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)