On National Tree Day (Sunday, 29 July 2018), Glebe Society member Bryan Herden and Rae Broadfoot (Community Garden and Volunteer Coordinator, City Greening and Leisure, City of Sydney), organised a very successful planting day in Paddy Gray Reserve. 70 adults and children attended and native flora were planted, in particular, near the Hereford St entrance to the Reserve. Two wonderful photographs of the day were published in the Sydney Morning Herald of Monday 30 July 2018.

We received a single excellent application for the 2018 Craney Small Grants Program from Glebe Public School. It was entitled ‘Glebe Public School gets a native bee buzz’ and the school has been awarded a grant of $1,000.

The Society’s annual Spring Bird Survey will be held from 6.45am on Sunday 28 October commencing in Paddy Gray Reserve and will be led by Judy Christie. The survey will be completed by 8am when we will gather for breakfast at a local café. All members of the Society and their friends are welcome to assist – please contact Judy (0437 693 372) if you would like to come.

Sue Copeland from the Glebe Bushcare Group reports that ‘we have been working of late on weed removal in the area below ‘The Anchorage’ on the Glebe foreshore and removing litter more generally. Only three people are currently involved with this group, two of whom do not live in Glebe – it’s a pity that few locals seem interested in joining us!’

The Glebe Palmerston and Surrounds Landcare Group planted 215 native flora on Saturday 26 May – the plants are doing well and two working bees have been held to water them, and to collect rubbish and dog faeces. The City will provide cardboard covers to help protect the newly planted flora. It has been discovered that the requested tap for the park is on land controlled by Transdev (the operators of the light rail) and they have withheld permission for access to the site due to ‘the slope of the land’ (despite it being part of the native planting program, and continually and safely accessed by volunteers and the public). There has still been no decision from the City about the concerns of the Group and the Society regarding the $500 excess payable by volunteer groups should a member be injured while working in a City park. It may be necessary to request a meeting with the City.