Around the Ditch Working Party (16/08/2020)

Sedges (Tall Sedge, Carex appressa in the foreground), Silverwattles and other native species grow as a result of rehabilitation work in the upper part of the drainage ditch (W.Pix).

See out winter with a Friends of Mt Majura (FoMM) working party on Sunday, 16 August, remove herbaceous weeds around the drainage ditch close to the Hackett water tank, love your frogs and plant some Tall Sedge plants at the bottom of the gully and help to rectify some of the recent vandalism.

When: Sunday 16 August 2020, 1pm to 4pm, give as much time as you like

The drainage ditch in 2004 overgrown with English Ivy, Privet and other weeds (W.Pix).

Where: Meet at the drainage ditch close to the ParkCare notice board opposite of the water reservoir off Rivett Street and French Street intersection, view this map.

Bring and wear: Sun protection, drinking water, garden gloves and sturdy shoes or gumboots.

Inquiries: projects@majura.org

You need no experience to take part in this event; instructions, tools and hand sanitizer will be provided.

Members of FoMM began work at the drainage line in 2004 and over the years FoMM hosted work parties once a year to remove weeds and carry out some planting. As we removed weeds such as Umbrella Sedge, Privet, English Ivy, and Japanese Honeysuckle, native sedges, River Tussock, River Clubrush and other species started to thrive and spread and frogs sang their songs of love and happiness in spring.

It is therefore very disappointing and sad to see vandalism such as clubrushes ripped out and used for thatching structures that had been built from logs, debris placed to protect plantings removed and thrown into the drainage ditch and posters informing about the rehabilitation work torn down.

FoMM has now requested Parks and Conservation Service rangers to erect temporary fencing to protect parts of the drainage line where rehabilitation is in progress. We hope that this last measure will reduce vandalism until the native cover is more advanced.

River Clubrush, along with the Tall Sedge, provides excellent habitat for frogs and other creatures.

River Clubrush, Schoenoplectus validus in flower (W.Pix). Over the past months, a large number of stems have been ripped out and used for thatching structures built elsewhere in the reserve.

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