July Working Bee

Today we’ll again be planting near “Booladj Kiarp Bolealong”, where Barkers Creek is joined by Forest Creek to form Campbells Creek.  Only 500 m from the Castlemaine Post Office, the site supports platypus, powerful owl and many other native animal and plant species.

This time, we’ll be working along the trail on the west side of Barkers and Campbells creeks between Forest St and Gaulton St.

Mount Alexander Shire Council has done an excellent job of removing the pine trees that used to dominate the south end of this stretch where they out-competed most other plants.  This has liberated one of the more rugged and attractive parts of the creekside environment for more habitat restoration.

We’ll be re-establishing some great habitat plants, including two of our most attractive large tussock plants, Lomandra longifolia and the grass Poa labillardierei, as well as Silver Banksia and other species.

The Lomandra  is important in Indigenous people’s culture.  Its leaves are suitable for basket making and contain strong fibres for making twine.  The plant produces three types of bush tucker and is a larval food plant for at least two species of butterfly: the Splendid Ochre or Symmomus Skipper and the Orange Ochre or Eliena Skipper.  The Poa tussock is reputed to support both the Common Xenica, and the Common Brown and probably other butterfly species.  Silver Banksia is a good food source for nectar dependent species like honeyeaters.  Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoos also feed on the seeds.

Please come along and help us make this into the beautiful place it deserves to be!

Meet at the east end of Yandell St for a 10:00 a.m. start.  Limited parking is available in Yandell St, but there’s plenty of space in Gaulton St.

Wear: gloves, sturdy footwear and clothing suitable for the weather.

Bring your own drinking water if you need it.

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

Hope to see you there!