Friends of Mount Majura (FoMM) Newsletter August 2012 (pdf)
- National Tree Day 2012
- FoMM meeting – Saturday 11 August
- Working party: give the young plants a head start for spring – Sunday 19 August
- Tree walk: see mature trees at guided walk – Sunday 26 August
- Recovery of Eucalypts after the 2003 Fires: a Transect from Dry to High in the ACT. Please book a place for the guided tour on Sunday 21 October
- ChemCert training course – 28/29 August
- Bushfire Operation Plan public information session – Thursday 16 August
- Rabbit control: past, present and future – Bernard Fennessy Memorial Lecture, Thursday 16 August
Dear Friends
August is shaping up to be a busy month – lots of things to do, see, learn and think about – but first I’d like to share with you our National Tree Day 2012. Louisa wrote this report and photographs of the event are available here. Chris Degan commented on FoMM’s website:
“Terrific National Tree Planting event today at Mt Majura. First class demonstration on ‘how to’ followed by support people to ensure we were OK with the tasks. What a well organised event. Everything on hand made for productive work and a great spirit. I really enjoyed it. Thank you organisers, growers, diggers, water and equipment providers, cooks and volunteers, all.”
Indeed a big Thank You to all our volunteers for planting 515 seedlings and to all who helped making this event a pleasant experience for everyone!
FoMM meeting – Saturday 11 August
Our next FoMM meeting is scheduled for Saturday 11 August at 4pm at 10 Frencham St, Downer. The agenda will include a review of National Tree Day and plans for the rest of 2012. Everyone welcome!
Working party: Give the young plants a head start for spring – Sunday 19 August
Join us for a working party to control weeds and spread mulch around the seedlings.
When: Sunday 19 August 2012 from 1pm to 4pm; come for the whole time or for an hour.
Where: Meet at the National Tree Day 2012 planting site behind (east of) The Fair residential site in North Watson; access via the Antill Street nature park entrance opposite Carotel or through The Fair; view this map for access to the National Tree Day 2012 planting area.
Bring and wear: Sun protection, sturdy shoes, garden clothing with long sleeves and pants.
All tools and equipment and will be provided.
For further information: click on Working party
Tree walk: See mature trees at this expert guided walk – Sunday 26 August
Enjoy an informative walk on local woodland and forest trees with local ecologist Michael Doherty. Learn how to identify the trees, see where they occur and hear how they survive fire and drought.
When: Sunday, 26 August 2012, 1.00 to 3.00pm
Where: Meet at the nature park entrance Kellaway St, Phillip Ave, Hackett; click on this map
Bring: Sun protection, sturdy shoes and a gold coin donation for updated editions of pocket guides “Eucalypts of the ACT” and “Trees of Mount Majura”
Learn more about Australian trees and view pictures of locals: click on Tree walk
Recovery of Eucalypts after the 2003 Fires: a Transect from Dry to High in the ACT
Michael will guide a special one-off tour on Sunday 21st October through a variety of vegetation types in Namadgi National Park to see the response of different eucalypt species to the 2003 fires and their recovery so far. We will drive along a transect from low to high altitude, stopping along the way to see the species that can be found in each community. We will look at the distinguishing features of the common eucalypts to aid in identification and at variation within and between species in relation to the effects of fire intensity.
When: Sunday 21st October, 9.30am to 3.30pm
Venue: Meet at Stromlo Depot, 500 Cotter Rd, Weston, for car pooling.
Bring: Lunch, drinking water, sun protection, sturdy shoes
Places are limited, booking essential! Contact admin@majura.org.
ChemCert training course – 28/29 August
A ChemCert training course will be held on 28-29 August at a venue to be advised. The course authorizes parkCare volunteers to mix chemicals, to conduct foliar spraying of weeds, and to supervise other volunteers who use chemicals to treat woody weeds. The course provides a wealth of information on the safe and efficient control of weeds. It would be good to have more people in our group who are certified. The course is free for ParkCare volunteers. Please contact the ParkCare Coordinator directly if you are interested: Philip Selmes Philip.Selmes@act.gov.au or 6205 7384
Bushfire Operation Plan public information session – Thursday 16 August
The Fire Management Unit (FMU) of the Parks and Conservation Service will hold a public information session to discuss the role of Prescribed Burns in the landscape, and how the FMU will manage the fuel loads in various areas of the ACT over the next 12 months as per ACT Bushfire Operation Plan. There will also be an opportunity for questions at the end.
When: Thursday 16 August, from 2.00pm to 3.00pm
Where: Stromlo Depot, 500 Cotter Rd, Weston
Enquiries: Philip Selmes Philip.Selmes@act.gov.au or 6205 7384
Rabbit control: past, present and future – Thursday 16 August
Dr. Peter Kerr will deliver the Bernard Fennessy Memorial Lecture on Rabbit control: past, present and future as part of the Friends of the Australian National Botanical Gardens (ANBG) Thursday Lunchtime Lecture Series.
When: Thursday 16 August, 12.30pm
Where: Theatrette at the ANBG Visitor Information Centre
Please click here for more information.
Warm regards from your coordinator
Waltraud
6 August 2012
