News from the Blue Wrens Subcommittee – May 2017

All members of the Society and their friends are invited to hear Professor Chris Dickman, Professor in Ecology, Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney, talk about the ‘Impacts and local management of cats, dogs and foxes’ in the downstairs meeting room at Benledi, Glebe Library commencing at 6.00 pm on Wednesday 24 May.  It will be followed by drinks and nibbles.

The Friends of Orphan School Creek Bushcare Group reported that the park’s contractors have removed some of the blady grass and will be providing mulch. The members of the Glebe Bushcare Group are removing litter and weeding the area around Johnston’s Creek and Chapman Rd. In John Street Reserve and St James Park, vines continue to be trained over the fencing and additional stakes for the native plants have been purchased with funds provided by the Subcommittee. Three shrubs have been stolen from the John St entrance to the Reserve.

In Paddy Gray Reserve, Bryan Herden met on site with Rae Broadfoot, Community Gardens and Volunteer Coordinator, City of Sydney, on 31 March. The City wished to pass on the responsibility for the 2017 work plan for the Reserve to local residents – the request was declined as clearly such an important document should be prepared by the City in consultation with residents. A Jacaranda mimosifolia will be removed by the City and could be replaced by a Melaleuca in memory of the late Jan Craney, a former convenor of the Blue Wrens subcommittee. The Glebe Palmerston and Surrounds Landcare Group held a working bee in March and it is planned to continue such events each month. A second tap in the park is still to be installed (the request was originally made in November 2014). The Group will be obtaining maps of the utility services running through the park and plan to submit a grant application to the City in June for funds to support their work, including purchase of a tool box. The Ferry Road Bushcare Group hope that moving the high plants from along the Ferry Rd boundary and replacing them with lower growing species will assist in preventing antisocial behaviour in Ernest Pederson Park after closing time at the Toxteth Hotel. Some plants in front of the Lombard St home units have been poisoned. Here are some photos to show the excellent growth of native plants in Ernest Pederson Park.