NEWS FROM the FRIENDS OF BLUE GUM FOREST

    The first of the  biannual  Annual Great Grose Gorse Walks for 2001 is on

                                       February 3rd to  March 23rd

           They need YOU to help  on selected week days and at weekends

 

For the past seven years  volunteers have battled Gorse and other nasties including Scotch Broom .for 50 km of the river’s course. The enemy has left “land mines” in the shape of more than 10 000 Gorse seeds per square metre  stored in the soil ! Each Scotch Broom plant can produce  6 000 seeds per year

 

Land Care groups supported by  Bushcare Officers of the Blue Mountains City Council, members of the Blue Mountains Conservation Society and individual bushwalkers   have achieved primary knock down of all the known mature Gorse

infestations in  Popes Glen,  Braeside , Days Crescent and  Upper Bedford Creek

Agencies such as NPWS , the city Council, , the Sydney Catchment Authourity  SRA and RTA have weed control programs for the lands in their management  and most participate in the  Walk

 

Projects for 2001  include

  # Containment of the known Gorse infestations in remote areas of the Upper  Grose.

  # Weed Control at Govetts Leap

 # Revegetation of bare areas to supplement natural  regeneration  in area such as Braeside at Blackheath

 #  Surveys to locate  remaining infestations in Hat Hill Creek,  Wentworth Creek and the Mt Victoria area                            

 #  Identifying  and  encouraging rare plants as in  Katoomba Creek

 #   Cooperative work with  private organisations and  individuals

 

Success in these project s depends on the efforts of existing and new volunteers

Activities vary from half a day to  overnight camping

The next Walks this Year will be in the third and fourth weeks of August