Friends of Piesse Brook

Weed Warriors

Friends of Piesse Brook Open Day in the Park Sunday 5th October 10am – 4pm.

On Sunday 5th October the Friends of Piesse Brook will host an Open Day at the entrance gate to the Kalamunda National Park at the far end of Schipp Road, Piesse Brook.
At the Open Day the Friends group will showcase the work they have done in the park over the last eight years. 

In addition there will be displays from supporters and sponsors of the group, including the Swan Catchment Centre, The River Guardians, Swan Alcoa Landcare Program and the Department of Environment and Conservation, explaining how they each assist and advise groups how to form and function. 

There will be a sausage sizzle at 12 noon till 2pm, a wildflower walk at 1pm in the surrounding parkland and the local camel farm will be offering camel rides on the bridal trail in the afternoon.

Mystery Woylie Decline

Woylies have been re-listed as endangered with a 95 per cent decline since 2001.  Please see this article from the winter issue of Bushland News.

Call for GM Ban

Piesse Brook in flood

Wednesday July 30th after 55mm or rain overnight, the Piesse Brook broke its banks, created new flood ways and was generally rather spectacular.  Linda Stanley and Bridget Hogarth went to the National Park to  inspect last Sunday’s plantings of dieback resistant Jarrah seedlings to make sure the seedlings had not been washed away overnight.  All was well, the seedlings survived the deluge. 

 

GreenPage July 2008

Download greenpage_july_2008.pdf

July Busy Bee

Present – Linda Stanley, Bridget Hogarth, Paddy Hogarth, Jane Hogarth, Gerry Brown, Thea Brown, Lynda Tomlinson, Craig Chaudrey.

Transport of people and equipment to our work area is now a challenge due to the distance into the park.  Craig Chaudrey offered to assist us this month and bring his rodeo which is capable of transporting 5 people.  The Hogarths brought their tractor with trailer as well as three quad bikes, one with a trailer to enable us to transport people, chemicals, equipment and knapsacks the 4 kilometres into the park.

   

An intensive effort tackling Cape Tulip achieved approximately 10 acres of area treated with Glean in the area underneath and beyond the pylons through to the bridge leading up the hill towards Gooseberry Hill.  The areas treated in June are showing signs of the Cape Tulip dying off, while the areas treated last year where Cape Tulip had been growing thickly and vigorously, are almost completely clear of the weed this year.  So it does appear that we can get on top of this virulent nuisance provided we get it at the right time of year and make focused, intensive control of it at that time a priority.

Friends are now River Guardians

The River Guardians Program was launched on Sunday, June 22 2008. River Guardians keep the rivers healthy.

The Friends of Piesse Brook have been nominated along with other friends groups and individuals as Honorary River Guardians “in recognition of their excellent work to protect the Swan and Canning rivers”.

Membership gives new opportunities to connect with other friends of the Swan and Canning rivers from Fremantle to Guildford, Muchea and to Armadale, and also to help protect and restore the rivers and their foreshores.

Members share ideas and knowledge, take part in river events, enjoy new networks and receive training to better understand the rivers and their cultural heritage, and how everyone can help to look after them. Free events, networking, volunteering and training opportunities are provided. Members can be involved as little or as much as they would like.

Visit www.riverguardians.com to find out more.

Phosphorous Awareness

The Phosphorous Action Group is a volunteer group whose aim is to reduce nutrient loads to the Swan and Canning Rivers and wetlands by mounting an awareness campaign. Please visit their website at http://www.sercul.org.au/pag.html

Aims
The Phosphorous Action Group aims to reduce the amount of nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) people contribute to waterways through stormwater drains and catchment run-off by:

Making the connections for people between their backyards, the stormwater drainage system and water bodies such as the Swan and Canning Rivers;

Educating householders to use P-free (NP) detergents, particularly in unsewered areas of the catchment, and to consider the contribution of pet faeces to nutrient loads in the catchment as well as bread fed to water birds; and

Promoting appropriate fertiliser practises for the soils of the region. The lack of general awareness of nutrients in fertilisers is a target for the campaign

Through education the group targets the community, schools, local government and industry to encourage them to decrease their nutrient outputs.

They have a number of downloadable information guides that are very informative and useful.  Please visit their website at http://www.sercul.org.au/downloads.html to view the list of downloads.  Amongst the list is

Wise Fertilise Guides - with one for the Scarp.

Grow Local Plant Guides – with one for the Scarp.

The are downloads for alternative detergents – non-phosphorous cleaners

EcoFriends Don't Beat About Bush

This fantastic article appeared in this weeks Kalamunda Reporter.