Category: Area 5 - Friends of Glenfern Valley Bushlands

Bush Restoration Photos, July 2025

25/7/2025

The low winter’s sun cast wonderful shadows across the clumps of grass throughout area 5, where we removed pittos, boneseed and blackberries, to name a few. There was plenty of time to take in the serenity of the day as weeds were few in number.

Thanks to our volunteers for coming out to take part in the morning, and for the always-excellent morning tea that was provided.

You can join us next time, on Wednesday 6 August at 9am, and/or Sunday 17 August at 9:30am. 🌿

Photos by Daniel

Upcoming: Bush Restoration July 2025

14/7/2025

You are all welcome at our weekend Bushland Restoration Morning, to be held on Sunday July 20th, from 9:30am - 12:30pm. We'll meet at the central entrance with the rock wall, to walk through area 5.

In addition to the usual weeds, Sallow Wattle has been seen in that area. This wattle is native to NSW, but is behaving like an invasive weed in parts of VIC. We'll be shown how to recognise Sallow Wattle at the start of the morning. Its flower spikes are very distinct, and if not flowering yet, the bright colour of the leaves helps to identify it. Parks Victoria has an information sheet on this wattle.

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, and hand sanitiser. 🌿

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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

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

Bush Restoration Photos, February 2021

23/2/2021

The boneseed in areas 5 & 9 had enjoyed being out of our sights during the postponed bush restorations of last year. So there was plenty to do and many photos to take. In fact some wallabies were spotted off in the distance in the reserve. It was a good day to be outdoors.

New Plantings In Glenfern

10/10/2020

Covid-19 restrictions has held up our tree planting program this season. We have had 150 seedlings in limbo as volunteering is not a permitted activity during Stage Four lock-down.

Council have very generously stepped in to help us. Many thanks to Steve Feather and his team the 150 plants are in the ground.

They are located in the area cleared of pittosporum earlier this year - west (high side) of Wallaby Walk. Thank you Yarra Ranges Council for getting the plants in. Our bush regeneration is alive and well!

Bush Restoration Photos, February 2020

16/2/2020

Our first bush restoration of the year was spent mainly removing boneseed from the lovely & grassy area 5. We also got to observe a small copperhead snake near one of the paths.

It was good to get out in the bush again, and to see the Glenfernians after a couple of months away!

Enjoy the photos. And you're all invited to the Upwey Billycart Race this Sunday where some of us will be volunteering!

Photos by Daniel Jackson

Bush Restoration Photos, April 2019

14/4/2019

Sunday was a beautiful morning and we spent it working through areas 4 and 5.
We currently have sweet pittosporum removal by contractors happening in area 5, so it’ll be good to see that area given room to breathe again once the work is complete.

It was lovely to see new faces at the reserve, including some furry ones in some nesting boxes!

Thanks to all who came and enjoyed the bushlands with us.

Photos by Daniel Jackson

Bush Restoration Photos, April 2018

22/4/2018

Photos by Daniel Jackson & Linda Fullagar

Bush Restoration Photos, March 2015

19/3/2015

Today we worked in Areas 4 & 5. It looked fantastic, with not many weed seedlings to remove.

Photos by Linda Fullagar & Daniel Jackson