Friends of Mount Majura (FoMM) Newsletter March 2015

Welcome to the March 2015 edition of the FoMM newsletter. The cool and sunny days of Autumn are perfect for bushwalking on Mount Majura, so don’t forget to get out and about and enjoy the bush on our doorstep. The days are perfect for walking your dog too. However, just a friendly reminder that all Canberra Nature Park reserves are dog on-lead only. This is for the safety of our native wildlife, as well as both your dog and other bushwalkers. Kangaroos can cause serious injury to dogs if they are surprised in close quarters, and many people, especially children, do not like strange dogs running up to them (no matter how friendly they might be!). And don’t forget the plastic bags – the bush doesn’t need the extra nutrients! Thanks so much for your cooperation.
See you on the mountain.
Jo Lynch
FoMM Secretary

FoMM activities and news:

Woody Weeds Working Party – Sunday 15 March, 9am – 12pm
Come and help us remove woody weeds on the northwest slope of Mt Majura. We will be cutting and daubing, as well as frilling, Sweet Briar Roses, Hawthorns and Cootamundra wattles which are invading the threatened grassy box woodlands in this area. Novice weeders will receive an introduction to the target weeds, the safe use of tools and herbicides and a demonstration of frilling. Please arrive at 9am as we will be working in an area close to the Federal Highway east of Valour Park. Come for an hour or more and bring your friends!
Read more about the woody weeds on Mt Majura’s northwest slope here.
Where: Meet at the nature park entry at the corner of Tay / Ian Nicol Streets at The Fair, North Watson.
Bring and wear: Sun protection, sturdy shoes, body-covering clothing; we provide tools and morning tea.
Enquiries: Ph. 6247 7515 or reply to this email.
Click here for more information

The combined leaf of Cootamundra Wattle has 3-4 pairs of leaflets with the lowest pair embracing the stem (Photo W.Pix)

FoMM Annual Report for 2014 now available
Find out all about what FoMM achieved in 2014, as well as the ongoing issues we face, by downloading here FoMM President, Jochen Zeil’s, annual report presentation to the 2014 AGM.

2014 ‘Sieve Project’ video is now on YouTube
View five years of repeat photography which demonstrates the relative importance of grazing by unmanaged populations of kangaroos and rabbits on the grassland of Mt Majura Nature Reserve. In the interval 2009-2014, the offtake by rabbits was not detectable whereas that by kangaroos was huge and repeatedly reduced the grassland to a marsupial lawn. Watch the video here!

Fridays @ The Fair – 9.30am – 12.30pm 
The weekly working parties @ The Fair are really starting to pay dividends. Most of the three year’s worth of National Tree Day plantings are thriving behind the various tree guards and woody debris piles which are helping to keep grazing kangaroos and rabbits at bay. This is also allowing some of the native grasses and groundcovers on the site to flower and seed away from hungry jaws. The constant vigilance on the weeding front is also now making headway. However we always need more help, so if your are free on Friday mornings and want to make a difference, reply to this email for more information.

The beautiful flower of the Blue Heron’s-bill (
Erodium crinitum) which is making a comeback at The Fair (Photo: J. Lynch)

Canberra Nature Map talk – Tuesday 17 March, 5.30pm – 6.30pm
Join FoMM member Aaron Clausen and Dr Michael Mulvaney for a complete run through of the Canberra Nature Map project including a demonstration of the platform, questions answered and some exciting new developments.
Where:  Ground Floor North Function Room, Dame Pattie Menzies House, 16 Challis Street Dickson
Register here.

Other items of interest:

Information on prescribed burns in the ACT.
Are you interested in what burns are planned in the ACT and being informed on updates? If so, go to the following link: http://www.tams.act.gov.au/parks-recreation/bushfire_management. For updates on prescribed burns you can follow TAMS on Twitter @tamsmediaroom or subscribe to email updates by emailing this address.

New native plant ID book for the ACT!
The Photographic Guide to Native Plants of the Australian Capital Territory by Meredith Cosgrove was recently released. It features distribution maps, key ID features and 1388 colour photographs for 327 plant species native to the ACT region. The book covers most of the common flowering plants in the ACT (grasses, sedges and rushes not included). Click here for more information and to order.

Information on the new Nature Conservation Act – Thursday 26 March 5pm-6.30pm
The new Nature Conservation Act was passed by the ACT Legislative Assembly in November 2014. This information session will provide information on which changes will be relevant to ParkCarers under the new Act.
Where:  Ground Floor North Function Room, Dame Pattie Menzies House, 16 Challis Street Dickson
RSVP: Serena Farrelly

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