The Landcare Green Fingers
We are the recently formed “Green Fingers” team. The group originally came
together as the “Green Gym”, part of Australian Conservation Volunteers,
under the expert guidance of Paul Price. We worked on a number of bush
regeneration projects in the Port Macquarie area so, with the demise of
“Green Gym” it was a natural transition for us to join Landcare and continue
the work we all enjoy.
We have ongoing projects at Rushcutter Way and Tacking Point but we all like
a bit of variety so we join in other Landcare events such as the Corporate
Working Bee at Absalom reserve and school experience day at Lighthouse Beach.
We have also helped out at the Lilypond reserve and Wyndham Resort. We work
three mornings each week.Some of us work all three and others come when they
can. There is always plenty of tea, coffee and biscuits and often home-made
goodies baked by team members. There is no shortage of gossip and banter.
We have a collection of photos at www.flickr.com/photos/42745225@N07
We thought that rainbow coloured hair was compulsory so we prepared properly
to pick up our new uniforms from Estelle! It should grow out in a few months.
(Standing (left to right): Leonard, David, Helen, Marilyn, Bruce, Erika,
Ros, Alan, Marie, Sue Sitting: Paul, Estelle
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Nursery volunteers were involved in the potting of 2000 Nothafagus
moorei (Antarctic Beech)seedlings that will be used by Dr. Ross Peacock in
Climate Change experiments. The seedlings (or wildlings) were collected from
road verges at Werrikimbe NP in an area already subject to long term rainforest
study. Dr. Peacock said “a research student has been enrolled and will experiment
with these seedlings and the Ceratopetalum apetalum (Coachwood) seedlings as part
of a rainforest climate adaption study. The seedlings will be grown under elevated
and ambient CO2, increased temperature and different shading conditions to simulate
the 2050 and 2070 projected climates for the North Coast. This information will help
NPWS plan for climate adaption strategies for the Nothofagus rainforest plant
communities at Werrikimbe”
The results of this research will hopefully be presented by Dr. Ross Peacock
and Bill Chapman at next years Science Week talks at Sea Acres in August 2010.
The usual group of volunteers were joined by other Landcarers and volunteers
from Sea Acres. It was great to meet other volunteers and to be involved in
something quite different from our usual tasks. We will all be interested in
hearing the results of the experiments
From left: Ruth, Maggie, Lorraine, Estelle, Bill Chapman and Ann
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November, 2009
Melaleuca biconvexa seed collected for Seed Bank
Recently Port Macquarie was visited by Richard Johnstone and Graeme Errington
from the NSW Seed bank that is part of the Mt Annan Botanic Gardens.The seed
they were collecting was from the vulnerable species Melaleuca biconvexa, it
is interesting in very rarely setting seed right across its distribution. The
seeds collected will be germination tested to see what quality is in the
collection and what their initial germination rate is, then after drying
for a couple of months in a drying room (15 degrees,.15 percent RH) the
collection will be split and half will go to the Millennium Seed Bank,
the other half will stay at NSW Seedbank at Mt Annan Botanic Garden The
seeds will be stored at-18 degrees and are expected to survive for at
least hundreds of years possibly even thousands
Richard Johnstone with local Landcarer Estelle Gough
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The 2009 Landcare Forum visits the Lilypond.
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Friday, September 4, 2009
Landcare Day Corporate Working Bee
This proved to be a fabulous success, with over 60 Volunteers from various organisations
in Port Macquarie on hand to change a park in a day.
The day was spent clearing out infestations of weeds, mulching, cleaning up the creek and
planting approx 1000 native plants. Not forgetting the fabulous morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.
Many thanks should go to all those who contributed and Participated.
Port Macquarie Hastings Council.
Holiday Coast Credit Union
ERM
Douglas Vale
Green Gym
Greencorps
Country Energy
Landcare Volunteers
We should do this again!
Please contact Estelle on 0432 141 605
or email nursery@landcareportmac.com.au
(Left) 1000 Plants Planted, mulched and watered (Right) Rob Oakeshott gives a helping hand.
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Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Tony Burke visits Landcare Nursery
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Tony Burke, spent a morning
with Estelle Gough at the Landcare Nursery and Blair Reserve. During morning tea,
representatives or NRCMA and Hastings Landcare where able to discuss local issues with the minister.
The Minister also visiited Blair Reserve Bushland Resoration Project, a nominee
for 'Tidy Towns Sustaineable Communities Award 2009'
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Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Blair Reserve Nominated for Tidy Towns Award
Representatives of the Tidy Towns commitee and Landcare volunteers where onsite at the
Blair Reserve Bushland Resoration Project for the evaluation of the nomination for
'Tidy Towns Sustaineable Communities Award 2009'
This site is a tribute to all the work done by the Landcare Volunteers.
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Web Site Updated (2009-08-26)
News of Ministers Visit
Upcoming Events
South Lighthouse Beach Dunes page updates
Web Site Updated (2009-08-19)
Update Working Bee times
Project details and photos added
Plant List and Propagation Tips
New Plant of the Month
Web Site Updated (2009-07-01)
Project details and photos added
Working Bee Schedule (2009-01-27)
Visit the volunteers page for more info about working bees and how to get involved
New Website (2009-01-09)
Welcome to the new Port Macquarie Landcare Group website. It is still under construction so
please feel free to send any feedback to
info @ landcareportmac.com.au
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