The first stop was the fascinating story of the synergy between ants, sweet bursaria plants and the endangered Eltham copper butterfly, Paralucia pyrodiscus lucida. There are quite a few sweet bursaria plants in the park and these are vital for the survival of the butterfly and the ants.
Down a gully was a small pond that is home to an endangered frog, the Bibron’s toadlet, Pseudophryne bibronii. This small ephemeral wetland has been cleared of gorse and replanted with indigenous wetland species and eucalypts to shade the gorse out.
We walked through an open paddock area which was to be the site of a proposed intensive subdivision. A group of residents were active in saving this area and indeed some on our walk have since purchased this land to save it from being developed. A hearty round of applause thanked them.
Up the hill out of the gully we came to a sheltered area with large yellow box where we had a break and chat. A stop in a proposed burn site meant a lively discussion of burning in our local forests and how these burns are not helpful and indeed, can be very damaging to our local bush.
We had a wander down a track to the site of a rare daisy but it wasn’t out yet. Finishing the walk through a lovely patch of peas and wattles, we also found greenhoods, wax flower, leopard orchids, pink fingers, sundews and early nancys and even some fruiting moss. It was a terrific walk with a local expert. Thanks Karl Just.
You can find Karl’s work at https://www.youtube.com/@JustEcology-bc3on .
Liz Martin
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Click on image for info/order page
Click on image for info/order page
