Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests

Nearly 4,000 cars take the Midland Highway through Campbells Creek every day. It’s a fair bet few of the drivers notice the row of trees along the east side of the highway opposite Moscript street. Well, it’s not a good idea for drivers to be gazing anywhere except at the road, of course. But if you happen to be in that area, pause and take a look: you’ll see a row of possibly the biggest Silver Banksias in the district.

Main Road/Midland Highway, Campbells Creek: that row of trees you may not have noticed is a sign of something pretty significant…

Planted by Friends of Campbells Creek over 20 years ago, some of them have reached an impressive size…and they’ve been flowering for weeks now. You can’t appreciate that part unless you actually stop and have a good look.

…especially if you get up close and have a good look.

It’s worth it: and it’s a small sign of a process of healing the damage done to the region when this species was practically eradicated here over a century ago. Banksias used to be widespread in this region. Seeing healthy specimens along Campbells and Forest creeks is a hopeful sign of better times to come?

A smallish group tackled FOBIF’s June walk yesterday, on a circuitous route around The Monk, taking in many of the more notable mining sites of the area. The weather was fine and cool with extensive patches of sunshine: perfect for walking. The bush is looking pretty healthy with rampant regrowth of Golden Wattle, among other species. It will be spectacular in the season–and Golden Wattles are already starting to flower.

In the Eureka Mine zone: one day this could be world heritage!

The route chosen crossed the Eureka Mine site, but ventured into some obscure but fascinating corners: in fact, it could be argued that the interest of the mining history of this region is in its abandonment, the fact that much of what remains is not signposted, and has to be found by adventurous explorers, not tourists with a map.

‘Now, what’s this about quartz?’ Part of the FOBIF group wondering about the gold question.

Our thanks to Lionel Jenkins and Barb Guerin, for devising a route which took in some really isolated, thought provoking sites.

Next month FOBIF is offering two walks: a long and a short! Check the program for details.

Winter’s coming, the days are shorter: maybe it’s easier to concentrate than when you’re lounging around in the sun. Here are FOBIF’s recommendations for some cold weather reading. We didn’t organise it this way, but we’re not surprised to find that the common theme in these items is: we need to know more.

A new book, Biodiversity Impacts and Lessons from 2019-2020, edited by: Libby Rumpff, Sarah Legge, Stephen van Leeuwen, Brendan Wintle, John Woinarski brings together ‘contributions from more than 200 scientists and experts. It provides the most comprehensive assessment yet of how the fires affected biodiversity and Indigenous cultural values, and how nature has recovered.’

You can find an account of the book on the Conversation website, but here’s a list of (unsurprising) conclusions:

1. Natural systems are already stressed

2. We don’t know what, or where, all species are

3. Emergency responders don’t have enough information

4. Biodiversity usually comes last

5. Conservation funding is grossly insufficient

6. First Nations knowledge has been sidelined

These conclusions have something pretty sobering in common: we don’t know enough about natural systems, and don’t make use of what knowledge we have. Should we be surprised by these conclusions? In any case, below are a couple of books that might be a start in improving our knowledge.