Bushcare Group

The Mt Wilson Bushcare Group spend a few hours together each month helping to reverse the damage done to the environment by invasive weeds in bushland in Mt Wilson. During this time we carefully remove weeds and encourage native plants to grow, using the principles of bush regeneration to guide our work. The group first formed in 1999 under the guidance of Libby Raines, photo below shows the celebration of its 10th anniversary in September 2009.

The Mt Wilson Bushcare Group is currently focussed on four areas of bushland within Mt Wilson. These are;

  1. Wynne Reserve (next to the church). Here we are removing periwinkle, English holly, blackberry, ox eye daisy and weed grasses, and encouraging the re-growth of native ground covers.
  2. Sloane Reserve (next to Hay Lane). Ivy, Japanese honeysuckle, blackberry, ornamental cherry and violet are being removed. Coachwood and sassafras seedlings and Doodia ferns have been planted and are growing well.
  3. Queens Avenue (opposite Windyridge). Target weeds are honesty, potato, Japanese honeysuckle, seaside daisy, ornamental cherry, blackberry, ivy and periwinkle.
  4. Silva Plana. English holly, sycamore, evergreen dogwood, flowering cherry and cape broom are currently being removed.

The group meets on the second Friday of each month between 9am and 12 midday.

It is an enjoyable morning and a great way to learn more about the native flora including beautiful rainforest trees, shrubs, vines and flowers. Volunteers are briefed on following Covid-19 safety protocols. BMCC provides all equipment, including gloves, secateurs, spade, herbicide, kneeling pads etc. It is now necessary to bring your own morning tea.

The location of each month's activity is published on the calendar on the Mt Wilson Mt Irvine community website.

For residents who are wanting to identify and control weeds in their gardens, see “Bushland Weeds of Mount Wilson and Mount Irvine”. The booklet is also available from the MWPA, if residents would like a free copy please contact Sue Woolfenden on 4756 2046.

Everyone is welcome, hope you can join us!

Enquiries:

Mt Wilson contact:      Alice Simpson (0414 425 511 or 4756 2110)

Council contact:           Tracy Abbas (0428 777 141)

The basalt soil cap and climate provides for the most prolific growth of many indigenous and exotic plant species.  These same conditions are also perfect for the rapid growth and invasion by weeds and as a consequence weed control is a constant challenge for property owners and gardeners in the Mounts.

There are a number of sources that can help in the identification and control of these weeds as shown below.  There is also some more detailed information on some of the more invasive weeds experienced on the mounts.

Sources of Information

The booklet "Bushland Weeds of Mount Wilson and Mount Irvine" was commissioned by the Mount Wilson Progress Association and written by Libby Raines in 2000. Libby also sketched the charming line drawings in the booklet. A copy of this booklet can be obtained from Sue Woolfenden (MWPA Secretary). For many years, it has proven an indispensable guide to identifying, controlling and eradicating the many varieties of weeds in the Mount Wilson and Mount Irvine area. The last 2 pages of this booklet provide a good summary of herbicides and weed treatment.

Weed information, including the names and contact details of accredited weed control contractors in the Blue Mountains is contained in the Blue Mountains City Council’s, Priority Weeds Information Booklet

Herbicides

The last few pages of the weeds booklet provide a good summary of weed treatment. Please note special care must be taken when using herbicides and especially Glyphosate. The MWPA accepts no responsibility for the use or application of any chemicals. Always check the labels and Safety Data Sheets for all chemicals and use only as directed. 

Further Details on Specific Weeds

Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus agg spp)   
English ivy (Hedera helix)
Stinking Iris (Iris foetidissima)

Himalayan Honeysuckle (Leycesteria formosa)

Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
White Jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum)
Common Holly (Ilex Aquifolium)
   

 

 

 

Sloan Reserve from The Avenue

Sloan Reserve from The Avenue

In September 1960, a member of the Sloan family from Bebeah, Miss Marjorie Sloan, bequeathed to the village of Mt Wilson a 2 Acre area of rainforest land at what is known as "Ferny Corner" in The Avenue, Mt Wilson (see map attached).

The Mt Wilson Sights (sic) Trust was responsible for this land, but a lack of funding meant sufficient maintenance was not possible. This group was formally disbanded in 1989.

By the early 1990s the land had been neglected since the bequest and no maintenance of any kind had been carried out, hence the area was badly infested with Blackberry, Thornbush, Holly, Ivy and Honeysuckle.

At a Special General Meeting of the Mt Wilson Progress Association in 1993, it was unanimously agreed that the Village should undertake a regeneration of Sloan Park with the object of eradicating all of the foreign flora and replanting the park with rainforest species. The Park would then be open to the public as an example of a regenerated rainforest area in the Blue Mountains. Planting of many rainforest species took place in 2000 to celebrate the Olympic Games being held in Sydney, as a tribute to an Olympic Rifle represenattive, John Holt, a resident of Mt Wilson.

Marjorie Sloan's memorial plaque and tree was removed from Bebeah in the 1990's and planted in remembrance of her in the park.

The Mt Wilson Bush Care Group has worked tirelessly in Sloan Reserve and today the reserve is a beautiful area near the centre of the village with many tree ferns and other rainforest species. The Valder Bridge  (opened in 1993 by the then Mayor of Blue Mountains City Council) is located in Sloan Reserve.

Sloan Reserve Plans

Sloan Reserve map