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April Working Bee: woody weeds at Lewis Swamp

April 16, 2023 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

The high rainfall weather during the last few years have made an even more interesting wetland at what we call Lewis Swamp.  This Sunday, we’ll be removing woody weeds before they get too big.

Date: Sunday 16th of April

Times: 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.

Details:

Wetlands are significant biodiversity resources that are under threat globally and locally.  In our patch, we’re lucky to have Lewis Swamp: a series of two low lying areas adjoining the creek in Castlemaine.

The upper wetland is gradually evolving to resemble the original “chain of ponds” formation that creeks like ours had before the gold mining era damaged them beyond recognition.

With help from the Victorian Government and Mount Alexander Shire council, we’ve successfully dealt with all the large old crack willows, a weed of national significance.  Some young willows have now re-established as have desert ash seedlings.  We’ll be digging out the smaller ones or cutting and herbicide painting any that are too big for that.  There’s also some purple-top verbena, another priority weed that we’re attempting to eradicate.

Our work in the lower wetland has killed many of the large living crack willow trees, but some need retreatment.  We’ll be injecting some with herbicide and felling some trunks and painting their stumps with herbicide.

Meet: here at the car park at the end of Lewis Drive, Castlemaine for a 10:00 a.m. start.  There’s plenty of space for car parking there or along Lewis Drive.

Wear: gloves, sturdy footwear and clothing suitable for the weather (the forecast is for a cloudy day with 60% chance of a little rain).

Bring your own drinking water if you need it.

NOTE: this time of year is peak activity time for European wasps.  We have destroyed all known nests in this area, but they will still be about.  In the lower wetland, wasps are feeding on some crack willows.  We’ll avoid those trees, but as the wasps can inflict painful stings you should avoid the lower wetland if you are sensitive or allergic to stings.

If you can, please bring some of the following:

  • loppers
  • cordless drill with charged batteries and one or more drills with a diameter of 5-10 mm.
  • chainsaw
  • bowsaw

We’ll supply everything else, including light refreshments afterwards.

Hope to see you there!

Details

Date:
April 16, 2023
Time:
10:00 am - 12:00 pm