This year Cape Nelson Landcare will be undertaking a variety of on ground actions to begin setting up a repository for some of the Capes unique plants.
Cape Nelson is home to a variety of unusual plants including ; the Drooping Velvet bush lasiopetalum schulzenii, Ixodia ixodia achillaeoides subsp alata (Asteraceae), the Otway Bush pea pultenaea prolifera, the Silky Guinea-flower hibbertia sericea, Pale mat rush lomandra collina and the Soap Malle or Coast gum Eucalyptus diversifolia.
Over the past two years the group have received an injection of funding that has helped to facilitate regenerative work at the bushland reserve. The bulk of this work to date has included the control of the following weedy species; polygala, gorse, sweet pittosporum and ink weed. Complementing this weed control has been the planting of 500 local plants and the installation of wallaby proof fencing around the revegetation area’s.
This Autumn the group will be installing more wallaby proof fencing and planting a further 750 overstory plants. Later in the Spring an understory planting of drooping velvet bush, silky guinea flowers, Austral trefoil lotus australis var.australis, Coast swanson pea swainson lessertiifolia and Wallaby grass Austrodanthonia caespitosa will see the site come to life.
Creating a space to celebrate and champion our endemic plants will inspire a new wave of interest in local vegetation. The reserve boasts beautiful Xanthorrhoea trees, brown stringy barks , Golden wattle’s (our national emblem), kangaroo apples, silver banksias, bower spinach and the drooping she oak. All of these plants are culturally significant to the Aboriginal people of our region. Many if not all of these plants were used by people who lived in South west Victoria; Gunditjmara country. The Dhauward people used these plants for many things including food, medicine, shelter and tools.
Many of these unique plants are at a higher risk of becoming endangered purely because of their numbers in the wild and some already are. The conservation of these plants can be supported by the community through simple actions such as considering them for your garden over a weedy non endemic plant, such as poly gala, lantana or agapanthus!
Another way to learn about our local flora would be to come along to one of our bush regeneration days and get involved. Volunteering with CVA and the Landcare group is an easy way to learn the names of the local plants and the weeds. It is also a great way to connect with nature and get your family active and out of the house on the weekend.
If you are interest in getting involved with this project contact Cape Nelson Landcare
lynn.murrell47@gmail.com or facilitator@sealliance.org.au
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