Last workday I was surprised to see 2 large trees across the large slashed area at the Brentwood Ave entrance to the reserve, 1 of them across the stone ring where we have morning tea. The canopy in this area is getting quite sparse with trees dying and much storm damage over the last few years so this was a disappointment. Happily there are quite a few saplings coming up.

We were happy to welcome Lis Bastian and 2 students from Blue Mountains Pluriversity to learn about bushcare. Josh and Wil were enthusiastic participants and helped us with some weeding and spotting fungi. One of these was the Scleroderma cepa photographed by Jan.

Fortunately the reserve hasn’t been affected by the recent fires although they did come within 50m away in Braeside. There are obvious effects of the drought though with large areas of Hibbertia intermedia and Gleichenia dicarpa browning off.

One welcome effect of this was emergent gorse being more visible in the Gleichenia which enabled us to remove another 20-30. Of course the gorse was still green, just like most of the other weeds.

It was nice to see Acacia obtusifolia in flower, Thanks to Jan for the photo.

The team spent most of this morning spreading a heap of mulch left by the contractors in June. Mulch was spread along bare areas on the southern track and the southern fenceline. A great effort by all. Thanks to Jan Allen for the photos.

Recently fire mitigation work was carried out in the reserve, mostly on the southern boundary. This is a regular occurrence – in November 2011 the SE section of the reserve had a hazard reduction burn and in mid 2015 the southern boundary was trittered.

The 2 pictures below show before and after photos of the SE corner of the reserve, followed by some other views of mitigation work..

Photos: Keith Brister

Today’s work day was a very pleasant autumn day. Early on members of the group spotted 2 plants quite familiar from the area but not on the list, so quite a surprise. These are Olearia myrsinoides and Gahnia microstachya.

Also we’re very pleased to welcome several new members to the group. More on this when we get everyone together for a new group photo.

Dianella caerulea var producta Jan 18 Photo: Jan Allen

HIbbertia intermedia Nov 17 Photo: Jan Allen

This month Jan has received confirmation of ID for Dianella caerulea var producta and Hibbertia intermedia on the reserve.  The former is quite distinctive with elongated stems. The HIbbertia may well be a reidentifcation of a known species so we will have to have a closer look at the Hibbertias next spring.

At the November workday and while walking through the reserve  Jan spotted (and photographed) some more new plants,  Forked Comb Fern (Schizaea bifida) and a Grevillea X gaudichaudii, a natural hybrid of G. acanthifolia and G. laurifolia, both of which occur on the reserve.  Thanks to Jan for the excellent photos.

Thats now 125 plants on the reserve’s plantlist.

Schizaea bifida (Forked Comb Fern) Dec 17 Photo: Jan Allen

Grevillea X gaudichaudii Dec 17 Photo: Jan Allen

During our November workday 2 plants, not previously recorded in the reserve were spotted.

These were:

Geitonoplesium cymosum, Scrambling Lily

Grevillea acanthifolia

The Grevillea in particular was a surprise as it’s common around swamps and damp areas in Blackheath, not on top of a ridge where the reserve is.  Many thanks to Jan Allen for observation and plant ID.

Cryptandra amara Jun 17 Photo: Paul Vale

Also recently spotted was Cryptandra amara.  Thanks to Paul Vale for the observation and Monica Nugent for ID.

Degraded Turning Circle

Turning Circle Brush Matted Aug 17

There has been an ongoing problem on the reserve with an access track to the rear of properties in the NW corner.  This became an increasing eyesore,  and a turning circle at the end was becoming larger and larger.  In 2015 after further representations from the Bushcare Group, Council blocked access with a metal chain.

Regeneration along the track is proceeding well, with leaves covering much of it, some Acacias sprouting and Grevillea laurifolia growing in from the sides.  In August Council ripped and brush matted the turning circle to aid this regeneration process.  The group has taken a renewed interest in working on the surrounding area to improve the quality of the bush.

Thanks to Paul Vale for the photos.