It saved the country from the Prickly Pear, one of the most invasive weeds ever imported into Australia. Captain Arthur Phillip’s “First Fleet” supplies included a collection of cochineal-infested Prickly Pear plants from Brazil and other places on his way to establish the first white settlement at Botany Bay in 1788. The Prickly Pears were brought into Australia to start a cochineal dye industry – the dye used to colour the British soldiers’ red coats.

A plant of Prickly Pear was taken from the Sydney area to the Darling Downs in Queensland in 1848 for use as a garden plant, with a strong recommendation that it would be a good fruiting and hedge plant. On the banks of the Myall Creek not far from where I played, an early settler in Dalby planted a hedge of Prickly Pears around his orchard to stop school kids raiding his fruit trees.

In this land of drought and flooding rains, when the Myall Creek bursts its banks, it spreads far and wide. Such a flood spread the Prickly Pear far and wide. Its fruit is very attractive to birds when they spread their seed everywhere.

By 1920, Prickly Pear was completely out of control, infesting some 60 million acres of land in New South Wales and Queensland. That is equivalent to the area of England, Scotland and Wales combined. It was estimated at the time that the Pear was spreading at the rate of one million acres a year. All methods of control were unsuccessful. The accommodating climate and general lack of natural enemies accounted for its amazing spread – still considered by many to be one of the botanical wonders of the world.

A bounty was put on the destruction of birds. A record from the Queensland Prickly Pear Land Commission annual report, 1926-27, listed bounties paid for the destruction of emus (2 shillings 6 pence head), emu eggs (1 shilling), crows (6 pence) and Scrub Magpies (4 pence head). The Commission’s 1926 annual report stated that “the amount of poison sold in Queensland that year would treat 9,450,000 tons of Prickly Pear. Chemicals included 31,100 (10 & 20lb) tins of Arsenic pentoxide and 27,950 containers of Roberts Improved Pear Poison”. That was the year the first Cactoblastis eggs were released near Dalby.

The Prickly Pear’s virtual destruction by Cactoblastis caterpillars (Cactoblastis cactorum) is still regarded as the world’s most spectacular example of successful biological weed control. The first releases of Cactoblastis were made in 1926, after extensive laboratory testing to ensure they would not move into other plant species, and a massive rearing program particularly at the Chinchilla Field Station not far from Dalby. They remain today quietly doing their work keeping the Prickly Pear under control all over the country. Today we need to listen to scientists more than ever to deal with our environmental crisis.

THE MOTH THAT LED ME TO BUSHCAREby John Nearhos - NSC Bushcare Volunteer

Caption: Photo from Cactoblastis Memorial Hall Warrego Highway, Boonarga, Qld by John Nearhos - NSC Bushcare Volunteer

Caption: Below - Photo of Cactus on Darling Downs Qld before cactoblastis, National Museum of Australia.

Caption: Photo of adult female Cactoblastis moth by Peggy Greb, US Dept of Agr ARS, Wikipedia.

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WILDL I F E WATCH UPDATE (AUGUST TO OCTOBER 2019)Big thanks to all the Wildlife Watch volunteers that monitor wildlife in North Sydney and submit their observations to Council. The highlights of recent sightings were:

Have you seen any interesting fauna in the North Sydney Council area or do you have a photo of your observations? If so, email the Bushland Project Officer, Ramin Khosravi, at council@northsydney.nsw.gov.au or visit Council’s Bushcare webpage - www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/bushcare to post your photo on the North Sydney Council Bushcare Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/bushcare

• Powerful Owl (Badangi Reserve)

• Australian Pelican (Badangi Reserve)

• Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (Badangi Reserve, Balls Head Reserve, Primrose Park)

• Nankeen Kestrel (Berry Island Reserve)

• Australian Fur-seal (Blues Point Reserve)

• Spotted Pardalote (Gore Cove Reserve, Tunks Park)

• Fence Skink (McMahons Point Urban)

• Wandering Whistling-Duck (Milson Park)

• Variegated Fairy-Wren (Primrose Park)

• Superb Fairy-Wren (Primrose Park)

• Golden Whistler (Tunks Park)

• Grey Goshawk - white morph (Tunks Park)

• Swamp Wallaby (Tunks Park)

• Tawny Frogmouth (Milson Park, Warringa Park, Cremorne Reserve, Neutral Bay Urban, Primrose Park)

• Crested Pigeon (Neutral Bay, Balls Head Reserve, Brightmore Reserve)

• Australian King-Parrot (Coal Loader Site, Cremorne Reserve, Tunks Park, Wollstonecraft Urban)

• Masked Lapwing (Brightmore Reserve, North Sydney Urban)

• Eastern Whip Bird (Gore Cove Reserve, Primrose Park, Cremorne Reserve, Tunks Park)

• White-browed Scrubwren (Balls Head Reserve, Carradah Park, Cremorne Reserve, Tunks Park, Primrose Park)

• White-faced Heron (Cremorne Reserve)

• White-necked Heron (Primrose Park)

• Little Pied Cormorant (Milson Point Urban, Tunks Park, Cremorne Reserve, Berry Island, Primrose Park)

• Little Black Cormorant (Sawmiller Reserve, Neutral Bay Urban, Anderson Park)

• Little Wattle Bird (Wollstonecraft Urban)

• Australian Darter (Neutral Bay Urban, Kirribilli Urban)

• Eastern Water Dragon (Cremorne Urban, Balls Head Reserve, Brightmore Reserve, Primrose Park, Cremorne Reserve, Wonga Road Reserve)

• Cabbage White Butterfly (Neutral Bay Urban)

• Painted Lady Butterfly (Cremorne Urban)

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WILDL IFE RESCUE UPDATEBy Michael Quinell & Ramin Khosravi

North Sydney Council recently hosted a training course for volunteers joining Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Services. The popular two-day intensive course was held at the Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability and was booked out weeks before the closing date.

Council’s Bushland Project Officer Ramin Khosravi joined almost 40 budding wildlife rescue trainees who left the course with the equipment and knowledge needed to rescue and rehabilitate our local injured and orphaned native wildlife.

The course covered rescue techniques, care and housing facilities and common injuries that befall our population of native animals.

According to a Sydney Wildlife

spokesperson, postcode 2065, which encompasses Crows Nest, Greenwich, Naremburn, Wollstonecraft and St Leonards, topped the organisation’s most recent statistics with 382 native animals needing help. A further 227 rescues were recorded in the North Sydney Council area for the past year. This reflects the urban dangers of traffic, domestic animal attacks and the pressures of habitat loss.

With his head still spinning from the wealth of information, Ramin said;

“I thoroughly enjoyed the Sydney Wildlife rescue training, I was impressed by the facilitators’ breadth of knowledge and willingness to assist the trainees. I was touched to learn this organisation is run completely by volunteers – from the call

centre to wildlife rescue, the veterinary services and care – a complete chain of good will.

“This course provided me with the confidence I need to take up wildlife rescue/care. I was so excited after the event that I posted on Facebook to spread the word. My son, Daniel, is already a convert and volunteered to lend me a hand. I would love to see more people support wildlife rescue services.

“A big thank-you to Michael Quinell and Trish Kroll for training us on the day. I hope we can make this an ongoing event at North Sydney Council. Meeting so many enthusiastic and caring people under one roof has certainly inspired me.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

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farewell R ACHEL GLEESONIt is time for me to say goodbye to the Adopt a Plot program and to my job as a bush regenerator with North Sydney Council. I am heading over to Lane Cove Council to take up the position of Weeds Management Officer.

It has been a great pleasure working with everyone over the last 10 years, especially the Bushland Management Team, with your amazing knowledge and passion for our local bushland areas. I have learnt so much from all of you. I hope I was able to pass on some of that knowledge to the Harry Howard and Badangi Reserve Bushcare volunteers. Thank you for all your support over the years.

The Adopt a Plot donors and volunteers are truly wonderful, selfless people and I have been so lucky to have worked alongside you. I feel we have achieved so much together. I still remember how the Adopt a Plot sites were covered entirely

by weeds and the tireless work required to rehabilitate them. We would return to the site each month to be greeted with yet another wave of weeds and the volunteers continued to support our effort.

The original plots are barely recognisable – they have been revegetated with native plants and the weeds have been pushed to the periphery. We’re lucky to be able to make our way through these areas now due to the dense growth of native grasses, shrubs, vines and trees.

I’ve loved learning life lessons from some wonderfully wise and welcoming residents during our chats while we worked together. That’s all part and parcel of the job. It’s been fabulous to see and hear the wildlife return to the areas we have rehabilitated. I know that North Sydney Council’s bushland is in good hands with the wonderful Bushcare volunteers and staff.

STATE LANDCARE CONFERENCE - BROKEN H I L L -

The 20th NSW Landcare Conference was held at Broken Hill in far-west NSW from the 22 to 24 October. This three-day conference included presentations and panel discussions about current Landcare issues e.g. funding and volunteer retention/recruitment, field trips to see Landcare projects and an awards ceremony.

Broken Hill is the first heritage-listed city in Australia, it is characterised by grand heritage buildings e.g. the Trades Hall Building and is the birth place of BHP (Broken Hill Proprietary). Broken Hill is in the rangelands - red soils, sparsely vegetated with salt bush and the like, and it is hot and dry. This dramatic landscape was the location for the classic Aussie films, Mad Max and Priscilla Queen of the Desert. In the 1930s, the Zinc Corporation Ltd implemented one of the very first land restoration projects here. Inspired by Albert Morris who was an amateur Australian botanist, landscaper, ecologist and conservationist. The proposal was a series of stock-and rabbit-proof fenced reserves, which were planted-out around the town using local natives to reduce sand drift. Today, Landcare management practices in the rangelands include reducing grazing pressure from goats and feral animal control - mostly for wild dogs.

Charlie Arnott – grazier and advocate for biodynamic farming was the keynote speaker. Some of our volunteers will know Charlie from previous tree planting weekends in Boorowa. He was also honoured at the 2018 National Landcare Awards as winner of the prestigious Bob Hawke Landcare Award. Charlie encouraged Landcarers to be creative about supporting Landcare. For example, he suggested city folk might consider becoming members of rural Landcare groups.

Caption: Rachel Gleeson – NSC Bushland Team, Boorowa NSW, 2014.

i spyEven in this recent extreme heat and bushfire smoke-haze, our visiting Channel-billed Cuckoos apparently don’t drink water! You only ever spy them swishing through the treetops, never feet on the ground sipping at the bird bath.

You could be excused for thinking that Case Moths live sealed inside their cocoons. But lo! one occupant was spotted on the move, travelling at low speed across the yard, with its head – blue and orange striped – poking out the top. The rest of its body remained concealed inside the moving chamber. Tiny paws under its chin helped to propel it. But wherein lies the main driving source? Anyone’s guess!

The scenario: pegging out the washing in the dark. Whoosh! A Presence speeds past on one of the spare clothes-line wires into the shadows of the Cheese Tree. A Brushtail Possum doing a brilliant, noiseless “take” on a tight-rope walker!

The Redback darted in and out of holes at the bottom of the old pot plant container, trying to escape being caught. Mind you, it wasn’t going to be killed, just moved elsewhere via a broom handle and a box. But it got away and is now at large in the shed. They’re an elegant spider – feline, like a sleek, black cat.

A bigger challenge: removing at midnight, a huge huntsman from off the bedroom wall, just above my pillow.

by Margaret Ryan - NSC Bushcare Volunteer

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Caption: Parents and their children making Solitary Bee Hotels with Flo Stricher at the Children’s Festival, Saturday 26 October 2019. Participants mixed brickies sand, clay and water to form a fragile bolus that they tamp down into repurposed plastic water bottles. Artificial burrows were then punched through the medium with a pencil and the habitats were then left to dry, ready for the home garden.

The 19th annual Children’s Festival was held at Ted Mack Civic Park (formerly Civic Park), on Saturday 26 October, coinciding with Children’s Week. This year’s theme was Animalia to celebrate the animals we share our planet with and to inspire and educate young minds about the importance of caring for the natural world.

This year, Flo Stricher, our new Bushland team member, helped families make Solitary Bee Hotels – habitats for insects. There were also native plant give-aways to promote pollinator-attracting species (grown by our nursery staff and volunteers).

Helen Campbell – Manager Community Development said a lot of people contributed to the Festival including Council staff from the Library, local children’s services,

primary schools, local artists and creatives and community groups such as Scouts, the Police, Fire and Rescue and Nutcote.

“There are no rules to contribute, just the proviso that they offer a creative, imaginative and fun-filled activity related to the annual theme. It is a great day showcasing the best of what the community can offer to children,” Helen said.

“In the early days there was also a desire to connect parents with a range of services they might need in the future, a little expo, there is still an element of that.”

Several Greater Sydney Landcare groups won accolades. Richie Benson who started Koala Fest was awarded the Grand Champion Austover Young Landcare Leadership Award. His public awareness campaign has helped to preserve Koala populations in the Hawksbury. Some of our volunteers met Richie during the Matherson Park Bushcare Group visit on 15 February and others attended Koala Fest at Windsor on 8 September.

Floating Landcare won the Grand Champions Australian Government Partnerships for Landcare Award. North Sydney Council Bushcare has been participating in this program for the past few years. Bouddi Coastcare were awarded Champion Australian Community Media Landcare Community Group Award. We met one of the members of this group, Tony, (who is also a member of Macmasters Bushcare Group), during the recent COSS Tour on the Central Coast. Clean4shore, Megalong Valley Public School and Take 3 also won awards.

Congratulations Greater Sydney Landcare!

The Children’s Festival 2019 - Animalia

Caption: Richie Benson (second from Right) Grand Champion Austover Young Landcare Leadership Award with fellow award winners, Broken Hill 2019.

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BERRY CREEK F ISH K I L L

During September, Council’s bush regeneration contractor in Gore Cove Reserve reported seeing dead eels in Berry Creek, Wollstonecraft. Further investigation found that 30-35 Short-fin Eels (Anguilla australis) were dead in the upper section of the creek, from the Russell St stormwater outlet to where the walking track crosses the creek.

Fortunately, Council’s water quality monitoring contractor was also on-site on the same day taking the usual quarterly water samples for analysis, so we were able to arrange additional

sampling (including sediments) to try and identify the toxin responsible. An eel specimen was transported to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s (DPIE) laboratory in Lidcombe for dissection.

Sadly, the analysis of water, sediment and eel specimen did not glean a conclusive result. We can only say that a possible cause of death was rapid pH shock caused by chemical runoff. Due to the length of time between the eels dying, their bodies being reported, and the analysis being completed, it was not possible to determine the source of the contaminant.

While our urban creek lines are hardly

pristine, it is important for the species dependant on these systems that we try to maintain the highest quality stormwater possible. Council does this by installing gross pollutant traps and running education campaigns.

Members of the public can make a big difference by reporting to Council where you see turbid creek water, runoff from building sites or people pouring substances down drains. Regardless of the location, all drains in North Sydney either end up in a creek line or the harbours – please help us to keep these important ecosystems healthy.

You can report pollution incidents in North Sydney by calling 9936 8100.

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This is the second garden where I’ve collaborated with Council’s Native Haven Program. I remember waking up years ago to the early dawn bird chorus, which sadly I don’t hear anymore. I now try to do my bit to help reinstate our native bushland and give a home to what remains of our wildlife heritage.

Building a garden from scratch is an adventure. When I moved in, my priority was renovating my house. While that was underway, I worked on the Fifth Ave Streets Alive nature strip native garden, followed by the Brothers Memorial Park native garden. The planning was done with Council Officers and I was assisted by my late neighbour, Lester Rundle. Now it is a collaborative effort with the Willoughby Bay Precinct members, Bushcare and Streets Alive Programs. The scene was now set for my own Native Haven garden.

My garden started as a blank canvas – a levelled rumble after renovations. Horticulturalist Jon Kingston designed the layout of the front and Simon Jenkins from Jim’s Mowing Service designed the lay out and built the structures, and pond in the back garden. A bonus was being able to use the rock and rubble from the property to create a gabion wall. These walls are great shelters for lizards and also serve as an embankment and water filter.

Ramin Khosravi from Council’s Native Havens Program assisted me with many plants and gave me advice on where to plant them. I wanted a home for lizards and frogs, birds and insects, native bees, and butterflies and the odd possum or two. I also had to learn about soil pH levels – something I had never thought about.

The garden is now almost four years old and is still very young and challenging. I enjoy talking to Ramin Khosravi and Jon Kingston to slowly develop my knowledge for my native garden. My garden now includes a wide variety of plants with layering so both sun loving plants and shade plants can thrive; prickly plants where hopefully birds can nest; homes for the native stingless bees; and a pond with trickling water for native fish. Together they form a relaxing place to enjoy my retirement – a garden that is both soft on your eyes and intellectually challenging.

I recommend the Native Haven Program – ring up Council and ask for their Bushland Project Officer. Your call will be rewarded with an Officer knocking on your door and the beginning of a rewarding adventure.

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MY NATIVE HAVENby Robyn Lilienthal

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Adop t a P lo t UPDATEWe are now well into another year of the Adopt a Plot program with agreements renewed in July and the contract for all 20 plots have been re-signed. We have nine regular volunteers and a further five helping out when they can, on their volunteer and/or donation plots.

All the long-term plots in Cremorne Reserve and Wollstonecraft are now at a maintenance stage, they are entirely revegetated with native plants. We only need to sweep through these plots monthly to remove scattered weeds and to check for outbreaks on the boundaries and along the drainage lines. We will continue to reduce undesirable mesic native species, while in-fill planting for diversity, with species representative of the nearby remnant bushland communities.

Most of the participants have agreed to a maintenance program with reduced hours, while a few have continued to fund and commit to the original agreements for 4 hours per month. In these cases, work

will continue in adjacent plots.

We saw the return of the Water Dragons after winter and I spotted several gorgeous juveniles around Cremorne Reserve. Spring set the birds into breeding mode, the chiming of the Scrub-wrens, Whip-birds and Butcher Birds can be heard throughout the bush.

Adopt a Plot has continued to expand territory with 4 new plots in the Middle Harbour area. The Primrose and Tobruk Ave plots continue to improve even though the soil is disturbed.

We held the annual Adopt a Plot program meeting in May, where it was calculated we had planted 1,278 native plants during 2018/19. Since January, we have committed 500 hours, which is about 48 hours of work per month thanks to our donors and volunteers.

Apiarist Gavin Smith will deliver a

presentation on native bees and pollinators next April. It will be a great opportunity to meet-up and get to know one another and to learn about different aspects of bushland ecology.

Rachel Gleeson - Bush Regenerator

WEED TO WATCH MOTHER OF M I L L IONS (Bryophyllum delagoense) Andrew Scott ‘War of the Weeds’ correspondent, reports from the frontlines at the Battle for Hungry Beach

A flash of orange-red gave the enemies position away - their drooping bell shaped flowers - scattered positions on the steep slope overlooking WWII Loop Mining Station 285 on the mouth of the Hawksbury seen on our approach by barge.

Our troop of 27 volunteers, including 12 allies from North Sydney, prepared themselves for the landing on Sunday 14 November. We were dressed for battle. Tool kits strapped to our hips, we marched forward into the coastal scrub taking up positions where we methodically disabled our foe. This was hand to hand combat.

The Floating Landcare volunteers assaulted this position just one year ago, but the Mother of Millions appeared to have regrouped. It is a formidable enemy – a succulent plant with fleshy cylindrical hairless leaves, native to Madagascar, its resilient nature a product of its ability to reproduce vegetatively, via the plantlets growing at the tips and by seed. Any fragment of this alien can regenerate to

replenish the population.

Mother of Millions is hard to see at times, as it is camouflaged - purple patches on grey-green. It mostly grows to knee or waist height, the smaller plantlets can go undetected as they blend into the background. It is tough, the shallow roots allow it to grow on rock shelves and it needs minimal soil and water to survive.

Mother of Millions is not a wide spread weed in North Sydney, however it is an imperative weed to fight because of its invasive and resilient nature. I know of one patch in Tunks Park West Bushcare site in Cammeray, that we must attend to periodically. The source is most likely a discarded pot plant from a neighbour.

If you find Mother of Millions, please collect it by hand and dispose of the whole plant in Council’s green waste bin.

Andrew Scott - Bushcare Officer

Caption: Mother of Millions (Bryophyllum delagoense) Hungry Beach, Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Sat 9 October 2019 by Andrew Scott

Caption: Mother of Millions Flowers by Andrew Scott

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If undelivered please return to: Bushcare Officer, PO Box 12, NORTH SYDNEY 2060

JA NUARY21 Bush Walk | Tuesday 10.30am to 12pm22 Mini Beast Muster | Wednesday 10.30am to 12pm23 Family Kayak | Thursday 10.30am to 12pm

FEBRUARY1 Get Growing | Saturday 9am to 12pm

Bookings essential: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/bushcareevents or 9911 3566

2 Wildlife Watching Birds | Sunday 7.20am to 10.30am Bookings: Diary Dates at Willoughby.nsw.gov.au or 9777 1000

6 Talking Birds | Thursday 6.30pm to 8.30pm Bookings: Diary Dates at Willoughby.nsw.gov.au or 9777 1000

8 Tracking Ferals in Sydney | Saturday 8.30am to 11.30am Bookings: Diary Dates at Willoughby.nsw.gov.au or 9777 1000

8 Plant Illustration | Saturday 10am to 1pm9 Bushcare Kayak - Garigal NP | Sunday 9am to 3pm9 Sugar Bag Bee Keeping Workshop | Sunday 9.30am to 4.30pm

Bookings: Diary Dates at Willoughby.nsw.gov.au or 9777 1000 10 Sugar Hive Drive | Monday

Bookings: Diary Dates at Willoughby.nsw.gov.au or 9777 1000 12 Introduction to Bushcare Training | Wednesday 10am to 1pm

Enquires: Bushcare Officer on 9936 8100 16 Introduction to Bushcare Training | Sunday 1pm to 4pm

Enquires: Bushcare Officer on 9936 8100

M AR CH1 Strickland State Forest Visit | Sunday 8am to 4pm5 World Wildlife Day - Willoughby’s Wildlife | Thursday 6.30pm to 8.30pm

Bookings: Diary Dates at Willoughby.nsw.gov.au or 9777 1000 7 Growing Plants for Breast Cancer Research | Saturday 9am to 12pm

Bookings essential: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/bushcareevents or 9911 3566

7 Bat Night - Bat Count | Saturday 5pm to 8pm15 Cuttings Workshop | Sunday 9.30am to 12.30pm29 Orchids of North Sydney | Sunday 10am to 12pm29 Bushcare Kayak - Middle Harbour | Sunday 8am to 2pm

Bookings: Diary Dates at Willoughby.nsw.gov.au or 9777 1000

APR I L7 Native Bee Talk | Tuesday 6pm to 8pm

14 Bush Walk | Tuesday 10.30am to 12pm16 Spotlight Walk | Thursday 6.30pm to 8.30pm22 Mini Beast Muster | Wednesday 10.30am to 12pm

M AY2 Powerful Owl Volunteer Training | Saturday 10am to 1pm

Bookings essential: www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/bushcareevents or 9911 3566

2 Bushcare Stall | Saturday 8am to 12pm10 Trees for Mum Day | Sunday 9am to 12pm15 Ecological Burning at Bushcare | Friday 10am to 1pm

Bookings: Diary Dates at Willoughby.nsw.gov.au or 9777 1000 17 Weed Pressing Workshop | Sunday 1pm to 4pm18 Nursery Visit | Monday 9am to 3pm23 Eucalyptus I.D. Walk | Saturday 10am to 1pm29-31 Boorowa Tree Planting Weekend | Friday to Sunday

NEWSLETTERwww.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/bushcare

SUMMER 20 19 – I SSUE 44

POSTAGE

PAID

AUSTRALIA

Did you know North Sydney Council Bushcare has a Facebook page? Like us at www.facebook.com/bushcare

To be informed of interesting environmental education videos visit Envirotube on Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/greenstylenorth

For more information or to make a booking for any of these workshops or special events please contact the Bushcare Officer on 9936 8100. Printed on 100% recycled, 75% post consumer and 25% pre consumer waste.

Gratitude to all our contributors who take the time to put ideas and research into words so we can learn. Thank you. Would you like the newsletter emailed to you instead? www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/subscribe

CALENDAR & GREEN EVENTSCALENDAR & GREEN EVENTSBOOKINGS must be made for all events at: www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/greenevents or 9936 8100 unless otherwise stated