Friends of Mt Majura (FoMM) Newsletter January 2013
- Summer Weed Blitz: Extra Work to tackle Saffron Thistles at The Fair – this week, see details below
- Woody Weeds Working Party – Sunday, 20 January
- New Parkcare and Volunteer Coordinator
Dear Friends
Happy New Year to you all.
I just returned from a week searching for Bogong moths which are currently aestivate (kind of summer hibernation) in the caves and crevices of the high mountains top rock boulders – I can tell you these are the places to be at the moment! Tomorrow (Tuesday) will be a Total Fire Ban in the ACT and Namadgi, Tidbinbilla and Googong will be closed to the public due to very high temperatures and wind (for further info click here).
Summer Weed Blitz. Fortunately temperatures will drop to cool 29 and 30 degrees mid of the week and on Sunday. This gives us a small window of opportunity to interrupt ParkCare aestivation for some extra work at The Fair planting site. If you can, please come along and help pulling Saffron thistles scattered amongst the plantings at one of the following times
- Thursday, 10 January, morning from 8.00am to 10.00am
- Thursday, 10 January, evening from 5.30pm to 7.30pm
- Sunday 13 January, morning from 8.00am to 10.00am
Saffron thistle, Carthamus lanatus is arguably the most widespread thistle in Australia. Thanks to the volunteer efforts, numbers have decreased significantly in the Mt Majura nature park. Pulling the thistles is fairly easy provided that you protect your hands with leather gloves. Please bring and wear sun protection, water, stout shoes and leather gloves. I will bring some extra pairs of gloves and bags. Click on October 2012 working bee for instructions on how to get to The Fair planting site or view this map.
Some plantings at The Fair gave in to the soaring temperatures and the lack of moisture from above. The good news is that the survivors are looking fantastic – solid proof of our first class planting.
Woody Weeds Working Party. Our next regular working party will be on Sunday, 20 January. We will be removing Briar Rose, Blackberry and Japanese Honeysuckle in an area along the creek line downstream of the Mt Majura twin dams.
This will be a re-visit of a site where the Friends of Mt Majura held the very first working party in November 2003. Over the years we removed large amounts of woody weeds such as firethorns and tackled herbaceous weeds such as St John’s Wort, horehound, thistles, Hedge Mustard and Serrated Tussock. At this working party we will be attending to overlooked and new arrival weeds particularly around a seepage area where an interesting plant community occurs. Swamp Isotome, the latest addition to the Mt Majura Flora list, was recently found there amongst Snow Tussocks, Billy Buttons, Vanilla Lilies and Swamp Raspworts.
When: Sunday, 20 January 2013, from 9.00am to 1.00pm.
Where: Meet at the nature park entrance off Mackenzie Street, Hackett (view this map for the meeting point)
Bring and wear: Sun protection, enclosed foot wear and full-body covering; all equipment will be provided.
Novice weeders please come early for an induction on target weeds and on the save handling of equipment.
Enquires: ph 6247 7515 or e-mail admin@majura.org
New Parkcare and Volunteer Coordinator.Jasmine Foxlee is the new Parkcare and Volunteer Coordinator with the Parks and Conservation Service. She worked with the Natural Environment team at the ACT Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate on the Restore ACT and Greater Goorooyaroo Project, with Parks Australia at Uluru and the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service. Jasmine took up the ACT ParkCare Coordinator position for three years. Welcome on board, Jasmine!
Cheers,
Waltraud
Monday, 7 January 2013
