Please come along to help us recover “our” part of Forest Creek

Date:

Sunday, July 17th

Times:

10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.

Description:

We’re supporting our first nations people to recover more of the indigenous nature of “Booladj Kiarp Bolealong”.  This is the DjaDja Wurrung name given to the area near where Barkers and Forest creeks join to form Campbells Creek.  This is sometimes called the “three creeks meet” or the creek junction.

Our members have been involved in ecological restoration activities along Forest Creek since 1986.  The woody weeds that once dominated are now (almost) gone and there’s a canopy of river red-gums and a good amount of understorey shrubs.  Still missing are the groundcover species.

Today we’ll be replanting robust tussocks (mostly sedges and grasses) along the banks of the creek from near Barker Street (Midland Highway) downstream to its
junction with Barkers Creek here .

Sedges are very tough plants that can tolerate inundation during floods aswell as extended dry periods.  Like our Lomandra , some of them are also useful sources of fibre and were used by Indigenous people for basket making. You can see a list of the species we’ll be planting here.  Following the links there will take you to photos and descriptions.

We’ll also be cutting down the last remaining woody weeds next to the creek upstream of the railway line.

Meet:

here on Bruce Street, Castlemaine for a 10:00 a.m. start.  There is plenty of space for car parking.  There’s a 350 m walk from there to our planting area.  We’ll ferry in anyone not up
for the walk-it’s possible to drive in under the railway bridge.

If you arrive late, make your way upstream along Forest Creek.

Wear:

light gloves, sturdy clothing suited to the weather and footwear appropriate for wet ground: gumboots are strongly advised as we may be crossing the creek!

Please bring:

your own drinking water if needed.

We’ll supply

all the seedlings and planting tools.

There’ll be light refreshments, coffee and tea around midday.

Hope to see you there!