By: Michael Fox
Louis Cheng, a Griffith Uni Environmental Science student, joined Marshal and myself at Fox Gully Bushcare today to finish spreading the mulch and plant native grasses at the small bird habitat planting site.
Planting Creeping Beard Grass Oplismenus aemulus creates a cover of Living Mulch that will retain water, stop erosion, control weeds and create a micro-climate that keeps the soil cool allowing the development of a healthy soil ecosystem with fungi, bacteria, earthworms, curl-grubs and bush cockroaches all working together to renew the very foundation of our forest.
The site, planted just a month ago on National Tree Day, is already showing fresh growth with Native Sarsaparilla Hardenbergia violacea, Star Goodenia Goodenia rotundifolia, Ivy-leaf Violet Viola banksii and new Acacias all producing fresh shoots and in some cases flowering. The natural regeneration of the site is also increasing with Tape Vine Stephania japonica spreading and the Tallowwoods Eucalyptus microcorys in full flower overhead.
The local fauna is also moving back into the site with Purplewinged Mantid Tenodera australasiae exploring the bushes, Australian Magpies Gymnorhna tibicen feeding on insects in the mulch and a new Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae nest hollow being excavated in a termite nest.
September 9, 2015 at 4:04 pm
Hello Michael I am looking into planning an event on the Mt. Gravatt summit as part of the QORF Outdoor October promotion. The date could be Sunday afternoon 18 October but it could also be a Saturday. I propose calling it A Day Out On the Mountain. I have already spoken to the Hope ladies. They won’t be fully operational but would open the Kiosk part. The TFO Orienteers could do a simple course just around the summit area. I wonder if you would set up a booth and run some short guided walks. I would be publicising my memoir (just released) called To and From God which is about by spiritual journey, teaching and outdoor career covering over 70 years from my infant days in an Anglican household to my current eco-spiritual agnostic position and ethics.
Are you interested in being part of it? I need a quick answer to get things going. Time is short. You can phone me on 33454527.
Rob Simson OAM