Conserving native plants

Polblue, a fragile wilderness, by Andrew Pengelly, Hunter Valley Group

As a way of escaping extreme December heat, as well as to participate in a plant collecting trip for the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens, we headed up to Barrington Tops National Park, observing the change in temp from 35C in the valley to 26C an hour later, at an elevation above 1400m. The plan was to camp the night at Polblue camping area, then meet our collecting colleagues there in the morning. 

Polblue has a significant peat bog, surrounded by sub-alpine flora. This area is not only of great ecological significance, it also harbours a number of rare and threatened plants, including two species of mountain pepper, Tasmannia purpurescens and T. glaucifolia (fragrant pepperbush)...more

Planting Australian natives: are we bringing the bush to our backyards or our backyards to the bush? By Dr Matt Pye

Gardens are an important part of our existence in urban environments. They provide relief from the concrete and bricks that create the artificial environment that most Australians now inhabit – the urban landscape. Our gardens provide shelter and shade, a potential kaleidoscope of colour and, in many backyards, a small localised food source in the form of vegetable gardens. In cities, gardens and street trees also provide additional cooling mechanisms to the heat sinks of concrete structures.

Despite their ubiquitous presence, Australian backyard gardens have evolved over time and are far from static entities....more 

Wombat Care, Bundanoon by Fran Mullard

In November last year, the Southern Highlands APS group enjoyed an informative and passionately delivered presentation by John Creighton, AKA Wombat Man, who talked to them about the important work carried out by volunteer carers at Wombat Care Bundanoon. 

Wombat Care Bundanoon is an independent, self-funded volunteer group of dedicated carers focused on wildlife in general and wombats in particular. They are licensed to treat mange,

They are also active in area schools, mainly Bundanoon Primary School, in providing education and awareness about wombats and local wildlife issues. 

The wombats in the local area are from the family Vombatus ursinus, from the latin “ursus”, meaning “bear”. They are known as the Common Wombat or Bare-nosed Wombat...more

Keeping Tuggerah Lakes pristine, by Nick Carson, story Elsie Bartlett

Central Coast Group's speaker in May was Nick Carson, an Environmental Education Officer at Central Coast Council where he educates the community about the Tuggerah Lakes Estuary. Nick spoke passionately about the importance of the Tuggerah Lakes Estuary and catchment area.Features of the estuary

The Tuggerah Lakes Estuary system is a system of three inter-connected coastal lagoons, mostly separated from the sea. These lagoons are called Lake Munmorah, Budgewoi Lake and Tuggerah Lake and cover an area of approximately 80 square kilometres. Although they are called lakes, a lagoon differs from a lake in that it’s a shallow body of water close to the sea with a small inlet permitting tidal currents in and out.

Estuaries are formed when bodies of water, including rivers, lagoons and creeks meet the sea causing fresh and salt water to mix....more

More stories

Threat to Mount Canbobolas' rare flora, Central West, by Cilla Kinross

Submission to prevent the spread of Myrtle Rust, Maria Hitchcock OAM

Preventing land clearing in WA, by Mary Slattery, Secretary of ANPSA