Category: Working Bee Photos - Friends of Glenfern Valley Bushlands

Bush Restoration Photos, October 2024

29/10/2024

The weather was superb for Sunday’s Bush Restoration that we spent planting Yellow Box, and removing Patterson's Curse and an Arum Lily. Others removed weeds in Area 3 where they saw a large kangaroo. At morning tea Mike gave a talk about the Southern water skink. (Pictured below.) All in all a great day to be in the reserve with friends.

Join us next time on Wednesday 6 Nov at 9am, and/or Sunday 17 Nov at 9:30am.

Photos by Mike and Linda

Bush Restoration Photos, September 2024

16/9/2024

Our volunteers spent a lovely morning on Sunday in Area 10 removing plenty of Sweet Pittosporum seedlings, among others. At morning tea we had a talk from Linda about the Asperula conferta AKA Common Woodruff, a cute perennial herb typically getting no higher than 20cm. We enjoyed photographing this and all the other small details of the reserve, so we hope you’ll enjoy taking a journey into the reserve through our camera lenses. Alternatively, get up close and personal with the reserve at our next event, the Conservation and Conversation morning on Wednesday 2nd of October at 9am. 🌿

Photos by Daniel & Nicole

Bush Restoration Photos, August 2024

21/8/2024

Thanks to the volunteers that joined us on Sunday to walk through Area 4. There were relatively few weeds to be found, and it was a lovely morning to be out in the reserve.

Join us for our next bush restoration on Wednesday 4th September at 9am. 🌿

Photos by Daniel and Nicole

Bush Restoration Photos, July 2024

24/7/2024

With the assistance of many geocaching enthusiast volunteers, last Sunday we wandered through the stunning grassy fields of Area 5 looking for weeds and natural wonders. We found both! But not too many weeds – the area is in great condition.

We had extra help this month as Glenfern Valley Bushlands was chosen to be the focus of a CITO event - “Cache In Trash Out”. These nature-beautifying and improving events have been held all around the world since 2002 and seek to improve the places in which caches are located - a wonderful initiative. We are appreciative of their help and camaraderie that morning.

If you’ve never heard of geocaching or want to learn more, check out the link below. There are four caches hidden within the reserve and GPS coordinates are used to locate them. One such cache has been there for almost twenty years! https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCQ44G_glens-valley

https://www.geocaching.com

Photos by Daniel Jackson

Bush Restoration Photos, June 2024

18/6/2024

A fungi-fantastic Sunday was had in Area 3 of the reserve – a beautiful valley that was rather weed-free. Along with a wonderful morning tea we learned from Andrew about Yellox Box, Eucalyptus melliodora – a lovely and common tree within the reserve.

The next time you can join us is on Wednesday 3rd of July at 9am for our Conservation and Conversation morning.

Photos by Daniel, Mike & Linda

Bush Restoration Photos, May 2024

29/5/2024

The reserve had two interesting things for us to tackle last Sunday the 19th: a new planting trial, and some mild showers! Looking at our photos you’ll see we mowed and weeded two portions of the reserve within which we planted herbs, lillies and ground covers - these comprise our “enrichment planting” that we’re trialling. These areas are being fenced off to protect them from animal browsing. Inside the fences are sections that are unplanted that will be our control plots - we will see what plants (if anything) naturally arise in those spaces. Weeding/slashing will be done throughout the trial to help the new plantings establish.

Working in close quarters with each other happens infrequently and it was a fun day. We also had volunteers from Gardens for Wildlife (Knox division) come and join us at morning tea for some food and light rain. If you’re not familiar with Gardens for Wildlife, the program helps residents and businesses support native wildlife by creating suitable habitat within their premises. It’s worth seeking their guidance if you’re not sure where to start in your own backyard.

The next time you can join us in the reserve is on Wednesday 5th of June at 9am for our Conservation and Conversation morning.

Photos by Daniel & Linda

Bush Restoration Photos, April 2024

25/4/2024

On Sunday we worked in Area 2 (adjacent to Glenfern Road and New Road) with the addition of some new volunteers. The area was in great condition, weed-wise, with a couple of five foot Hawthorn’s having evaded detection unto this fateful day. It was good to re-visit some of the grand tree-friends of the reserve. (See photos below.)

The next time you can join us in the reserve is on Wednesday 1st at 9am for our Conservation and Conversation morning.

Photos by Daniel Jackson

Bush Restoration Photos, September 2023

21/9/2023

Sunday was a perfect day for our volunteers to be out in the Glenfern reserve. It was pleasing to see wildflowers appearing in area 10 and only the occasional weed. At morning tea we were greeted by a white faced heron on the frog pond, and Andrew gave a talk about the Swamp Gum (Eucalyptus ovata), one of the common eucalypts within the reserve. Thanks to everyone who came out to help and those that support us in other ways.

Our next Midweek Conservation & Conversation will take place on Wednesday 4th of October from 9 - 11am.

Photos by Nicole, along with Linda & Andrew

Bush Restoration Photos, August 2023

24/8/2023

From clouds to blue skies, Sunday morning had it all – including a talk on the narrow-leaved peppermint eucalyptus at morning tea. It was the third in a series of fun educational talks Andrew is doing to help us identify all of the six main eucalypts in the reserve. You’ll also notice a rocky theme throughout the photo album; I've taken a lichen to them? Plus, keep an eye out for two animals that are best observed from a distance.

Thanks to all who came out to the reserve for our Bush Restoration. Our next visit will take place on Wednesday 6th from 9 - 11am.

Photos by Daniel Jackson

Bush Restoration Photos, July 2023

23/7/2023

The air was calm and the sun filtered through the trees and highlighted the mounds of grass. It was the third Sunday of the month and we were working in Area 5 – another stunning area and result of the past twenty years of work from volunteers, along with support from Yarra Ranges council and Melbourne Water.

At 11am we shared our findings including a sighting of a black-tailed/swamp wallaby, then Andrew educated us on how to identify Long-leaved Box (Eucalyptus goniocalyx). After a great morning tea and group photo we discovered a patch of pittosporum seedlings that were having a great time – until we discovered them. And check out in the photos the colour mutations on one of the seedlings!

Our next midweek Conservation and Conversation takes place on the 2nd of August.

Photos by Daniel Jackson