www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/bushcare | Autumn 2010

Coordinator's UpdateOn behalf of the Bushland Management Team here at NSC, I’d like to welcome you all back to Bushcare for 2010. In conjunction with our partner councils Willoughby, Lane Cove, Mosman and Hunters Hill, we have planned a great year of events, activities and training courses for you to attend.

As in previous years, introductory training in Bushcare Essentials will be offered in March. Active volunteers who are yet to undertake this informative training are strongly encouraged to register. And for those of you a little more experienced there is the Advanced Bushcare Essentials training to sink your teeth in to.

Details of these training courses, along with many other events, can be found in your North Sydney Council Bushcare Calendar. If you haven’t already received your calendar, please contact the Bushcare Officer on 9936 8258 and leave your details.

As you might be aware, the United Nations declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. This is very appropriate for Council as we will soon be applying to the Minister for Local Government to renew our Environmental Levy for the next five years. The Environmental Levy largely funds our bushland rehabilitation and Bushcare volunteer

programs, including the successful Adopt a Plot, Native Havens and Wildlife Watch initiatives.

It is also fitting that in 2010 we are embarking on the most comprehensive vegetation assessment of North Sydney’s bushland reserve system ever attempted. Highly regarded ecologists Peter and Judy Smith will be looking at both the flora record of North Sydney’s reserves, as well as undertaking detailed flora surveys in each reserve. This will enable our bushland reserves to be mapped according to the different vegetation communities they support. This will help us to better target resources in areas of higher conservation significance – such as listed endangered ecological communities.

As always, the annual volunteer evaluations that many of you completed in late 2009 have provided the Bushland Team with a great deal of useful feedback on how the program is operating. This information is invaluable in helping us plan for and shape the future of Bushcare in North Sydney. We really appreciated the effort many of you went to in providing such thoughtful and articulate responses to the questions asked.

So on behalf of the Bushland Team I wish you all a safe and enjoyable 2010. We look forward to catching up and working with you to rehabilitate North Sydney’s beautiful bushland areas!

Gareth Debney – Bushland management coordinator

2010 Bushcare Volunteer

Christmas Party

Newsletter1st Prize: Mike Young

2nd Prize: John Brewer

3rd Prize: Ros Young

Encouragement Award: Keiko Rohr

On Sunday 6 December, 80 volunteers turned up to bask on the Primrose Park Ovals, under the shade of the She Oaks and Sydney Red Gums that tower from the slopes above. The evening was relaxed, stirred up only by the wind.

Volunteers brought with them some lovely nibblies, yummy salads and delicious desserts to share. Thanks to everyone who chipped in. Prizes for award-winning dishes went to Anthony Meggitt for his Beetroot Salad and Nicole Bannister for her Tarte Tatin (see details on page 4 for full recipes). A big thank you to Anthony and Nicole for sharing their kitchen secrets - I am sure we will all name our sources when we produce the recipes ourselves.

The Photographic Competition was a hit again with some wonderful shots sent in. This year we were privileged to have Joanna Egan from Australian Geographic share the judging with our Mayor Genia McCaffery and attend the party. It was a close competition with 1st Prize awarded to Mike Young, 2nd Prize to John Brewer and 3rd Prize to Ros Young. Keiko Rohr received an Encouragement Award for her wonderful photo of the kookaburra perched on a Bushcare sign.

Our special thanks to all the supporting businesses who donated prizes for the night:

- Shore Style Framing, Custom Framing Specialists, 2 Clarke St, Crows Nest

- North Sydney Imaging Centre, Kodak Express, Shop 13A Northpoint, North Sydney

- Hour Photo, 3 Clarke St, Crows Nest- Jagos on Miller, 232 Miller St, North Sydney- Woolworths Neutral Bay, Grosvenor St, Neutral Bay

rachel Gleeson, Bushcare Officer

Autumn 2010 Issue 5

Family: NymphalidaeScientific Name: Vanessa iteacommon Name: Australian Admiral, also know as Yellow Admiral

Description: A handsome medium-sized butterfly, with a wingspan of 50mm. See photo above.

The female Australian Admiral searches for plants in the nettle family, including stinging nettles, on which to lay their eggs. When the brown, spiky larvae (caterpillars) emerge, they feed on nettles. As Urtica incise, the main stinging nettle known for the Sydney region, has not been recorded in the North Sydney local government area, it seems that the Admiral Butterfly may be visiting rather than living here locally. The caterpillars live in a folded leaf on the nettle food plant. They have a couple of rows of pointed, branched spines running along the back; these spines are not dangerous to humans.

The Australian Admiral has done well in built-up areas, as it sometimes can find its reliable supply of its caterpillar food (nettles) in some disturbed gardens. Home gardeners should consider leaving a patch of nettles, as it will very likely lead to caterpillars and soon butterflies of this species appearing in the garden.

The Australian Admiral butterfly has a habit of resting vertically on walls, fences and tree trunks and is commonly seen in urban gardens feeding on flowers.

habitat: Usually in wetter forested areas, wherever its food plant the stinging nettles grow.

Distribution: East coast from Northern Queensland to Tasmania, and coastal South and West Australia.

Flying Season: Throughout the year, mainly early Spring.

ramin Khosravi - Bushland Project OfficerReferences for article:

http://morwellnp.pangaean.net/cgi-bin/show_species.cgi?find_•this=Vanessa%20iteahttp://australianmuseum.net.au/image/Australian-Admiral-Butterfly•http://www.butterflygardening.net.au/PDFs/factsheets/AustralianAdmiral.pdf•

References for photos: Photo taken by Ken Harris, Morwell National Park Onl ine http://morwel lnp.pangaean.net/cgi-bin/show_species .cgi? f ind_this=Vanessa%20itea

Thanks to all Wildlife Watch volunteers who monitor the bush and keep sending their observations to us. The highlight of sightings over the past three months are:

•Mangrove Heron (Gore Cove, low tide on mudflats)•Boobook Owl (Smoothey Park)•Little Black Cormorant and Little Pied Cormorant

(low tide diving in Gore Cove Bay)•Silvereye (Gore Cove, feeding on flowering Pittosporums)•Tree Martin (BP Site, Waverton)•White-browed Scrubwrens (BP Site, Waverton)•Superb Blue Fairy Wren (BP Site, Waverton)•Red Wattle Bird (BP Site, Waverton)•White Faced Heron (Cammeray, Gore Cove and St Leonards

Park)•King Parrot Australian (Brightmore Reserve and Cammeray)•Eastern Rosella (Primrose Park and Brightmore Reserve,

Cammeray)•Masked Lapwing (BP Site and Waverton Park)•Rufus Fantail (Gore Cove and Badangi Reserve)•Spangled Drongo (Badangi Reserve) •Brown Striped Marsh Frog (BP Site, Waverton)•Australian Admiral Butterfly•Swallowtail Orchard Butterfly (Balls Head Reserve)

Seen any interesting fauna in the North Sydney Council area? Do you have a photo? Please call the Bushland Project Officer with details on 9936 8252.

ramin Khosravi - Bushland Project Officer

L - R: Australian Admiral chrysalis (cacoon) on the stem of a Stinging Nettle; Caterpillar of Australian Admiral on a Stinging Nettle (Urtica incise); Australian Admiral Butterfly feeding on Melaleuca ericifolia flowers

Wildlife Watch Update

Australian Admiral Butterfly (Newly recorded in North Sydney)

Ref: Peter Chew, www.BrisbaneInsects.com

Want to know more about the techniques you are using on your Bushcare site? Are you turning up to Bushcare and not certain about which ones are the weeds? Do you need to know the best way to remove each weed? Do you want to know about some of the negative and positive influences affecting your site?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then book into the Bushcare Essentials Training day (9am till 4pm) and become a stronger member of your Bushcare Group.

Training covers site hazards, occupational health and safety, principles of bush regeneration, basic weed identification and weed removal techniques. This workshop will also help you identify degrading factors on your site, and restore habitat and biodiversity.

The training is run by professional Bush Regenerators who also teach through TAFE. Written material will be sent out prior to the course so that you are able to think about how the theories and terms relate to your Bushcare site. At the workshop, these terms and theories will be explained in full with examples and the presenters will be able to answer any questions you may have on some of the topics.

At the end of the day you will have the opportunity to take part in a practical session learning different methods for removing woody weeds.

Morning tea will be provided. Bring your own lunch and hands-on equipment such as gloves, hat, sturdy footwear.

We look forward to seeing you there. For all bookings call 9936 8258 or email rachel.gleeson@northsydney.nsw.gov.au

Fantastic workshops coming up!

www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au

Beginners volunteer training

Saturday 27 March

OUT NOW!

what’s On! Calendar for Bushcare 2010

If you didn’t receive this beautiful desk calendar from Bushcare then call the Bushcare Officer to be sent your copy today.

We have picked up a couple of typos in the calendar. The dates for Tunks Park East and West are wrong they should be as follows:

Tunks Park East: February 20, March 20, April 17, May 15, June 19, July 17, August 21, September 18, October 16, November 20.

Tunks Park West: February 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, July 4, August 8, September 5, October 3, November 7.

If you notice any other mistakes please let us know.

New

6 march - Soils of North Sydney

15 may - middle harbour Boat cruise

29 may - aboriginal sites walk and morning tea

20 June - common Weed identification

11 July - Weed and Native Look alikes

Plus lots more is on offer this quarter. check the back page for more details.

Volunteers Wanted @ the Royal Easter Show's Bushcare Stall

1-14 April 2010Willoughby City Council, with support from the Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority, will again be organising a Bushcare stall at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Running the stall with the help of Bushcare volunteers is a great way to promote Bushcare across Sydney. If you would like to help there will be two shifts per day from 9am to 1pm, and 1pm to 5pm. Stall volunteers receive free show entry.

To book a place on the roster please contact Angie Fricker from the Sydney Metropolitan CMA at angie.fricker@cma.nsw.gov.au or 9895 6137.

Big Day Out Planting & thank You DaY BBQ

Sunday 30 May 2010On the 5th Sunday of May this year North Sydney Council will host a tree planting day from 9am-12 noon which will be followed by the Thank You Day BBQ from 12 noon-2pm at Tunks Park. Please RSVP by 21 May.

celebrating international Volunteer Week

Autumn 2010 Issue 5

WiNNiNG DESErT: Tarte Tatin Tarte Tatin is a caramelised apple tart served upside down. Actually, its formal name is “La tarte des Demoiselles Tatin”, or the “Tatin Spinsters' Apple Tart”. It was invented by the elder of two unmarried sisters who took over the running of their deceased father's hotel in the rural town of Lamotte-Beuvron in the Loire Valley.

At the Hotel Tatin, Caroline Tatin (1847-1911) greeted the customers and ran the business side of the establishment. Her older sister Stephanie Tatin (1838-1917) worked in the kitchen and her apple tart was noted for its caramel flavour and texture. According to legend, one day in 1898 when the hotel was especially busy during the hunting season, Stephanie absent-mindedly put the peeled apple quarters, butter and sugar in the pan without first lining it with pastry. Realising her mistake, she then put the pastry on top of the simmering apples, popped it in the oven, inverted it and served the new concoction warm, possibly with a dollop of crème fraîche.

The delicious apple dessert soon became famous throughout France, and today the autumn season is welcomed with a special celebration devoted to the Tarte Tatin the first weekend in September at the town where it was invented.

iNGrEDiENTS

1 sheet of frozen shortcrust pastry for a 9-inch pie plate (note: 1 sheet of the hand-made Carême, all-butter shortcrust pastry is ideal. Follow the instructions on the packet for defrosting)

200g white sugar

500g apples (Granny Smith)

2 tbs freshly squeezed lemon juice

40g unsalted butter

1 tbs sugar

mEThOD

To make the caramelPour a little bit of water into a heavy saucepan, add the sugar. Don't stir, but give the saucepan a little shake if the sugar is above the waterline. Place the pan over high heat. When the sugar and water get hot and bubbly and the sugar liquefies, turn the heat down to medium-high. Give the saucepan a gentle shake to keep the syrup moving and to prevent uneven browning – watch out for darker colour around the edges or burning smells. The caramel should heat, at the very least, to a color resembling dark honey. If you like a bitter caramel, go darker, to a nice rich brown.

Pour the caramel into an ovenproof 9-inch pie plate, coating the bottom and the sides of the pie plate carefully. Preheat the oven to 200˚C.

To make the tartPeel, core, and thinly slice the apples to about ¼ inch thick. They need to be as uniform as possible to make the floral spiral pattern when it is done.

In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples and the lemon juice. Toss well. To assemble the pie, place the apple slices into the caramelised pie plate. Start from the center of the pie plate overlapping the apples in a spiral. Keep overlapping them in the same direction until the bottom is fully covered.

Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of sugar and 30g of butter, cubed.

Roll out the crust pastry to a diameter slightly larger than your pie plate and lay it on top of the apples. Trim off any excess dough (more than a 1-inch overhang) and tuck the crust's edge under so that it hugs the edge of the fruit and the inside lip of the pan. This edge doesn't need to be crimped. Don't vent the crust or sprinkle it with sugar as it will become the pie's bottom crust when it finishes baking and gets inverted.

Bake the tart for 30 minutes in a 200˚C oven or until the crust is golden brown.

Cool the tart for 5 minutes before inverting.

To invert, select a platter larger than the pie plate. Run a sharp knife tip around the edge of the pie plate between it and the crust. Place the platter upside down on the top of the pie plate like a lid. Holding the two together tightly, quickly flip them over so that the pie plate is sitting on the platter.

Serve luke-warm or at room temperature with crème fraîche, preferably.

Bon appétit! Nicole BannisterAdapted from Je sais cuisiner, by Ginette Mathiot published by Albin Michel.

WiNNiNG SaLaD: Beetroot SaladiNGrEDiENTS

6 bacon rashers, chopped

300g snow peas

4 medium beetroots, coarsely grated

2 cups (80g) snow pea sprouts

1 medium avocado sliced

BLUE CHEESE DRESSING:

100g blue cheese

125 ml sour cream

1 tbs tarragon vinegar

80mls cream

1 tbs water (most important, I'm sure!!!)

Add bacon to hot pan, cook, stirring, until crisp; drain on absorbent paper. Boil, steam or microwave snow peas until just tender; drain, rinse under cold water, drain. Combine snow peas, beetroot, sprouts and avocado in bowl; mix gently. Sprinkle with bacon, drizzle with blue cheese dressing.

Blue cheese Dressing: Blend or process cheese, sour cream and vinegar until combined. Transfer mixture to small bowl, stir in cream and water. Serves 10.

* Dressing can be made a day ahead* Storage: Covered, in refrigerator* Freeze: Not suitable* Microwave: Snow peas suitable.So, there you are!! I made one mistake with mine and that was to stir in the bacon rather than "sprinkle with bacon".

This recipe comes from Cooking for Crowds, which was published by The Australian Women's Weekly in 1993. anthony meggitt

Bushcare Volunteer Christmas Party winning recipes

www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au

Regeneration on fire sites

Results are in from Volunteer Feedback 2009Thanks to everyone who took the time to complete and return the Bushcare volunteer feedback. Your rating and comments on your involvement in the program, the services we offer, training, newsletters etc. assist us in knowing whether we are on the right track and give us ideas for improving the program.

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2 comments that came from the survey were:

• Betterplanning/communicationbetweengroupandcoordinators

• IwouldliketoseemoreliaisonbetweentheTeamandCoordinator

If you would like to see something happen, have some ideas about the Bushcare site or promotion please mention these to your Bushcare convenor (coordinator). Your Bushcare convenor has meetings every four months with the other convenors, the Bushcare Officer and Bushland Management Coordinator and they can present your ideas at these meetings. The next Bushcare Volunteer Convenors Meeting is on Wednesday 17 March.

Wearehavingincredibleresultsinourreservesaftertheecological/

hazard reduction burns last year. I say incredible results, because

our bushland areas are so small and linear and are heavily impacted

by high nutrients, weed propagules, people traffic and population

expansion. With all these impacts, it makes you wonder if there

is any seed left in the soil seed bank to regenerate after years of

disturbance and neglect.

But fire can be like a magic wand for your Bushcare site. If there is anything left in the soil seed-bank to offer, you will get it from fire. North Sydney’s fire program, run in conjunction with the Bushfire Management Committee, is central to aiding our success in regenerating bushland. We are seeing results in Tunks Park East, Judith Ambler Reserve, Bridge End Reserve and Balls Head Reserve.

mick Kelso – Bushland Team Leader

a few of the results of the Bushcare feedback

Do you have any comments about your involvement in the Bushcare program?

• Arewardingexperience,lastingfriendships• Finditmostrewarding•Happytoplayapart,howeversmall• IwillprobablycontinuetodothisuntilIamnolongerable• It is deeply satisfying to see the native plants growing and I

developed a sense of pride and belonging to this lovely piece of nature over the years

• Verysatisfying,rewardingwork•Disappointed that notmore people actively support it in their

neighbourhood• Itisanopportunitytolearnmoreaboutthebush• Itisanopportunitytocontributetoagoodcause-thepreservation

and regeneration of our bushland.

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North Sydney council’s Native havens program provides free assistance to residents who wish to help the environment by using local native plants in their garden. council offers advice, help and

free plants to participants.

To become involved in the Native haven program, contact the Bushland Project Officer on 9936 8100.

Autumn 2010 Issue 5

flora for fauna in your garden

Melaleuca ericifolia- Bird attracting- Suitable for hedge- Suitable for coastal areas- Fast growing

Family: Myrtaceae

common Name: Swamp Paperbark

Description: Melaleuca ericifolia is a shrub or small tree that grows to around 8m with corky bark. A hardy species that will tolerate permanently wet, even salty ground.

Leaves scattered or in groups of 3, linear (mostly 7–15mm long, c. 1mm wide). Flower-heads are terminal, cylindrical, flowered dense on spikes, white to cream and about 3cm long. Flowering occurs in Spring-Summer. These flowers are a magnet to many insects including various native bee species and butterflies, especially the Australian Admiral. Mature trees, especially group planting, make a good habitat for possums.

Fruit cylindrical, 2.5–4mm diameter, orifice 1.5–3mm diameter; sepals persistent but obscure

Usage: It is a very fast growing species. It makes a good windbreak and can grow in harsh coastal conditions. It is also ideal as a hedge plant.

cultivation: In the garden, the Swamp Paperbark will survive and thrive in dry conditions and will be successful in almost any soil and location.

Propagation: Seeds and Cuttings

Distribution and occurrence: Grows in heath and dry sclerophyll forest, along stream banks and in low-lying coastal swamps; south from the Hastings River.

ramin Khosravi - Bushland Project Officer

References:• http://www.cradocnursery.com.au/plants/Melaleuca-ericifolia.shtml• FieldGuidetotheNativePlantsofSydney,LesRobinson

Podocarpus spinilosus

common Name: Plum Pine

Family: Podocarpaceae

Distribution: Eastern Australia with disjunct occurrences on Blackdown Tableland, Cooloola and Moreton Bay islands (Qld) and mid-north coast, Sydney area and far south coast (NSW).

Derivation of Name: Podocarpus...From Greek podos, a foot and karpos, a fruit, in reference to the thickened base (stalk) of the fruit.spinulosus...From Latin spinulosus, with many spines, referring to the sharply pointed leaves.

conservation Status: Not considered to be at risk in the wild.

General Description: Podocarpus is a genus of conifers consisting of about 100 species and distributed in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the Southern Hemisphere. Conifers belong to the group of non-flowering plants known as Gymnosperms. These produce "cones" rather than flowers and they are "naked seeded" in that seeds are not enclosed in an ovary as in the flowering plants.

There are about six species of Podocarpus found in Australia. Sydney Podocarpus (Podocarpus spinulosus) is usually a medium shrub to about 2m high, but it can occasionally be found as a small tree. It has linear leaves up to 75mm long, glossy green and ending in a sharp point. The male cones and female fruits are borne on separate plants (dioecious) and, unlike most conifers, the fruiting cone is not woody but consists of a single seed at the end of a swollen fruit-like stalk. This "fruit" is edible.

This species makes an attractive garden or container plant due to its attractive foliage and habit. Male and female plants are needed to produce "fruit".

Propagation can be carried out from seed without pre-treatment although germination is often slow. The species can also be propagated from cuttings.

ramin Khosravi - Bushland Project Officer

References: • http://asgap.org.au/p-spin.html• FieldGuidetotheNativePlantsofSydney,LesRobinson

Weed to Watch'Blue Star: african Beauty alert'

Scientific name: Aristea ecklonii

common name: Blue stars, blue-eyed iris (New Zealand), blue corn lily (New Zealand), blousterre (Afrikaans), phayimashimane (Swaziland), ikhambi eliluhlaza, ikkwanyana, umabhanjana, umafosi, umhushuza (Zulu).

Taxonomy: Family—Iridaceae

Ramin's pick for the garden

Fruit and foliage of Podocarpus spinulosus. Photo: Brian Walters

www.hcr.cma.nsw.gov.au/kooragang/plants/

mel_eri/mel_eri

Main walking tracks in Balls Head Reserve, Primrose Park and Gore Cove Reserve have received much needed upgrades during 2009, and this work is set to continue during 2010 with the injection of a further $90,000 in grant funding from the State Government. North Sydney’s bushland reserves receive a remarkably high level of usage by both locals and visitors – especially those reserves that fringe Port Jackson or Middle Harbour.

The consequence of this popularity is track degradation, which leads to erosion, compaction, loss of vegetation and unsafe

walking surfaces. In the worst instances, tracks such as the Ballasters West track in Balls Head Reserve have had to be closed permanently. However, Council has engaged specialist bushland track builders to stabilise existing tracks and, where appropriate, construct new tracks.

One such new track is the Coal Loader to Balls Head Link Track. When it opens later this year, it will become one of the most iconic

harbour walks in Sydney. The track will traverse the historic Coal Loader site, passing through one of the huge tunnels that are under the Coal Loader platform. From here the track enters Balls Head Reserve, following the western foreshore. Amazing views can be experienced from the raised viewing platforms and boardwalks that feature along the track (see

photos). As autumn approaches it’s a lovely time to get out in these reserves and experience the enjoyment of a good bushland walking track.

Gareth Debney - Bushland management coordinator

Over the past three years the Bush Regeneration Team has been helping to reduce the effects of erosion on bush tracks throughout the North Sydney area. In some high traffic areas up to 40cm of soil has been eroded. Although important, it is not always possible to have a formal walkway comprising of sandstone steps and raised board walks, due to aspect, slope and general sighting of an area, not to mention the cost.

In cases such as this we have a very practical solution - using logs cut from trees that have either died or have had to be removed or koppers logs from playground areas and mulch. We have found this to be most effective in reducing erosion and compaction of a site especially through Bushcare sites.

The mulch compacts down, filling eroded areas and because it tends to be spongy when walked on, it cushions the track. The other benefit of mulch is that when rained on it stops the splash that would otherwise erode.

mick Kelso – Bushland Team Leader

Bushland track work update Rehabilitation of bush tracks

In South Africa, renowned botanical artist and field botanist Elsa Pooley, advises that forest margins, streambanks, grassland and shrubs from Eastern Cape Province in South Africa to Tanzania are home to the Blue Stars.

In Australia, A. ecklonii has escaped from gardens to form wild (naturalised) populations in Victoria and NSW. Currently, these populations are still small. In NSW, it inhabits disturbed woodland

on the central coast and in the Sydney area (Harden 1993; Csurhes & Edwards 1998). In Warringah Shire, although not declared, it is listed on a register of environmental weeds (Warringah online 2007). In North Sydney, these

attractive garden escapees have been spotted in Badangi Reserve, Wollstonecraft along the creek bank.

how do they spread: A. ecklonii spreads primarily from seeds, which are produced in abundance. However, it can also be propagated by dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs. Seeds are reported to be dispersed by water (Carr et al. 1992), wind or gravity (Auckland Regional Council 2007). Retail nurseries stock this plant and botanic gardens grow them as an international specimen, due to its hardy nature and beautiful blue flower.

removal technique: Best done using a trowel or shovel and removing the entire plant, including the underground rhizomes, tubers, corms and bulbs.

Keep your eyes peeled for this one!

megan hughes – Bushcare Officer (mon & Tues)

Photo reference: Aristea ecklonii plant. Reference: www.plantcare.com.

Balls Head Reserve

Gore Cove

Primrose Park

Balls Head

Australian Admiral Butterfly (Newly recorded in North Sydney)

If undelivered please return to: Bushcare Officer, PO Box 12, NORTH SYDNEY 2060

POSTAGE

PAID

AUSTRALIA

march6 Soils of North Sydney Walk and Talk | 9am-1pm | RSVP by

26 February | Bookings: North Sydney Council 9936 8258

6 Growing Native Plants from Division | 9am-12noon | RSVP by 26 February | Bookings: Lane Cove Council 9911 3583

7 clean Up australia Day | Register a site-find a site-volunteer | www.events.cleanup.org.au

20 habitat Landscaping-Small birds | 9am-1pm | RSVP by 11 March | Bookings: Willoughby Council 9777 7874

27 Bushcare Essentials-Beginners Bush regeneration training | 9am-4pm | RSVP by 20 March | Bookings: North Sydney Council 9936 8258

27 Earth hour | 8.30pm | www.earthhour.org

aPriL17 habitat Landscaping - microbats | 9am-1pm | RSVP by

9 April | Bookings: Willoughby Council 9777 7874

may3 a Natural history of North Sydney Exhibition | Stanton

Library | Until 30 September

7 Deadline for contributions to Winter edition of Bushcare Newsletter

7 Walk Safely to School Day | www.walk.com.au

15 middle harbour Boat cruise | 9am-12noon | RSVP by 7 May | Bookings: North Sydney Council 9936 8258

23 habitat Landscaping-Ponds | 9am-1pm | RSVP by 14 May | Bookings: North Sydney Council 9936 8258

29 aboriginal Walk | 9am-12noon | RSVP by 21 May | Bookings: North Sydney Council 9936 8258

30 Big Day Out Planting & Thank you Day BBQ | 9am-12noon Planting | 12noon-2pm BBQ | Tunks Park

30 Bushcare’s major Day Out | Willoughby Council 9977 7875

For more information or to make a booking for any of these workshop's or special events please contact the Bushcare Officer on 9936 8258. Printed on 100% recycled, 75% post consumer and 25% pre consumer waste.

Gratitude to all our contributors who take the time to put ideas and research into words so we can learn. Thank you. Would you like the newsletter emailed to you instead? Email: council@northsydney.nsw.gov.au

Newsletter

Calendar & Greendates Reminder

New Bush Regeneration

book released For avid Bushcare volunteers, Robin Buchanan’s new book Restoring Natural Areas in Australia is now available. At 264 pages, it is a major reworking of her classic text Bush Regeneration and is an essential, practical handbook for managing natural areas. It covers all aspects of restoration projects, with sections on resilience, mapping, assessing vegetation, weed management techniques and fire, among others. Available through the Australian Association of Bush Regenerators for $44. For information on how to purchase the book visit www.aabr.org.au If you are not up for buying the book, it is available for short-term loan through the Bushland Management Team. Contact the Bushcare Officer to organise borrowing.