Friends of the National Park

Since our first weeding day in late February, our group of volunteers has already contributed over 60 hours of weed-pulling power , for the first two Mondays in the National Park out at Captain Cokk, and last Monday in the Botanic Garden.

At Captain Cook we worked on several big patches of Coral Berry, but also did quite a bit of work on Morning Glory Vine, pulling out Hawaiian Holly, Black Olive seedlings and broad leafed Paspalum when we came across them. Natives including pine, white oak, beech, Pittosporum and Dianella now have much less competition for vital resources of water light and nutrients, and as we leave the pulled weeds to mulch back into the forest floor, we are actually increasing nutrient availability for the remaining plants.

In the Botanic Garden it was all about the vines! Morning Glory and Ipomea vines were there in big numbers, creeping along the ground, then up into the trees looking for the light. The trunks of some of the older vines were up to 5 cm in circumference, so we’ll be back there this coming Monday 21 March. We’ll be meeting at the Mt Pitt Rod entrance to the Botanic Garden at 9.00 and will be there until 12.30. All are welcome, and gloves and morning tea are provided.