FRIENDS OF BRAESIDE NEWSLETTER

EXTRACT FROM THE MARCH/APRIL 2006 ISSUE

FRIENDS’ CORNER

New cabinets in the Visitors’ Centre

Have you noticed the new display cabinets in the Visitors’ Centre, along the northern wall? They are there thanks to a grant from the City of Kingston. Now we need to fill them with displays! A Friends’ Committee is planning display themes, but anyone with an artistic flair is invited to participate; just contact the Park to express interest.

VNPA Parkmates bird survey training held at Braeside Park

Parkmates is a program to survey birds in national parks, run by the Victorian National Parks Association. A bird surveying course was held on March 19^th at the Park, covering bird identification techniques. This activity is another demonstration of how valuable the Park is as a natural habitat resource for the Melbourne area.

Waterwatch

The Melbourne Waterwatch for Dandenong Catchment held their quarterly meeting in the Park in February. Special recognition goes to the Friends, as they have conducted Waterwatch in the Park for 10 years.

Nursery arrangements

Since Ron has retired from active involvement in the plant nursery, four of his off-siders have undertaken to fill his shoes. Nursery mainstays Bill Jackson, Marj Seaton, Brian Pullen, and Bev Bancroft are responsible for collecting seed and cuttings, inventorying seed, planning work-schedules, ordering supplies and the other myriad tasks required to produce thousands of plants. With help from other volunteers and the Park rangers of course. Bill has also documented the automatic watering system and trained others in its operation.

Photo Points

Wooden posts marking photo points are dotted around the Park; the Dingley Rotary Club funded these points in the early days of the Park. Many photos taken over the years by a volunteer, but the photo program lapsed for several years when the volunteer went onto other activities. Now Bev Bancroft has resumed regular photographing at these points. We may be able to feature a series of ‘before and after’ views taken from this photo collection later in the year.

Friends awarded $5,000 grant

The Friends of Braeside Park have secured a $5,000 grant through the Port Phillip and Western Port Catchment Management Authority 2005–2006 Community Grants Program. The Grant will be used to undertake a Grasslands Restoration Project (Stage 3) at Braeside Park. This grant will provide the Friends Group with funds to continue enhancing and restoring a portion of the Red Gum Grassy Woodlands. “Under direction from Park Rangers and specialist contractors the Friends Group will undertake a variety of activities that include hand weeding, selective herbicide application, mowing, seed collection, propagation of seedlings for planting, planting, fence maintenance, direct seeding and monitoring of the success of the program,” said Ranger in Charge Des Lucas.

This project aims to increase the biodiversity and genetic viability of the remnant grasslands in the Park, reduce the abundance of weed species, increase natural regeneration of indigenous species and foster community knowledge and understanding of grassland conservation. To be involved in this project, just roll up to the Community Project Weekday working bees on Wednesday mornings at 9:00am at the Park Office.

BIRD-WALK IN MAY: HEATHLAND AND HIDE

An introduction to Braeside Park birds

Learn more about our birds and catch up on the latest sightings

Saturday 13^th May at 9.00 to 11-ish

Meet at the Visitors Centre