Blog Posts - Friends of Glenfern Valley Bushlands

Upcoming: Bush Restoration Aug 2024

12/8/2024

On Sunday 18th of August we'll hold our monthly Bushland Restoration morning, 9:30am-12:30pm.
We meet at the central entrance with the rock wall. We'll walk through area 4 and check for weeds. At 11am we stop for morning tea and an informative talk.

You are very welcome for all or part of the morning; or if you are unable to participate in the work, do feel free to join us at 11am, for morning tea and talk.

Please bring sturdy shoes, gloves and drinking water. We'll provide you with morning tea, tools, and hand sanitiser.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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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

Upcoming: Bush Restoration July 2024

13/7/2024

You are all welcome to our Bushland Restoration morning this Sunday 21st of July, 9:30am - 12:30pm.

We'll meet at the central car park. No experience is needed, we'll show you what are weeds and how to handle them.

You are very welcome for all or part of the morning; or if you are unable to participate in the work, do feel free to join us at 11am, when we stop for morning tea and an informative talk about a plant, animal, or other aspect of the reserve.

Please bring sturdy shoes, gloves, drinking water. We'll provide you with morning tea, tools, sunscreen, and hand sanitiser.

We look forward to seeing you there.

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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

Upcoming: Bush Restoration June 2024

11/6/2024

You are all welcome to our Bushland Restoration morning this Sunday June 16th, 9:30am - 12:30pm.

We'll meet at the central car park and we'll walk through area 3, to check on any weeds and to remove some stakes ands sleeves from previous plantings that no longer need that protection. No experience is needed, we'll show you what are weeds and how to handle them.

You are very welcome for all or part of the morning; or if you are unable to participate in the work, do feel free to join us at 11am, when we stop for morning tea and an informative talk about a plant, animal, or other aspect of the reserve. Morning tea will be at the Bagunggadjirri amphitheatre.

Please bring sturdy shoes, gloves, drinking water. We'll provide you with morning tea, tools, sunscreen, and hand sanitiser.

We look forward to seeing you there.

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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

Upcoming: Bush Restoration May 2024

12/5/2024

This coming Sunday 19th of May we are having our Bushland Restoration morning from 9:30am - 12:30pm. At 11am we have morning tea as well as an informative talk about a plant, animal or other aspect of Glenfern.

We meet at the central car-park of the reserve on Glenfern Rd, Upwey.

We'll provide you with morning tea, tools and guidance. You only need bring sturdy shoes, long pants, garden gloves and drinking water.

If it rains we'll inform you via email and Facebook.

Our next Midweek Conservation & Conversation will be held on 5th of June, 9am-11am.

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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

Upcoming: Bush Restoration April 2024

15/4/2024

This coming Sunday 21st of April we are having our Bushland Restoration morning from 9:30am - 12:30pm. At 11am we have morning tea as well as an informative talk about a plant, animal or other aspect of Glenfern.

We meet at the central car-park of the reserve on Glenfern Rd, Upwey.

We'll provide you with morning tea, tools and guidance. You only need bring sturdy shoes, long pants, garden gloves and drinking water.

If it rains we'll inform you via email and Facebook.

Our next Midweek Conservation & Conversation will be held on 1st of May, 9am-11am.

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Upcoming: Bush Restoration March 2024

11/3/2024

This coming Sunday 17th of March we are having our Bushland Restoration morning from 9:30am - 12:30pm. At 11am we have morning tea as well as an informative talk about a plant, animal or other aspect of Glenfern.

We’re working in Area 15 (not to be confused with Area 51) and so will meet at the depot end of the reserve on Glenfern Rd, Upwey, marked with the street sign, “Yarra Ranges Council Depot”.

We'll provide you with morning tea, tools and guidance. You only need bring sturdy shoes, long pants, garden gloves and drinking water.

If it rains we'll inform you via email and Facebook.

Our next Midweek Conservation & Conversation will be held on 3rd of April, 9am-11am.

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