tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30492390743425524942024-03-19T15:14:08.876+11:00Wild About...Spruiking native plant and wildlife conservation in Sydney's deep north.
Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-50215889281499699912022-03-15T07:37:00.025+11:002022-04-06T07:59:50.932+10:00How To Revive A Mermaid.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large; line-height: 115%;">The
Compelling Story of The Mermaid Pool Restoration and How <i><u>You</u></i> Can Be Part
of The Action!</span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIi5KPtUk5ahJlG1by_KdfKWnehLot4ZDuCpNZJcSvBtJ064QdY_vSR2hV-vhMkIih1SSpDFXnpnab2VFxkU9qIS33zRNMW5tjdFavfJ1j8MbaLL8MyfXyQdj905ygtzQIh4cVgvBOXlk/s1600/MERMAID+POOL+27AUG2011+%25285%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIi5KPtUk5ahJlG1by_KdfKWnehLot4ZDuCpNZJcSvBtJ064QdY_vSR2hV-vhMkIih1SSpDFXnpnab2VFxkU9qIS33zRNMW5tjdFavfJ1j8MbaLL8MyfXyQdj905ygtzQIh4cVgvBOXlk/s400/MERMAID+POOL+27AUG2011+%25285%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?</span></u></span></span></h3><div><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></u></span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Imagine a guy walking his dog through the
back streets of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manly_Vale,_New_South_Wales" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Manly Vale</a><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">. Every day he saw shopping trolleys dumped in the
local creek and thought to himself angrily “</span><i style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">someone</i><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
should do something about that....”</span><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> He finally realised that<i> he</i> was the <span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif">someone in question!</span> </span></span><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I’m
not sure if they’ve forgiven him yet</span><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">, </span><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">but
he eventually </span><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">convinced other local
residents to join him! *</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;">
</span></u></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIh99e5HeDgEdtbtxfcBqfi9NqGyzVoDIKW4UsdCtT-g9_wr7Kb6jrie9KdAxeRpOxVOKlzUQiznDYuUn2Z8nxvanRrVgKfTpHGcGaVQ4jGLSCOnyUISDyOnnN1KqUmz-CCuwGKvGLjFEe/s1600/Andrew+and+Wol+removingspraycans+from+Manly+Creek.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIh99e5HeDgEdtbtxfcBqfi9NqGyzVoDIKW4UsdCtT-g9_wr7Kb6jrie9KdAxeRpOxVOKlzUQiznDYuUn2Z8nxvanRrVgKfTpHGcGaVQ4jGLSCOnyUISDyOnnN1KqUmz-CCuwGKvGLjFEe/s400/Andrew+and+Wol+removingspraycans+from+Manly+Creek.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Andrew and Wol removing discarded graffiti spray cans from Manly Creek.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;"><u><span face="verdana, sans-serif" lang="" style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span face="verdana, sans-serif" lang="" style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE...</span></u></span></span></h3>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ah it seemed so easy then, just yank a few
trolleys out of the water and we can all go back to football and beer. Trouble is,
the closer you looked, the more garbage there was. The beautiful oasis that
once was Mermaid Pool had literally become a rubbish dump over recent years and
what should have been spectacular remnant bushland was now also clogged with invasive
weeds such as morning glory and privet. What were we getting ourselves into?</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1kaCjhyphenhyphen29-YizNVFGWju1k3tBugZ6OhptGior0-zbwOkBXDCapHdMNNJCy6k_iteq5EPfKsqunyjWhN3uDbzx_XEhO0foMVCy0Df6JeYN63sNPdi1ieODRhnV3UVqzR8V_z6FRGuhpQK/s1600/DSCN0407.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1kaCjhyphenhyphen29-YizNVFGWju1k3tBugZ6OhptGior0-zbwOkBXDCapHdMNNJCy6k_iteq5EPfKsqunyjWhN3uDbzx_XEhO0foMVCy0Df6JeYN63sNPdi1ieODRhnV3UVqzR8V_z6FRGuhpQK/s400/DSCN0407.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Ken removes dumped rubbish from the bush</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">TO CUT A LONG STORY ...</span></u></span></span></h3>
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</span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span lang="" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="font-family: georgia;">Many things have since happened to help
restore the tarnished jewel of Mermaid Pool, kicking off on ‘Clean Up Australia
Day’ 2002, when 4 tonnes of rubbish were removed by 71 volunteers. Subsequently
the Clean Up Australia organisation adopted the project as a ‘Fix Up’ Site. Two
grants have been applied for and received from the Natural Heritage Trust,
which has helped pay for rehabilitation contractors, whilst volunteers have
stencilled storm water drains, produced brochures, planted trees and much more.
</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif">
</span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Weekend Detainees from Parramatta Gaol also spent
a number of years physically removing pest species along the waterway. <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/The-nymphs-are-long-gone-but-inmates-help-return-pool-to-glory/2005/05/01/1114886254593.html">Sydney Morning Herald article by John Huxley</a></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWECGx6Wl4r63z_Kot7iTuNnWMqKSpnKAKk_8H_zcA6w_1iemXjr4QpwiSpIrAwiSYcthNCOIC4izZ5gprkKbOnNKHoxycLsPTIQKDuNyR6Ov-MSs1oSc7ukKU-0QuaoMpbpa2nC44pPLb/s1600/cua%2525207%255B1%255D.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWECGx6Wl4r63z_Kot7iTuNnWMqKSpnKAKk_8H_zcA6w_1iemXjr4QpwiSpIrAwiSYcthNCOIC4izZ5gprkKbOnNKHoxycLsPTIQKDuNyR6Ov-MSs1oSc7ukKU-0QuaoMpbpa2nC44pPLb/s400/cua%2525207%255B1%255D.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Clean Up Australia founder, Ian Kiernan, visits Mermaid Pool</span></td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">WORKOUT AT THE 'GREEN GYM !!</span></u></span></span></h3>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The best way to get involved <u>now</u> is to
come to the monthly bush regeneration volunteer workdays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Bush regeneration” basically means
identifying and removing a range of noxious weeds that are impacting the
natural environment by out-competing the native plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are part of Northern Beaches Council’s <a href="http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/environment/bushland/friends-bush">"Friends of the Bush"</a> program It’s a great opportunity to
learn about the local environment<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
help protect it whilst keeping fit and meeting (slightly crazy) new people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Professional supervision is provided. We even
have some amazing ‘masochist’ volunteers who wear waders to remove the
introduced aquatic weeds (such as Ludwigia Peruviana from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Peru!)</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that are clogging up <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the waterway. We are conscious of advocating
hand removal of weeds and keep any herbicide use away from the water and to an
absolute minimum.</span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" lang="">Sue
removes weeds with Landcare Ambassador-</span></span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Beau
Walker</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mermaid
Pool Volunteers meet on the 4<sup>th</sup> Saturday of every month. Turn up
anytime from 9am to 1pm.Where:
Outside Manly Hyraulics Lab Gates, western corner of King St, Manly Vale. For
more information email: Malcolm Fisher </span></b><span lang=""><a href="mailto:cowfish5@bigpond.com"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">cowfish5@bigpond.com</span></b></a></span></span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">(NB
Volunteers are required to complete a short OH and S training session with Northern Beaches Council before working on site).</span></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvNQ24o39MCwipRnR3lBCNRFzA6Y2H01CvKFlGEqXoc3m5VLAFXnBpMir1i_xAXme5U7kLBNAHDWGsv2bsam3qo9WevyqzHlRb3MP0yfuMIKxFAxk08ekkSmTmqCCpetlbLqf64Cs_TjH/s1600/Dirty+deeds+done+dirt+cheap!.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="417" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvNQ24o39MCwipRnR3lBCNRFzA6Y2H01CvKFlGEqXoc3m5VLAFXnBpMir1i_xAXme5U7kLBNAHDWGsv2bsam3qo9WevyqzHlRb3MP0yfuMIKxFAxk08ekkSmTmqCCpetlbLqf64Cs_TjH/s400/Dirty+deeds+done+dirt+cheap!.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Keith, Dave and Kris "getting fit" by removing non-native and invasive water weeds </span></td></tr>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">WHERE THE HELL<i> <b>IS </b></i>MERMAID POOL?</span></u></span></span></h3>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Mermaid Pool is at the western corner of King
St, Manly Vale, Sydney. It boasts a lovely waterfall and is fed from Manly Dam by Manly
Creek. The creek then winds its way down to the surfing beach at Queenscliff
via Manly Lagoon. (As you can see it’s got a lot of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Manly </i>connections).</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJ8yPwoe0WQIghL4_9Z_jFYlCy9pky5vYBaxzPtfgL-fAVgQArBJTTvvHH3J12X3JxEzvBQYBCrn-d2NTUWryAmnLdutv2eSrNHyFp9TYTrkTLqAzTePm9jOmXRzuA7pLRzhZRWxDLP7f/s1600/mermaidpoolnow.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMJ8yPwoe0WQIghL4_9Z_jFYlCy9pky5vYBaxzPtfgL-fAVgQArBJTTvvHH3J12X3JxEzvBQYBCrn-d2NTUWryAmnLdutv2eSrNHyFp9TYTrkTLqAzTePm9jOmXRzuA7pLRzhZRWxDLP7f/s400/mermaidpoolnow.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">An aerial view of the pool surrounded by a small remnant of bushland</span> </span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED.</span></u></span></span></h3>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If physical labour is not your thing we also
need people with I.T, communications, research and admin skills plus
individuals who are able to conduct ecological surveys).</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWLQd5wz5iALAU-Bpn4vqT8_JSVAqW5GVxuSrUO7eFL3NW9ulH0k_29ggju0AhFQya25W5ksnBEhYwS1J97LN37ZJP6lT8ecIBY5m2v60qHERmdVzZmczqdJ0HTEvgFDS-Hi7Ag_Uat-3/s1600/A+tiny+juvenile+striped+gudgeon.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWLQd5wz5iALAU-Bpn4vqT8_JSVAqW5GVxuSrUO7eFL3NW9ulH0k_29ggju0AhFQya25W5ksnBEhYwS1J97LN37ZJP6lT8ecIBY5m2v60qHERmdVzZmczqdJ0HTEvgFDS-Hi7Ag_Uat-3/s400/A+tiny+juvenile+striped+gudgeon.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Tiny native fish (the original "Mermaids") migrate up Manly
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">TIME TO THINK ABOUT GOING NATIVE?</span></u></span></span></h3>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span lang="" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="font-family: georgia;">The Sydney region has a much greater number
of plant species than the whole of Great Britain combined and each of our
suburbs have their own individual endemic varieties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly as the city has grown we’ve eradicated
much of our bushland and planted our gardens with exotics from Europe, Asia or
South America. Most natives available in the major nurseries are hybrids or out
of area plants. Increasingly though, people are seeking out species indigenous
to their area and finding them perfect for local weather conditions, soil types
and for attracting wildlife. The New Northern Beaches Council can offer advice on
what to plant and where to buy them. There is even a community native plant nursery now at Manly Dam (near the Rangers Office).</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58VVvDrHflDF-Yb92GCmVVigAq-qlICbOgT32H_ELaocsx7Ug_nQT0JpSKXwB09kuD1-7frMASqQgL2_vibHGl-pprGRHBkuDWZPuBiwO0dBJrEn4QiOBnWk4mGfVswMirPFKoXDAVbn8/s1600/Yellow.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58VVvDrHflDF-Yb92GCmVVigAq-qlICbOgT32H_ELaocsx7Ug_nQT0JpSKXwB09kuD1-7frMASqQgL2_vibHGl-pprGRHBkuDWZPuBiwO0dBJrEn4QiOBnWk4mGfVswMirPFKoXDAVbn8/s400/Yellow.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Dillwynia Retorta</span></td></tr>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">DOES EVIL LURK IN YOUR GARDEN?</span></u></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span lang="" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Our waterways and natural bushland are under
threat due to the invasion of environmental weeds. These introduced plants
out-compete or smother native plants. The trouble is, many of these foreign
pests begin life in someone’s backyard and are spread by birds eating their
seeds or from people dumping garden clippings in the bush. Once these weeds
take over, the natural character of the bush is lost and habitat for wildlife
is reduced.</span></span><br />
<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span lang="" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://sydneyweeds.org.au/about/what-is-this-weed/">Identify weeds here.</a> </span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_tUB-Du6C9hfYVEoeY0PX9_fK8I2wYau0UVtJAMZLCRsDAvNnYKX5hDHNTsq-JRhECbs_VtwEi5ds2MXa0um-YGvUYgbHRW3PbqxirSYlk5ZN3tudzqIlibLl96EGOQmKh3pbyLLGss9/s1600/lantana.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_tUB-Du6C9hfYVEoeY0PX9_fK8I2wYau0UVtJAMZLCRsDAvNnYKX5hDHNTsq-JRhECbs_VtwEi5ds2MXa0um-YGvUYgbHRW3PbqxirSYlk5ZN3tudzqIlibLl96EGOQmKh3pbyLLGss9/s400/lantana.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">The invasive and pervasive Lantana</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">IT’S A WILD LIFE AT MERMAID POOL</span></u></span></span></h3>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The great thing about getting involved in
environmental restoration is that you can discover fascinating insights into
local biodiversity and help ensure that habitat for our native fauna is
improved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the Mermaid Pool environs
for example, Bandicoots have returned after a 40 year absence, Swamp Wallabies
have recently been spotted nearby whilst <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dwarf Green Tree Frogs still survive in the
reed beds. There are 10 types of native fish that call this waterway home. Some
of them have migrated up Manly Creek from the ocean to spawn for millennia (the
original “Mermaids”) but accumulated silt, exotic weeds and other obstructions
have made this increasingly difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Juvenile Cox’s Gudgeon were recently photographed (by local resident and
native fish expert Andrew Lo) ascending Mermaid Pool waterfall using their fins
to climb the sheer rock wall.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_AzGnm9gAlO3CG-8zWLL5M7TqQcjzrpGYjXwqB7ZechJwlzz7wvqzD9ACL2VRfg7a8zTfYIHvEIpBzEIf2CLzZetYv7I6cB2BJIXnbLN0I9GXIu9dFR38DAGmhGouMmaE-i848djwv4k/s1600/IMG_2776.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_AzGnm9gAlO3CG-8zWLL5M7TqQcjzrpGYjXwqB7ZechJwlzz7wvqzD9ACL2VRfg7a8zTfYIHvEIpBzEIf2CLzZetYv7I6cB2BJIXnbLN0I9GXIu9dFR38DAGmhGouMmaE-i848djwv4k/s400/IMG_2776.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Juvenile "Cox's Gudgeon" climbing a sheer rockface</span></td></tr>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME</span></u></span></span></h3>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span lang="" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="font-family: georgia;">Of course indigenous people occupied the
Northern Beaches area for thousands of years and we are hauntingly reminded of
their ancient presence through rock carvings and engravings in our locality. As more and more discoveries are made, the significance of the area to Aboriginal people is taking on a greater dimension and the environs of the Mermaid Pool are now being nominated as an Aboriginal site by the MLALC and others.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span lang="" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1788 Governor Arthur Phillip traversed
this creek-line when it was surrounded by dense forest and swamps. In the
Depression years of the 1930’s there was a camp at Allambie for people who had
lost their homes. Girls used to slip away to the pool to swim naked-hence the
name-Mermaid Pool. In those days the water was crystal clear, the bird-life rich
and varied and the bushland vibrant and colourful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is still a rare pocket of coastal
rainforest beneath the rocky overhangs of Mermaid Pool which echoes a long
distant era. A mere seventy years ago much of Manly Vale was unspoilt bushland,
platypus still occupied some waterways and even quolls and koalas were ‘in
residence’.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3lsJqJuyocgetBPPR8L7q40-4L_0dwREui55qEKWpFwL_4iqR1XC7ykpfMl9mWIZm9iZ7RFXnB76L62qnXlzltZdMr2I7QEOzhnTPSc8XrAvrytV6GTtThh7DNg-TT_gjPlnhKupmduW/s1600/old+image.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3lsJqJuyocgetBPPR8L7q40-4L_0dwREui55qEKWpFwL_4iqR1XC7ykpfMl9mWIZm9iZ7RFXnB76L62qnXlzltZdMr2I7QEOzhnTPSc8XrAvrytV6GTtThh7DNg-TT_gjPlnhKupmduW/s400/old+image.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">The home of the Douglas Family in the 1930's in what is now "Jenna Close"</span></td></tr>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">WHAT ON EARTH NEXT ?</span></u></span></span></h3>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Land owners and occupiers between Manly Dam
wall and Mermaid Pool have recently collaborated with The “Return of the
Mermaids” project representatives on ways to restore the creekline in their
specific areas. It’s an important step forward which means that Sydney Water,
the Department of Services, Technology and Administration, Manly Hydraulics Laboratory,
The University of New South Wales Water Research Laboratory and the community
are working productively together. Further downstream Warringah Golf Club and
Conservation Volunteers Australia are also doing very positive remedial work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> There are also some grave threats to the bushland in the surrounding area (see blog article "This War Memorial Park is Under Siege)</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2D2goHJyuz0hXgWJbpmhvAVvHKuzzNZtB2Vny-WPQJHYOQfTHEeLJAAFohr8zR9n1vqapyadbpE9vifIXagcJq2uXfzDurDmlq6YBeFKU4sK4qVzb3VSvGILHriPqK2XdjZffjKukFgO/s1600/MERMAID+POOL+27AUG2011.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2D2goHJyuz0hXgWJbpmhvAVvHKuzzNZtB2Vny-WPQJHYOQfTHEeLJAAFohr8zR9n1vqapyadbpE9vifIXagcJq2uXfzDurDmlq6YBeFKU4sK4qVzb3VSvGILHriPqK2XdjZffjKukFgO/s400/MERMAID+POOL+27AUG2011.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">A Water Dragon..one of the popular local residents.</span></td></tr>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">THE KING ST WAR MEMORIAL AVENUE</span></u></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span lang="" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> On Planet Ark National Tree Day 2005,
volunteers planted a grove of endemic native shrubs along King St, Manly Vale
to the approaches of Manly Warringah War Memorial Park. This was to commemorate
60 years since the end of World War 2 and to also highlight the importance of
planting local native species. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A NSW
Government<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Community Partnership Program
grant was subsequently applied for which helped us to finish the job using contractors from <a href="http://www.bushregen.com.au/">Australian Bushland Restoration</a>. The “avenue
of honour” has since been dedicated to the sacrifice and service of merchant
seamen in world wars 1 and 2. It is now a significant memorial and important educational feature
of the area. <a href="http://www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/content/king-st-avenue-honour">NSW War Memorials Register</a></span></span> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YHhwbpNE-BsDq9wF1E79DtwanyR7QlA1rXDfg_s2f9gmVs7iPz2rVfzzHg6gIiKhakbDzk-jIgW4jQhAjAEU59ot3nuoSZmx25WrIfkMavjeay9DNkhyphenhyphen7Ky9zRNr3fIGNipr3ukxskrg/s1600/King+St+memorial+017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"> <img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YHhwbpNE-BsDq9wF1E79DtwanyR7QlA1rXDfg_s2f9gmVs7iPz2rVfzzHg6gIiKhakbDzk-jIgW4jQhAjAEU59ot3nuoSZmx25WrIfkMavjeay9DNkhyphenhyphen7Ky9zRNr3fIGNipr3ukxskrg/s400/King+St+memorial+017.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"> <span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span style="font-size: small;"> <span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> Ex Merchant Seamen, Don, Ray and Don at the "Avenue of Honour" central monument. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><u>OPERATION W.O.W. WATCHING OUR WILDLIFE</u></span></span></h3>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span lang=""> <span style="font-family: georgia;">We are currently positioning nesting boxes for native wildlife in the area (from pygmy possums and micro bats to king parrots) which will provide homes for wildlife (acting as
surrogate tree hollows). We are hoping to retrofit tiny cameras inside the boxes to help give the community knowledge of (and empathy
with) their local species by being able to observe them. Vision
from inside the boxes would be transmitted live via the internet. Our
beautiful remnant of bushland has no power or communications, so we will
provide our own – wirelessly, to bring images from the site. Each nesting box
in addition to it’s Raspberry Pi computer will be connected to a Mesh wireless
network which connects to the internet. Additionally each box would be powered by a
dry-cell battery that is charged via photo voltaic solar collectors. As many of the residents are nocturnal, we will illuminated their nesting boxes
with infra Red which our cameras pick will up as monochrome images.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qmftqcakHrLstVj7CiFoWyplVpX3U3eIbyi83mDX9PaJBxJBYbMwcaOKje2477XvYJEHhHG7Kpd1v2upOoThoo75scNDG6KMw4omoiTqdQna0GwKvMByPTHalBo4oZ5qJQ0JEWW1bWEv/s1600/King+Parrot.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qmftqcakHrLstVj7CiFoWyplVpX3U3eIbyi83mDX9PaJBxJBYbMwcaOKje2477XvYJEHhHG7Kpd1v2upOoThoo75scNDG6KMw4omoiTqdQna0GwKvMByPTHalBo4oZ5qJQ0JEWW1bWEv/s320/King+Parrot.jpg" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">King Parrot nesting box</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span lang="" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">ORARA RESERVE RESTORATION</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif" lang="" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Our parent organisation, the <span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">S</span>ave Manly Dam
Catchment Committee has also helped fund important restoration work at Orara
Reserve at Allambie, in conjunction with the Beach School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This work involved contracting a team from
Bushlink ( a bush regeneration organisation which employs people with a
disability).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Collaborating with students,
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>they are gradually removing the invasive
weeds from this beautiful area of remnant bushland. We hope to contribute more
funding to this important project in the future.</span></span><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkF1-aRmc5wL4hizIKeaLH3zIWUSCYKC0_tZeaePUlPwWuKoxehqC8isDXXqDdrhRiAo25A-6bMTBvKpsPerrs7lmx9rdUkXLbG38xf-8vUGUoD-7QY8SoaSjUL0LlcLIBV_JIcsC4MwjL/s1600/manlydaily261012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkF1-aRmc5wL4hizIKeaLH3zIWUSCYKC0_tZeaePUlPwWuKoxehqC8isDXXqDdrhRiAo25A-6bMTBvKpsPerrs7lmx9rdUkXLbG38xf-8vUGUoD-7QY8SoaSjUL0LlcLIBV_JIcsC4MwjL/s320/manlydaily261012.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://bushlink.org.au/">Bushlink website</a> </span></span><br />
<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span face="arial, sans-serif" lang="" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span face="arial, sans-serif"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.4px;">The "Return of The Mermaids" restoration project won the Inaugural KNSWB Blue Star Sustainability Award in 2015 in the Habitat and Wildlife Guardianship Category.</span></span><br /></span>
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<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3lkf7_Cg_oM8IW3UXi5ELDOfn0DOxqhlEq3TDSONJF_YOd1M0iT2orjFPX1gut4YSvAwdZbWIm0o4KIrdnT0RRROhJG4owIbi_g8NvlCKF0mm1npBYHCoFrWB6gF8rS2WoL4mydvkxYC/s1600/IMG_2323.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3lkf7_Cg_oM8IW3UXi5ELDOfn0DOxqhlEq3TDSONJF_YOd1M0iT2orjFPX1gut4YSvAwdZbWIm0o4KIrdnT0RRROhJG4owIbi_g8NvlCKF0mm1npBYHCoFrWB6gF8rS2WoL4mydvkxYC/s320/IMG_2323.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span face="arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; line-height: 18.4px;"><b><u>STOP PRESS: JUNE 2018.</u></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: georgia; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In 2017 (on World
Environment Day). The NSW Department of Education proceeded to bulldoze several
hectares of rare bushland at nearby McComb Hill for the Manly Vale Public
School expansion. The community pleaded with them to "build up not
out" to save the habitat of the threatened Eastern Pygmy Possum. They also
warned that removing all the trees and shrubs from the northern slope would
mean that silt and sediment would be washed into Mermaid Pool. They ignored all
protests. After heavy rain in June 2018..this was the devastating result...</span><i><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><u>A SMALL BIRD CORRIDOR</u></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-weight: normal;">On October 8<sup>th</sup>, 2018 The Greater Sydney
Landcare Network <a href="https://greatersydneylandcare.org/">https://greatersydneylandcare.org/</a>
sent a letter to The Minister For Lands
(Paul Toole), Local MP (James Griffin) and Northern Beaches Mayor (Michael
Regan). The letter supported the Save Manly Dam Catchment Committee’s initiative
of establishing a “small bird corridor” at Mermaid Pools. This would mean that
four unallocated crown land parcels of bushland between Manly Dam and District
Park (alongside Manly Creek) would be formally protected and zoned for
conservation. If this eventuated it would help offset the loss of bushland
adjoining nearby Manly Vale Public School, where the dense bushland habitat of
the following recorded birds was bulldozed as part of a redevelopment. </span><i><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: normal;">(Black Faced Cuckoo Shrike, Brown Thornbill,
Eastern Spinebill, Little Wattle Bird, New Holland Honey Eater, Red Browed
Finch, Scarlet Honey Eater, Silvereye, Spotted Pardalote, Superb Fairy Wren,
White Browed Scrub Wren, Azure Kingfisher).</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div><div><span face="verdana, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment finalised the amendments to Warringah Local Environment Plan 2011 and the amended LEP was gazetted on Friday 24th July 2020. This means that the four parcels of bushland in the Mermaid Pools environs were rezoned from low density RI to Public Recreation RE2. Details on this link :- </span></span><b style="font-size: 12pt;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://tinyurl.com/y36abpyo" style="color: #954f72;">https://tinyurl.com/y36abpyo</a></span></b></div><div><b style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-size: 12pt;">This is good news but we continue to lobby for a better conservation outcome with a designated small bird </b><span face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif" style="font-size: medium;">habitat corridor.</span></div></div></span></h3><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><div style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodyS6UUljw2LveIkBoPLwgOnhVuMUzA2WImkVOem5UEXoYtcIDmisSKMZBwWpnzA2vQGRgwXQtBtCN53Nvq4USIdOXYTR-zsllZTwaLCOKaS50jLLniy8QnA25ll8g_jijpZvaHmmK_8S/s1600/Scarlet_Honeyeater.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="508" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodyS6UUljw2LveIkBoPLwgOnhVuMUzA2WImkVOem5UEXoYtcIDmisSKMZBwWpnzA2vQGRgwXQtBtCN53Nvq4USIdOXYTR-zsllZTwaLCOKaS50jLLniy8QnA25ll8g_jijpZvaHmmK_8S/s400/Scarlet_Honeyeater.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Scarlet Honeyeater</span></h3>
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</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></span></h3></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><h2><u>STOP PRESS MARCH 2022</u></h2></span></h3></blockquote><p>"<span style="font-family: georgia;">Unprecedented rains hit NSW in early March leaving many communities flooded across the State. Unfortunately the deluge resulted in a huge amount of debris (bricks, glass, rubbish) being deposited on the shores of Mermaid Pool. (see below images). To counter we organised a human chain event on 26th March where our "bucket brigade" passed material up to King St and into a Skip. Ironically we did a similar activity on our 10th anniversary. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H9buMVxTPs"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Major Clean Up Of Storm Debris (on 20 year Anniversary)</span></a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEB8aMvdmkzSR-EJNi2ZESqN2uafyq-6dzwsxYEmYFZBely-dsDERkGjO7gbP8Y6ycEmYAlXm5l_t3YM7M6P2y4pVWl739xchZBcahvuvMlJfaTWTHRvAdCbcykLY4EdadIdQieRtDpe-3OG-AD2eEf3zCG0BjbPv9cURwNmSeaGSxA4qv4LdzSMZylg/s4032/9FE48B9D-A3E6-4D0B-B0B9-73AE4C6049BE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEB8aMvdmkzSR-EJNi2ZESqN2uafyq-6dzwsxYEmYFZBely-dsDERkGjO7gbP8Y6ycEmYAlXm5l_t3YM7M6P2y4pVWl739xchZBcahvuvMlJfaTWTHRvAdCbcykLY4EdadIdQieRtDpe-3OG-AD2eEf3zCG0BjbPv9cURwNmSeaGSxA4qv4LdzSMZylg/w640-h480/9FE48B9D-A3E6-4D0B-B0B9-73AE4C6049BE.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3Fg27l7tLCngHVMYPdw4Fz5zvBVEfzJIinnmXEmZy_mjT64niocCox7acHfmV2Hh9kdAwRuW_rHNQBPbcDEd6ETlLokXApdHO_YdgYl487hxVIoNkL9-g2H_kVtYDywgvnjzVZqzwvr_EmZwEJ920VvG-tOchitLQvdCLMtTE2DNjRtZeGVCaUVb7g/s2048/F1CA38E8-9B77-4318-B97D-20D5D5D3CADD.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3Fg27l7tLCngHVMYPdw4Fz5zvBVEfzJIinnmXEmZy_mjT64niocCox7acHfmV2Hh9kdAwRuW_rHNQBPbcDEd6ETlLokXApdHO_YdgYl487hxVIoNkL9-g2H_kVtYDywgvnjzVZqzwvr_EmZwEJ920VvG-tOchitLQvdCLMtTE2DNjRtZeGVCaUVb7g/w480-h640/F1CA38E8-9B77-4318-B97D-20D5D5D3CADD.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large;">CAN YOU SPONSOR THE FUTURE?</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span lang="" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"> </span><span face="verdana, sans-serif">Are you a local business that can appreciate
the need to restore our waterways and conserve our bushland ? Every industry
from tourism, surf products and fishing to manufacturing and administration
benefits from looking after the environment. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “Return of the Mermaids” project needs
your support now to help fund future important conservation work along Manly
Creek and to ensure momentum continues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you’re interested in partnering the community please email </span></span><span face="verdana, sans-serif" lang=""><a href="mailto:cowfish5@bigpond.com">cowfish5@bigpond.com</a></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWaKgrZcc_e4k1ZJHdJ_M11x_6iBenrjapiz4RHl382zKo6t77cvI2NBmH-EtuovxUknL1RncH9y9_292VWGpiRhAoxfpUDykRKbBZh4pF-wQCZGde6gahbXxCBBCtavEbDR-i-qQUcYr/s1600/IMG_0472.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="507" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWaKgrZcc_e4k1ZJHdJ_M11x_6iBenrjapiz4RHl382zKo6t77cvI2NBmH-EtuovxUknL1RncH9y9_292VWGpiRhAoxfpUDykRKbBZh4pF-wQCZGde6gahbXxCBBCtavEbDR-i-qQUcYr/s400/IMG_0472.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Mermaids Sapphire and Skye (courtesy Manly Sea-life Sanctuary) </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Special thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who have
worked so hard to ‘Return the Mermaids”</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">* (Many
of the first volunteers had spent the previous decade campaigning to save the
headwaters of Manly Dam <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from the
infamous ‘Ardel’ housing development which ultimately destroyed the creekline
upstream. This restoration project initiated by The Save Manly Dam Catchment
Committee was seen as a way to compensate for some of the environmental damage</span></i><span lang="" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">).</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ga0xWaRrOLhA5UnG1sozfur3Djbvb_mCW5bZv9iR5BFq3ns_sPOtw-4DxJWnd7xY9kDb81Qs9FEUR1ASV7EezYBxZbZx3oSrdqbZ0wCe_uhyphenhyphenp-ykG3eIAm81Pr_1bNmCQXW6zze2sr3U/s1600/Bucket+Brigade.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ga0xWaRrOLhA5UnG1sozfur3Djbvb_mCW5bZv9iR5BFq3ns_sPOtw-4DxJWnd7xY9kDb81Qs9FEUR1ASV7EezYBxZbZx3oSrdqbZ0wCe_uhyphenhyphenp-ykG3eIAm81Pr_1bNmCQXW6zze2sr3U/s320/Bucket+Brigade.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif">Join the Facebook Group: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/224958938606/">Mermaid Pool Restoration project</a></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif">Check out these video links:-</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s4038833.htm"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"> Segment with Costa on Gardening Australia 2014</span></a><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXwO-oLW__U">Mermaid Pool Sydney Metro CMA Award winners 2012</a></span><br />
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<span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIfghfA5CA0">World Water Day 2012. 10th Anniversary of "Return of the Mermaids"</a></span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHZPXbRDqns">Jess Amos Film</a></span><br />
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<span face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif">And here's article on the Mermaid Pool by Peter Fitzsimons that was featured in the Sydney Magazine </span><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoj5zhFB7bVJH45vjBvNE-AA0fQP8mBxUHP3-49AGCckN6-lTokXQFN6SJ0I4EVERwWr1wiRTepKk_BR8xSEoIoHb4fLLhUR4onwnM2r6p9WrbrEqlBvBrAAf9PTcqfiwZMPdXiQFsPmd/s1600/Copy+of+PeterFitzFeature.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqoj5zhFB7bVJH45vjBvNE-AA0fQP8mBxUHP3-49AGCckN6-lTokXQFN6SJ0I4EVERwWr1wiRTepKk_BR8xSEoIoHb4fLLhUR4onwnM2r6p9WrbrEqlBvBrAAf9PTcqfiwZMPdXiQFsPmd/s1600/Copy+of+PeterFitzFeature.JPG" /></a></div>
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Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-78035167157631887702021-05-06T17:13:00.007+10:002023-11-21T16:35:26.084+11:00Art for Nature's Sake<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"> </span><span><font face="verdana"> It
always seems to me that artists, photographers and musicians appear to have a
special connection to the natural world. Maybe, because of their creative empathy, they have a heightened
sensitivity to the world's, beauty, wonder and awe.</font></span></span><font face="verdana"><br />
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<span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;"><span> <span>Whenever a fundraiser is organised to protect
forests, bushland or marine environments, guess who always put their hands up
first to contribute time and talent? Yes the financially challenged artists.
And when my local paper, the Manly Daily, asks for photographic contributions
from the readership...the subsequent published works invariably seem to be of
seashores, birds, animals or trees.<font size="2"><o:p></o:p></font></span></span></span></font></div>
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<span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;"><span><font face="verdana"> It’s a strange compulsion that beckons
humanity to paint but, like many others, I too was drawn to examine and attempt
to represent some of the miracles of nature through art. I could never hope to
do any of it justice of course. In fact to me, nature, at every level, is already in a state of perfection (although human behaviour is probably the exception to that general
rule). In an era when the world is
losing so much of its precious wild things and wild places...just capturing it
on canvass, began to seem a futile waste of time. </font></span></span></div>
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<font face="verdana"><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;"><span> So, I decided to try and convey an
environmental message through the imagery. At least that way it seemed slightly more
constructive. Maybe I could, in a very minor way, help communicate the urgent plight of our
world to a new audience and
gradually, bit by bit, collective consciousness <i>might</i> work to turn things around?
OK OK its a ridiculous concept but it’s all I've got to work on at the
moment!!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;"><span><font face="verdana"> Here are a few examples of my small scale environmental campaigning through art.<o:p></o:p></font></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;"><span><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;"><span><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;"><span><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRF7bNCm2wNCccl5QGPuUZRbsGwZeCMYfya40itf6NY_h-PZpXL1ORzAjx4GGO4bpJ1cjKXkfVWnz6-3LNfLkyuxsfulTa61owfBaaEuqSRxslXisbWn6jjOydhtQZuirsx_xujyjobAzy/s2048/006.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRF7bNCm2wNCccl5QGPuUZRbsGwZeCMYfya40itf6NY_h-PZpXL1ORzAjx4GGO4bpJ1cjKXkfVWnz6-3LNfLkyuxsfulTa61owfBaaEuqSRxslXisbWn6jjOydhtQZuirsx_xujyjobAzy/w438-h478/006.JPG" width="438" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;"><span><br /></span></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The painting was included in an exhibition titled 'Art For Penguins Sake" which raised money to protect the Little Penguin Colony near Manly.</span></div></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;"><span><font face="verdana"><br /></font></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">This piece, titled "Ascension" represents the view, looking up to the sky, through trees in a forest clearing. Conversely, others feel it is more indicative of looking down into a deep ocean. The materials used are acrylics, inks and bitumen on sheet aluminium </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDtfDkDiuzRfRpfXV_31b2RlKvXL2Pfgy5OorwlkONSks-ksge9WjlwZLEnJefRGvNcC6K5XUEZ29rCbrzyv9n6bKIlX7JnV9HRAKN_QeOOMnNiP7UPV1sToNNajSYDSBMVEbz0XSU9US/s1600/pictures+071.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDtfDkDiuzRfRpfXV_31b2RlKvXL2Pfgy5OorwlkONSks-ksge9WjlwZLEnJefRGvNcC6K5XUEZ29rCbrzyv9n6bKIlX7JnV9HRAKN_QeOOMnNiP7UPV1sToNNajSYDSBMVEbz0XSU9US/s1600/pictures+071.jpg" width="556" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">This work, using similar materials,is titled "Feeling a bit Fragile". It represents a frenzied planet earth under intense stress in a volatile universe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif"> There is an old English proverb that states, 'the eyes are the window to the soul.' This saying stems from a passage in the Bible, Matthew 6:22-23. According to Scientists, p</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">atterns in the iris can give an indication of whether we are warm and trusting or neurotic and impulsive. I'm fascinated by the deep and inscrutable eyes of reptiles. There seems to be an ancient but impenetrable wisdom emanating from those dark pools of life. This image was painted on canvas using acrylic paint,inks and bitumen.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">A highly regarded local environmentalist used to hold an annual fundraiser to help protect Tasmania's ancient forests from industrial logging. In Tasmania, large areas of forests are clear-felled, bulldozed and burnt- the trees being wood-chipped and sent to Japan to be made into paper. In recent times some of the high conservation forests were given World Heritage status and protected as part of a momentous agreement between the logging industry and environmentalists. The Gutwein, Liberal, government, however, continues to clear and burn high conservation value forests -including habitat for the critically endangered Swift Parrot. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWsk90wqXhgs_fxFg0BoTdD0EDCsnl9p99FLBWHqyW4xBRhX4CxnmhDJ6ri99CsOuzcKwg0Xt5aW1DvMG74TGp_m0kHBNxsbXM_N9n6ftfR1Els83F4Tr_dk8pJUfAgwQLnw6lfM_DA59/s1600/DSC00254.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWsk90wqXhgs_fxFg0BoTdD0EDCsnl9p99FLBWHqyW4xBRhX4CxnmhDJ6ri99CsOuzcKwg0Xt5aW1DvMG74TGp_m0kHBNxsbXM_N9n6ftfR1Els83F4Tr_dk8pJUfAgwQLnw6lfM_DA59/s1600/DSC00254.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Australian government wants to log these ancient trees once more.<br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;"> Australia's former Prime Minister (and local MP), Tony Abbott, sought to de-list 74,000 hectares of these unique forests from the World Heritage register, making them once more accessible for logging and taking us back to the dark ages.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kgfBLSgeasrwRZWO_9uBknglc5gQb70yoDh1f_YSh65t1aVz64Z2qwY9Z6xJqXTNzqb9JWgrKuvnzAP5yMyIAnNy0QDpYR9jT98JRBAERFjg6YavWgWx-lkGBeAQdQCxp8F0LHiCfu65/s1600/Something+fishy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kgfBLSgeasrwRZWO_9uBknglc5gQb70yoDh1f_YSh65t1aVz64Z2qwY9Z6xJqXTNzqb9JWgrKuvnzAP5yMyIAnNy0QDpYR9jT98JRBAERFjg6YavWgWx-lkGBeAQdQCxp8F0LHiCfu65/s1600/Something+fishy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This painting represents the precious ocean environment that encircles Sydney. In fact there are more marine species found <i>inside</i> Sydney Harbour than around the whole coastline of Britain! The NSW government is currently working to reduce marine sanctuary protection and has put a moratorium on declaring any new Marine Parks</span>. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhEDOi4V0BBG8dHHJS0fKXVLuQS7nErVvx6MjwjawW6CB8nNaSWi2lo9vj_Bq_v8Y51DXfSkwGXxRFeleLwW71ysLhoxGz1uvTn0qrMHkPb2tfgoRxFhJmUk7Oz8sSzccOTnJtTOc9i2A/s1600/Photos+from+Iphone+173.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhEDOi4V0BBG8dHHJS0fKXVLuQS7nErVvx6MjwjawW6CB8nNaSWi2lo9vj_Bq_v8Y51DXfSkwGXxRFeleLwW71ysLhoxGz1uvTn0qrMHkPb2tfgoRxFhJmUk7Oz8sSzccOTnJtTOc9i2A/s1600/Photos+from+Iphone+173.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFrvHTrxfeCpjHDIDWndnNEXe4ehl8N8VraduiJyPXnQ_yTeTOd3-KrbKB8I0-7vSRps9RvuKW17sBepLKeFJewdsErRC1rTXdek3t-N_8PVfBwsEZ6_50mQDimLg_U0cr3Khl6j78nrC/s1600/Warringah+Art+prize+entry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFrvHTrxfeCpjHDIDWndnNEXe4ehl8N8VraduiJyPXnQ_yTeTOd3-KrbKB8I0-7vSRps9RvuKW17sBepLKeFJewdsErRC1rTXdek3t-N_8PVfBwsEZ6_50mQDimLg_U0cr3Khl6j78nrC/s1600/Warringah+Art+prize+entry.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">This piece, called "Green Confessions" was exhibited in the 2013 Warringah Art prize within the "Waste to Art" category. It was produced using paper, paint and inks on an sheet aluminium base. Warringah Council replaced their Flannel Flower logo (representing our local native flora) with a soulless stylized W shape. This work included numerous Flannel Flowers with the word <b>"sold"</b> emblazoned across them. This was to represent the ongoing loss of our beautiful, and colourful, bushland with the ugly sprawl of encroaching housing developments. The change of logo, without community consultation seemed to epitomise this bleak scenario. This then the logo has been changed once more to a confusing amalgamated Northern Beaches Council melange.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgSW3emjtPaaYiDKOiQ50sFZNHjsizpw45UGgCihyH2444uMld2cp4AwoOE70i62NvSEwLSZ7CFTvbroUDVui4BpZGojtx55wQL_KqrgfDjYPIGBQLCV8ywV2eygdcmCDY1OQe9EOqz_o/s1600/Manly+Dam+Art.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: courier;"><img border="0" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgSW3emjtPaaYiDKOiQ50sFZNHjsizpw45UGgCihyH2444uMld2cp4AwoOE70i62NvSEwLSZ7CFTvbroUDVui4BpZGojtx55wQL_KqrgfDjYPIGBQLCV8ywV2eygdcmCDY1OQe9EOqz_o/s1600/Manly+Dam+Art.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-weight: normal;">This piece was hung in the Warringah Art Exhibition in 2000. At that time there was a huge community campaign to stop the "Ardel" housing development at Frenchs Forest destroying pristine bushland in the Manly Dam catchment. Its long term effect would also reduce water quality and impact on aquatic fauna (such as the unique Climbing Galaxias fish). The metallic fish skeletons with the title "Manly Dam's Future" contributed to the protest. Currently the Manly Dam environs are under grave threat from the Beaches Link tunnel project and other development encroachments.</span></h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFlUrd0CccFnxkXQ4WA0mG2RtLES7OyaNfBDaSXiFAY1-J7xWI2WZXglQSvjvHHYWeu_LxhQQiDm_tKn581jkf9w00KJAC_0UGDl9I-f9Kq9FFschqe3hIDZTgG6qc_NH4mW7XE4ACbnR/s1600/MalcolmFisherEchidnaSpeaks1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFlUrd0CccFnxkXQ4WA0mG2RtLES7OyaNfBDaSXiFAY1-J7xWI2WZXglQSvjvHHYWeu_LxhQQiDm_tKn581jkf9w00KJAC_0UGDl9I-f9Kq9FFschqe3hIDZTgG6qc_NH4mW7XE4ACbnR/s400/MalcolmFisherEchidnaSpeaks1.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">"Echidna Speaks" is a small 'Waste to Art' sculpture which was a finalist in the 2016 Northern Beaches Art Prize. Made from salvaged, scavanged and discarded materials, it highlighted the threat to wildlife from the proposed Manly Vale School expansion. Rather than adopt the original concept design Dept of Education Planners wish to situate new premises on top of the school's outdoor education area. Fire regulations mean that habitat for 6 threatened species would have to be cleared for a huge fire break if this design proceeded. The sad scenario eventuated and several hectares of high quality remnant bushland was bulldozed and Manly Creek degraded by consequent siltation.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eI3njk9eG6ibPzccYN9hDlcBw5tHETKJMWqjiRTE6tycJS3F-HE6vJ_xFshArkXjoKnpw7NMDEcrXoEwaE9KnvlLqLRutyLK4gz5O3cJhc_MEGqHZcg3izzkrtyC9P45wtJajuchlDV9/s1600/MFImage1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3eI3njk9eG6ibPzccYN9hDlcBw5tHETKJMWqjiRTE6tycJS3F-HE6vJ_xFshArkXjoKnpw7NMDEcrXoEwaE9KnvlLqLRutyLK4gz5O3cJhc_MEGqHZcg3izzkrtyC9P45wtJajuchlDV9/s640/MFImage1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a photograph (using a macro lens) of some tiny mould spores on a gardening glove. It was one of five works chosen for display in the 'Four Elements Earth' exhibition in Nov 2016 (Northen Beaches Creative Space). The message here is that we tend to ignore the fragile beauty all around us whilst only valuing distant views. If people can really appreciate the small miracles in their surroundings..maybe they'll be more protective of nature??</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzwqtxEWW_1wt66zgy72IZKAy3pNRub89m718AVLCG5fhD2O5Z-Q2UtonP0m-IYVr8sU7zoyYmkoQYkXI4RIoUmho3DsTYySwKDo8blAOK8h1Qw4vn5dKMlssOBsajB61lF9O2-6rDGgB/s1600/016+%25282%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzwqtxEWW_1wt66zgy72IZKAy3pNRub89m718AVLCG5fhD2O5Z-Q2UtonP0m-IYVr8sU7zoyYmkoQYkXI4RIoUmho3DsTYySwKDo8blAOK8h1Qw4vn5dKMlssOBsajB61lF9O2-6rDGgB/s640/016+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">Another semi abstract image with an environmental message. This time the viewer has to piece together their own sentance from ellusive words scattered amidst the disembodied eyes. The gist is that the natural wealth of the world is being spruiked and sold off to "customers".</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57tnbiVHVFV0pE8TgmcGy7pzfpVEVZVRtx-QARI2UcEzD28yHDMblAmZUnIcVHg-AUC2Kwd43Y0z8k9EU2lDPKdGZ5e20IkGMCdlu1oLBmi5VQIkdutgEJIMODAUeJ5J3oZJhcArRsW3k/s1600/Cropped.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57tnbiVHVFV0pE8TgmcGy7pzfpVEVZVRtx-QARI2UcEzD28yHDMblAmZUnIcVHg-AUC2Kwd43Y0z8k9EU2lDPKdGZ5e20IkGMCdlu1oLBmi5VQIkdutgEJIMODAUeJ5J3oZJhcArRsW3k/s640/Cropped.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;">This piece is painted on aluminium and the design created using a sgraffito technique. It pays homage to indigenous art.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGvWvCJUhUUcciw-VKY1HoFlyspgZX44zfeWYgl3VsRTWpNalvO-Zeo55CwfQXFQAhYPfhyphenhyphen94v9dqBmOqla9WQA28rFhM-DtUREFQ700sWCDwoTrJAYtf3yRFKfvXrNCLa4nEOhWdDUFZ/s1600/MalcolmFisher+Future+Frog1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGvWvCJUhUUcciw-VKY1HoFlyspgZX44zfeWYgl3VsRTWpNalvO-Zeo55CwfQXFQAhYPfhyphenhyphen94v9dqBmOqla9WQA28rFhM-DtUREFQ700sWCDwoTrJAYtf3yRFKfvXrNCLa4nEOhWdDUFZ/s640/MalcolmFisher+Future+Frog1.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is a photograph (using a macro lens) of a brown striped marsh frog tadpole -filmed on top of a delicately decomposed leaf. My love of nature emanated from observing the teeming but largely unnoticed world within a backyard pond.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCnZjGFGQx7N5C_R1nac3BGR-RiXv04s2dXLmU6c2-3J3N7vQs2cRIgU-q9Y9Jdad31UWP1N6kPVxIZ4CpNwfsviTSUiFTtsq8UarWlbPIxNd413g3jJ_4O4zvbwVg3LJi2z5hJW06z0n/s1600/014.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCnZjGFGQx7N5C_R1nac3BGR-RiXv04s2dXLmU6c2-3J3N7vQs2cRIgU-q9Y9Jdad31UWP1N6kPVxIZ4CpNwfsviTSUiFTtsq8UarWlbPIxNd413g3jJ_4O4zvbwVg3LJi2z5hJW06z0n/s640/014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana;"><span face="verdana, sans-serif">This image is of frentetically interweaving tubes, worm or snake like structures...incredibly ..whilst I was painting it...I was visited 3 times by a real life green tree snake !! (see below)</span><br /></span>
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Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-1397126714271811822020-01-25T12:19:00.000+11:002020-01-25T04:28:56.340+11:00Re-Wilding A Sydney Backyard<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> When I first came to the Australia from the UK, I had
a fondness for the environment but knew virtually nothing about Australian
nature. Years later, when I moved from
inner city living into a suburban house with a backyard, something special
happened. Fascinating visitors such as Blue Tongue Lizards, Leaf Tailed Geckos
and Possums provided magical wildlife encounters and my conservation passion, long
suppressed, became reignited. As a result, when fragile bushland was threatened
by a development nearby, I joined an action group. And, when the local council
began planting native plants along a degraded creekline, I started to sit up
and take notice. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Discovering a baby 'southern leaf tailed gecko.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When the ‘windows of awareness’ gradually began to open up, I realised that I needed to acquire some knowledge of native plants and environmental weeds. I really wanted to plant some genuine natives...and <i>not </i>the hybrid ones with showy flowers
that you find in Bunnings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Later I discovered that, in Sydney, each suburb has
its own original suite of endemic native plants which are vital in supporting
local biodiversity For example there are nearly 1,000 wattles (Acacias) native
to this continent but only 7 were endemic to <i>my</i> area.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6IvGszxVyb3Mddfbx6BkMqmLSXfjwZpJqhgMj7A_2bSD5-_FmXmn_DFMbsWa8DxQAb2ep8wKmgiER05shdiXCFGL4FlgoTa6bUu45NHNuI6Hzl_sExkdBN6IwX6f1JMwTufbQElFlCB7/s1600/Acacia+Linifolia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6IvGszxVyb3Mddfbx6BkMqmLSXfjwZpJqhgMj7A_2bSD5-_FmXmn_DFMbsWa8DxQAb2ep8wKmgiER05shdiXCFGL4FlgoTa6bUu45NHNuI6Hzl_sExkdBN6IwX6f1JMwTufbQElFlCB7/s1600/Acacia+Linifolia.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">One of my 'local' wattles:- Acacia Linifolia</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It subsequently dawned on me that almost every garden in
my street had no indigenous plants at all. What was worse, many of the plant
species visible, such as Agapanthus, Cotoneaster and Privet. were invasive
weeds which spread into bushland reserves and actually caused harm. The irony
was, none of the local plant shops even sold species which belonged in the
area. To find them you had to travel to obscure specialist outlets or wait for
the occasional Council native plant ‘giveaway’. Something had gone horribly awry
in this city of Sydney. I realised that the original rich biodiversity had
largely been scraped off the face of the earth, just like the indigenous people
who once occupied this unique place. Meanwhile the current population seemed overwhelmingly
unaware and unconcerned.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Amazingly the Sydney area has more native plant
species than the whole of the UK, they have a subtle, fragile beauty and have
evolved both to live on the nutrient poor “Hawkesbury Sandstone” soils <i>and </i>adapt to climatic extremes. But try telling <i>that</i> to the gardening commentators in the media. Unfortunately, growing local natives is not
good business as it doesn’t profit multi-national fertiliser, pesticide or
horticulture interests.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeZ4miBMtdvhyphenhyphenZ0L48Hck8poDwM_cHKrLDw-mvuyxxqwJLaC4VIBQUGIYo-USdHPTthylCxRSEuXTjkuzOlZ9DUWI4rBHjdK7WSFokeO2MRQkK6EMgS39l7Kypdf4Qt-ocPZMt04wARa4/s1600/Manly+Dam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeZ4miBMtdvhyphenhyphenZ0L48Hck8poDwM_cHKrLDw-mvuyxxqwJLaC4VIBQUGIYo-USdHPTthylCxRSEuXTjkuzOlZ9DUWI4rBHjdK7WSFokeO2MRQkK6EMgS39l7Kypdf4Qt-ocPZMt04wARa4/s1600/Manly+Dam.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Local bushland:-genuine 'Hawkesbury Sandstone country.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I realised that my new philosophy was to do the polar
opposite of what the so called “Garden Gurus” were advocating. My plan was to remove all “foreign specimens”
that were not of habitat value for local wildlife. I would plant species that were endemic to my
area (trees, shrubs, groundcovers, grasses); identify any remnant natives and
carefully retain them; remove weeds by hand and commit to never using
commercial fertilizers, pesticides or fungicides. I might occasionally use a
weed killer made up of 99% white vinegar and 1% detergent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0IEnckD6MKAiql_NWwsM8ocyoiFGoui5XbmIqzoLkDsxvw6p9TclT901DP_jFL9H0Y7Q9Zs88liIfRwerGPdFZEUz6sDD24PGKHZhEvCTR2kTAAuvlI_LDyXJWnxx1ot0xgSSSgbGiL-/s1600/pictures+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0IEnckD6MKAiql_NWwsM8ocyoiFGoui5XbmIqzoLkDsxvw6p9TclT901DP_jFL9H0Y7Q9Zs88liIfRwerGPdFZEUz6sDD24PGKHZhEvCTR2kTAAuvlI_LDyXJWnxx1ot0xgSSSgbGiL-/s1600/pictures+009.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A fish pond was transformed into frog habitat featuring a self seeded. 'birds nest' fern.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Interestingly, my neighbours remember when my standard
“quarter acre” backyard contained only a solitary lemon tree (which was given a
stay of execution) and little else. But past decades have seen various
plantings and re-growth. The house was
built on remnant bushland in the 1920’s and since then suburbia has filled in
most of the remaining undisturbed natural areas in the neighbourhood. I often
think that what is now happening to the Amazon rainforest in terms of land
clearing, happened in this very place, not so long ago. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> At this stage I should recommend an excellent book
“Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney” By Les Robinson, which helped
guide my progress. This amazing work contains invaluable information on our
native flora including traditional Aboriginal uses for “bush tucker” and
medicine.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> My garden contained a large lawn area of Buffalo
grass, several Radiata Pines, a smattering of eclectic garden species and a few
natives. On the edge of the lawn there
was actually some naturally occurring native grass Microlaena Stipoedes, some
native Geranium (Geranium Homeanum) and some native Violets (Viola Hederacea)
plus some naturally occurring Commelina Cyanea (which was eaten by early European
pioneers to prevent Scurvy).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlxDHhEXz9eMmCG9nyt2Oa_2hKkjcfOHlY4sJdObNPb-byxUDOgMHPAIm1WF03W_EXiNEJ1cxVzXdt76HyYXGdiYI3EmHKwLsF01NzOo-cpNFp0jRDgQjVD5OVy24qoZsjTUmNJm0hH5v/s1600/Comelina+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlxDHhEXz9eMmCG9nyt2Oa_2hKkjcfOHlY4sJdObNPb-byxUDOgMHPAIm1WF03W_EXiNEJ1cxVzXdt76HyYXGdiYI3EmHKwLsF01NzOo-cpNFp0jRDgQjVD5OVy24qoZsjTUmNJm0hH5v/s1600/Comelina+2.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The native commelina..yes you can eat it !</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A few years beforehand I had followed the current
trend and planted a vegetable garden but I decided that even this had to go and it was ultimately
replaced by natural vegetation. Luckily
there is a fantastic <a href="http://www.organicfoodmarkets.com.au/">organic food market</a> nearby for delicious supplies and also a wonderful
<a href="http://www.manlyvalecommunitygarden.com/">community garden</a> if I get the urge to plant more veggies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It’s been a gradually transition but over a few years
a large area of lawn has been dug out and the native grass has gradually taken
over. A smaller area of Buffalo Grass was replaced with a groundcover called
Dichondra Repens.</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5Qw9zDXFcvitykMufR26DSGnsNdSSMlp3jnN_JWO270jRnp6QQCUUVl-wDxZr4h-Ltv_UuFKOCHkLBtCUTe8lEA7phMWqcw1_S19KRk-PBP-n491oShgIEJlcCTer-bS-QuxlRaiJuK3/s1600/Dichondra+Repens2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5Qw9zDXFcvitykMufR26DSGnsNdSSMlp3jnN_JWO270jRnp6QQCUUVl-wDxZr4h-Ltv_UuFKOCHkLBtCUTe8lEA7phMWqcw1_S19KRk-PBP-n491oShgIEJlcCTer-bS-QuxlRaiJuK3/s1600/Dichondra+Repens2.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">A native ground-cover has replaced my lawn</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I no longer have use for a lawn mower! Endemic species of
Grevillea, Hakea, Correa, Banksia, Persoonia, Angophora, Eucalptus, Bracken and Blady
Grass etc are growing well and providing food and habitat for wildlife. Additional accommodation has been provided in the form of various nesting boxes. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cD6d3U_4avJhVbomRbWIoduBzeKMS5ZB7yBaUH0x4PaF7DCm8Tf5s-sUQRq6Sz-_ZTVuqjmCAytOoBwuirgPRpzGHvGobW8GSzzQ1Z2X7GacoOzUZfhoDhcddI1sDS_ilOT7Rwsu6Zcy/s1600/hakea2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-cD6d3U_4avJhVbomRbWIoduBzeKMS5ZB7yBaUH0x4PaF7DCm8Tf5s-sUQRq6Sz-_ZTVuqjmCAytOoBwuirgPRpzGHvGobW8GSzzQ1Z2X7GacoOzUZfhoDhcddI1sDS_ilOT7Rwsu6Zcy/s1600/hakea2.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A Hakea in flower</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Insects such as Blue Banded Bees, Mud Dauber
wasps and Golden Orb spiders are proliferating.
A fish pond has been transformed into a frog habitat which has also
spawned an abundance of Spectacular Dragon Flies.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4MGdDpuw5LZz3At0sFXR45I_UsjvKOUBq7Bb8rnqj01XOjMWevmftpgYw28l8qkatnh6NZleOkJtOeEYwh4GHzopL0AlaLe1wZQ1NRPEd7qoyqDSdx5UnhdRM4JVfE6VPYMWNne_Wo9w/s1600/Golden+dragonfly1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4MGdDpuw5LZz3At0sFXR45I_UsjvKOUBq7Bb8rnqj01XOjMWevmftpgYw28l8qkatnh6NZleOkJtOeEYwh4GHzopL0AlaLe1wZQ1NRPEd7qoyqDSdx5UnhdRM4JVfE6VPYMWNne_Wo9w/s1600/Golden+dragonfly1.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A Golden Dragonfly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> A ban on toxic substances
means that butterflies and cicadas can fly around more safely. Caterpillars are
allowed to chomp away to their heart’s content. This type of garden requires
virtually no watering; falling leaves don’t have to be swept away (as they
provide natural mulch) and the local possums kindly provide their own brand of
proprietary fertilisers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> I have also converted the “nature strip” of foreign
grasses and weeds in the front of the house into a mini habitat area with
Lomandras, Dianellas and trees. (again, this is now a <i>mow free</i> zone).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EhkeVKLEEHx9alfBi-w8P9SIasYFpOznuohDDIKmcpXjP4EqWlBRRfL311ab9zDvUTi9Uq8MItMHB1-WQfeC9xAGy-kyDoDFgUsRy3dB_ntxSUEXHXhBNqRP3xVkMxzvliKssWoGJg5k/s1600/nature+strip3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EhkeVKLEEHx9alfBi-w8P9SIasYFpOznuohDDIKmcpXjP4EqWlBRRfL311ab9zDvUTi9Uq8MItMHB1-WQfeC9xAGy-kyDoDFgUsRy3dB_ntxSUEXHXhBNqRP3xVkMxzvliKssWoGJg5k/s1600/nature+strip3.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now it really is a 'Nature Strip'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"> American Gardener and Writer, Benjamin Vogt struck a chord
with me when he wrote this: - “</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">We need to stop gardening solely for ourselves
and see the incredible, beautiful, soul-magnifying existence that happens when
we open up our gardens to the rest of the local environment by using native
plants. We believe in giving to the needy and poor of our own species, and to
other causes near our hearts, why not the birds, insect pollinators and
amphibians in the gardens we supposedly cherish so much?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> As the years go by, the native garden
becomes more and more established and only occasional hand weeding is
needed. Additional species are
occasionally added from a recently established <a href="http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/play/community-nursery">community native plant nursery</a> where volunteers propagate tubestock with seed collected from nearby bushland
reserves. I sometimes try this myself with mixed results!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The “re-wilded” suburban backyard has
provided greater biodiversity, a better connection to nature and more enjoyment
whilst it has <i>removed </i>the time, cost,
and energy of mowing, fertilizing and “manicuring”. It’s
the ultimate “win win” gardening experience!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0VUykDgG7dfQ-LcyzG6lm_uGs8dJ6qbh8A_3tGY_3Y8W6cZ3djy_jV9rf2C_JcR2YhjKJmqPdjzy9SPFp_tDwRKj4uWmRtlVwT8-dkndJEaghdMzMJD3dszGoSS7OL5nv4U9BGOh6ViR/s1600/native+garden2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0VUykDgG7dfQ-LcyzG6lm_uGs8dJ6qbh8A_3tGY_3Y8W6cZ3djy_jV9rf2C_JcR2YhjKJmqPdjzy9SPFp_tDwRKj4uWmRtlVwT8-dkndJEaghdMzMJD3dszGoSS7OL5nv4U9BGOh6ViR/s1600/native+garden2.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The re-wilded native garden.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Check out the story by Robin Powell in the Sydney Morning Herald Spectrum pages </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><a href="http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/siren-song-of-backyard-wilderness-in-manly-vale-20140930-10o1iy.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">siren-song-of-backyard-wilderness-in-Manly-Vale-</a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> and have a look at her blog post on this garden</span><a href="http://robinpowell.com.au/2014/10/wilding-the-backyard/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">"Wilding the backyard"</a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><u>STOP PRESS</u></span></h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bandicoots, anecdotally were very very common in my suburb of Manly Vale. About 50 years ago they totally disapperared after residents persecuted them for digging up their manicured lawns in search of grubs, they were also heavily predated on by introduced foxes. Amazingly, all these years later they have reappeared (from God knows where) and are beginning to reestablish themselves. Below is one photographed in my "rewilded" Sydney backyard where they now forage and (I think) live.</span><br />
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Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-49849744106119779472020-01-25T07:09:00.001+11:002020-08-04T06:39:12.689+10:00Why have Aussies turned "chicken"?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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reckon our society is really learning to embrace and own the word “pathetic”
with energetic gusto. It's time to "man up" Australia. I mean, how
pitiful is it that people now buy specialised household insecticide for use <i>outside</i> their homes? Isn’t that where all the useful bees, butterflies
and beetles should be living unmolested?
Are we really so terrified of cockroaches and mosquitoes that we’re
prepared to consider everything else (including possibly ourselves) as
collateral damage? And what have ants
ever done to earn a reputation as public enemy number one? They’ve been
efficiently helping human beings tidy up their biscuit crumbs for thousands of
years, yet the amount of supermarket shelving devoted to seeking out and
destroying this perceived threat to national security </span></span></span><br />
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<font face="verdana"><span><span><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;">is staggering.</span></span></span>
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<span><span><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="verdana"> Don’t
even start me on spiders. So they have a
different number of legs to us...is that just cause to turn tough, boofy,
blokes into nervous, timorous, trembling fools at the mere sight of one? The fact that arachnids are loyal allies in
our chemical war against mosquitoes doesn’t seem to have won them any friends
at all. The truth is, that even the
demonised mosquito has a role to fill in the finely balanced workings of this
planet...they provide vital food to all the cute little frogs, birds and bats
that David Attenborough recruits for star billing in his TV charm offensives .</font></span></span></span></div>
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<font face="verdana"><span><span><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;"> Regretfully
David, few people seem to be getting the real gist of your message. We have
become, not just estranged from the natural world, but unnaturally afraid of
it. So, for example, instead of thinking of possums as miraculous wildlife
survivors in our urbanised environment, they are demonised for the inexcusable
crime of treading too heavily on our rooftops with their furry little feet!</span></span></span><span><span></span></span><span><span><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;"> It’s this disconnection that has eroded the
sense of stewardship that Australians once had for our richly diverse land. So
now, big open-cut mining projects can destroy whole forests with barely a
whimper, consideration for koala populations </span></span></span><span><span></span></span><span><span><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span><span><span><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;">runs
a poor second to development applications and the kangaroo, our national
symbol, is turned into cat food, with little complaint. </span></span></span><span><span></span></span>
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<span><span><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="verdana"> On
a broader scale..iconic places such as the Great Barrier Reef and the Kimberley
replete with endangered Aussie animals are being sacrificed to the resource
industry before our very eyes. So next
time you go to squash an insect...maybe you should ask yourself...”is this all
going to end in tears?”</font></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font face="verdana">Why have Aussies turned "chicken" ?</font></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font face="verdana"><br /></font></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font face="verdana"><br /></font></td></tr>
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<span><span><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;"><font face="verdana">Come on guys..stand up for nature! At least try and help save the Great Barrier Reef! <a href="http://fightforthereef.org.au/">Sign the petition.</a></font> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;">PS: no animal was harmed in the production of this blog. I advocate kindness towards chickens. </span></span></span></div>
Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-12058280045648167172018-01-08T07:01:00.000+11:002018-01-09T09:18:53.026+11:00This War Memorial Park Is Under Siege.<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> Manly
Warringah War Memorial Park is a living monument of national heritage listed bushland –a tribute to Australians who have served in times of war..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.39px;">The fragile mantle of rare biodiversity surrounds a body of water known as Manly Dam (originally acting as the water supply for the settlement of Manly). What makes it even more significant is that this beautiful and sacred place, rich also in Aboriginal heritage, is only 5 km's from central Sydney's concrete heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">At the
beginning of this century there was a momentous, but losing, struggle to save
some of the bushland catchment from being bulldozed for a housing development.
Check out a short video history here:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> Sadly...fifteen
years later the sanctity of this special area is again being threatened on four fronts .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>1/ </u></span><u style="font-size: x-large;">Primary School expansion threatens threatened species.</u></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The Department of Education has lodged a Development Application
with Warringah Council (now Northern Beaches Council) (<span style="background-color: #eeeeee;"><a href="https://eservices1.warringah.nsw.gov.au/ePlanning/live/public/XC.Track/SearchApplication.aspx?id=717239"><span style="color: blue;">View Documents Here</span></a> - </span>to build a new school in bushland behind the current Manly Vale school in Sunshine St. There are currently 400 plus students at the school..this would be expanded to over 1,000. The on-line documents show that the school's "footprint" would grow five fold and that 4.37 hectares would be "removed" primarily for Fire Asset Protection Zones. This bushland is a mixture of "Coastal Sandstone Heath Mallee, Sandstone Gully Forest and Sydney Sandstone Woodland and is rated <span style="color: red;">"very high" conservation
value</span> on Warringah Council maps). To comply with fire regulations the bushland would need to be cleared across the boundary
into the Manly Warringah War Memorial Park and also into Condover Reserve, these are both natural places which are much valued by the community. The online documents show amazingly that the Eastern Pygmy Possum </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">has been located on site (this unusual creature doesn't even appear as existing in the current Manly Warringah War Memorial Park Plan of Management!) The Dept of Education's environmental consultant (Kleinfelder) has listed 327 trees which are planned for 'removal' as part of the development. These include Blackbutts, Silvertop ash, Bloodwoods, Grey Gums, Sydney Peppermint, Stringybark..all the beautiful endemic species that make the McComb Hill escarpment so special. Of course innumerable smaller shrubs will also be cleared and, in the process, the unique biodiversity of the hilltop- which is re-emerging after ecological burns, will be trampled and lost. (Many native trees have already been removed around the current school building for fire safety purposes) Check out the <a href="https://eservices1.warringah.nsw.gov.au/ePlanning/live/Common/Output/LoadAppPropDoc.ashx?id=krjy5qkIIC0%253d">Final Species Impact Statement</a> from Klienfelder and the <a href="https://eservices1.warringah.nsw.gov.au/ePlanning/live/Common/Output/LoadAppPropDoc.ashx?id=eCei%252fEUany4%253d">response</a> from Warringah Council's Natural Environment Unit. Keinfelder's report notes that t</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">he majority of potential habitat for the Eastern Pygmy Possum in the study area is considered to be of "high
relative condition"</span>.<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It also notes that "No recovery plan has been prepared for this species. However, OEH is developing a targeted
strategy for this species under the Saving Our Species program. This species has been
assigned to the ‘landscape species management stream’ under the program as threats to this
species are generally at the landscape scale (e.g. habitat loss and degradation)." The report admits that "potential deaths of resident individuals could occur during vegetation clearing".</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Adult Eastern Pygmy Possum </span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In addition to this, at least four other endangered fauna species ( the Powerful Owl, the Eastern Bentwing Bat and the Grey Headed Flying Fox). Other iconic species animals such as Swamp Wallabies, Lace Monitors and Bandicoots also call this ridge-top location home. In fact surveys conducted (after a prescribed burn) have located 44 fauna species and 131 native plant species on site. Flora and Fauna Consultants, Total Earth Care conclude that </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">the
proposal is "likely to have a 'significant impact' on the following threatened species:</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Prostanthera marifolia </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Tetratheca glandulosa </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Pimelea curviflora var. curviflora </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Red-crowned Toadlet </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Southern Brown Bandicoot. The Consulting Company 'Kleinfelder' in its Preliminary Species Impact Statement remarks that the proposal would "contribute to ongoing incremental loss and degradation of habitat for (the listed endangered species) in the Warringah LGA". Importantly, Keinfelder's survey somehow failed to detect the presence of the Red Crowned Toadlet which is listed as "vulnerable" and has been recently recorded by others (more than once) in the "asset protection zone" and logged on the NSW Office of Environment <a href="http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/savingourspeciesapp/project.aspx?ProfileID=10692">website</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Check this link for rare and endangered animals in Warringah <a href="http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/environment/wildlife/rare-and-endangered-animals"><span style="color: blue;">going going....</span></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">(Australia has undergone an extraordinary rate of mammal </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;">fauna decline in the last 200 years, with over 10% of our </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;">endemic terrestrial species lost forever and a further 21% </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;">of fauna currently threatened. This is a stark comparison</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">to the world’s modern day extinction rate of 1.5%. </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;">28 Australian mammal species that have gone extinct </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;">since 1788</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The development plans also include substantial excavations for stormwater ponds, pipes and roads in a fragile catchment area that drains ultimately into Manly Creek via Mermaid Pool the site of an important ongoing restoration project<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://thegreenmanly.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/how-to-revive-mermaid.html">Mermaid Pool Restoration Blog</a> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kleinfelder’s
own SIS report details numerous other adverse effects that the proposed
development will have on this ecologically sensitive site:-</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sediment, pollutant and nutrient run-off; Soil
erosion, Habitat fragmentation/isolation; Altered hydrology regimes;Weed invasion; Introduction and spread of pathogens (e.g.
Dieback Fungus (Phytophthora) and Myrtle Rust (Uredo rangelii); Noise; Dust; Light pollution; and Increased human
activity adjacent to sensitive vegetation/habitat</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">.<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Their report also says that "</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">it is
assumed that <i>all</i> native vegetation within the proposed development site would be removed,
including <i>all </i>vegetation strata".</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">What makes this matter worse is that the community managed to save much of this same land in 1995 when a plan by Landcom to build a medium density housing project here was rejected and the land was ultimately incorporated into</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Manly Warringah War Memorial Park. This is in an area currently earmarked for the fire buffer zone clearing.<span style="color: #134f5c;"> </span></span></span><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.39px;"><i><span style="color: #134f5c;">Development across the site has the potential to also disturb Aboriginal cultural heritage items</span>.</i></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The irony is that this school was once designated as a NSW “Centre
of Excellence in Environmental Education”. Even their own designated "conservation" area is scheduled for destruction ! Despite this the school's website proclaims that "the school has maintained an ongoing commitment to environmental education which is integrated into daily life" Surely there is a better way to improve this facility without sacrificing an area of such high natural values! Why can't the school use their current building footprint and build<i> up</i> instead of <i>out</i>? </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-33.7839864,151.2597395,229m/data=!3m1!1e3">Google Map</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">[NB Apparently alternatives were
explored through a feasibility study: Manly Vale Public School Upgrade - Gateway Business
Case (2014). But this document is considered classified information and is not available for public view].</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is the environmental Education Bill as introduced by Dr Terry Metherall (NSW Liberal Government) in 1992</span> <a href="http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA19920320003?open&refNavID=HA8_1">Hansard</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.39px;">Below is a link to a short film clip and some images of the fragile bushland that borders the school grounds and Manly Warringah War Memorial Park.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>"<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3cagErz2BY">A Precious Place to Learn"..video.</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And below is another short video by David Sawyer which highlights the habitat values of the area.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4ep-7w6F6w"><b>"Wisdom Begins in Wonder"..video</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>On 29th March 2016.Warringah Council voted unanimously NOT to willingly agree to a request from the Department of Education to acquire crown land in Manly Warringah War Memorial Park and Condover Reserve to enable a massive fire break to be established. Mayor Michael Regan said this in the Manly Daily on2.4.16 " Manly Vale Public School desperately needs an upgrade and the precious bushland of Manly Dam War Memorial Park (sic) needs to be protected. I was proud of Councillors this week who unanimously voted to oppose the sale of 16,000 sqm of Manly Dam wildlife corridor to the Department of Education for its school redevelopment plans. But why did we have to fight in the first place? Why can't the Department of Education find a design for the school that preserves the environment? Surely an investment in good design now, would reap enormous benefits for all in the long term-including teachers and students. Councillors and I call on the Department to rethink its plans. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sadly moves to compulsorily acquire (and clear) land in Manly Dam Reserve and Condover Reserve are now proceeding.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>(Sept 2016) </b>After intense community and Council pressure the Department of Education is now modifying the plans and a new D.A. will be submitted soon. There are fears that the redesign will be of a minor and superficial nature. If the new school was built on the original footprint as was originally conceived, then the environmental destruction would be kept to a minimum. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>(Nov 2016) </b>I turns out that the modified plans will save only 0.35 hectares of bushland and will intensify the impact on the School's Outdoor Learning area. In fact new buildings will sit on top of the Eastern Pygmy Possum habitat ! Lobbying against this damaging proposal continues as we await a date for the Joint Regional Planning Panel review.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">(Dec 2016) </b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On 19.12.16<b> </b>at t</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">he Northern Beaches Council Chambers in Dee Why, the Sydney North Planning Panel ruled 3 to 2 in favour of the Department of Education's destructive expansion plan for Manly Vale School. There were 28 speakers against the proposal (inc Council Administrator, Dick Persson) and 3 speakers for. The wheels are now in motion for ongoing land clearing, tree felling and habitat destruction in this area of rich natural heritage.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><u><b>SHOCKING NEWS</b></u></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>(DEC 19th 2016)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The Sydney North Planning Panel (ina public meeting at Northern Beaches Council Chambers Dee Why)..voted 3-2 to <i>approve</i> the contentious Manly Vale School Development.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><u>SAD UPDATE</u></b></span>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>(Jan 2018)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>On 7th Sept 2017 (Threatened Species Day and World Outdoor Classroom Day)..developers moved in to clear the site. Rare biodiversity was bulldozed away, a frog filled pond was torn assunder, ancient grass trees (some over 200 years old) were removed. It is assumed that the small colony of Eastern Pygmy Possums are now locally extinct. Swamp Wallabies, displaced from their sanctuary have been found dead on local roads. One was located highly stressed in the centre of Manly. Much of the fragile McComb Hillside has been carted away in semi trailors. Later on this year, a huge swathe of the new Manly Vale Public School's woodland surrounds will be cut down for a massive fire break. </b></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisY-BfdSIjIN0V0w-iR0IIPNphOMDpeksYXRnUKN0fVq4cF2YY2yco0XnvFhSxMEu5j2BeX8zh-WHr_MCxIfPviKyjGZf2_geXeGFowcWAzxuebjS3HOiOgUewize_OeFOzes2tswKIdq/s1600/Dillwynia+Retorta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisY-BfdSIjIN0V0w-iR0IIPNphOMDpeksYXRnUKN0fVq4cF2YY2yco0XnvFhSxMEu5j2BeX8zh-WHr_MCxIfPviKyjGZf2_geXeGFowcWAzxuebjS3HOiOgUewize_OeFOzes2tswKIdq/s400/Dillwynia+Retorta.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dillwynia Retorta</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznawpgu8_ZbrK94ghTU1Nn0NiR0IUzWtmXHbtEZ0tIMGe49zmobD7pNplGq0MiNAwCIcOwtaZuhs1Mw3Iy6mqMj0jbkXxVa54Y0f9boO0H8SC-zpTn16U0cfkYeBNcCzIekHY23a82EAs/s1600/Epacris+Longiflora+2+%2528Native+Fuschia%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznawpgu8_ZbrK94ghTU1Nn0NiR0IUzWtmXHbtEZ0tIMGe49zmobD7pNplGq0MiNAwCIcOwtaZuhs1Mw3Iy6mqMj0jbkXxVa54Y0f9boO0H8SC-zpTn16U0cfkYeBNcCzIekHY23a82EAs/s400/Epacris+Longiflora+2+%2528Native+Fuschia%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Epacris Longiflora</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3GIDgVZCV3lqKbN9AbYGq_tP_Jg6tmY6Od4aJZxUpoE9iAp1fkXxgvhICxfP0EUdbYlLfhLxrQXblCIPQv32zC3dSMhOmMVhjc9IKZVaMvhlHtSJnWbkzGy5Ffc4yZFRiTPR85W8kjgT/s1600/Group+of+Xanthorrhoea+%2528Grass+Trees%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3GIDgVZCV3lqKbN9AbYGq_tP_Jg6tmY6Od4aJZxUpoE9iAp1fkXxgvhICxfP0EUdbYlLfhLxrQXblCIPQv32zC3dSMhOmMVhjc9IKZVaMvhlHtSJnWbkzGy5Ffc4yZFRiTPR85W8kjgT/s400/Group+of+Xanthorrhoea+%2528Grass+Trees%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Xanthorrhoea (Grass Trees)</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2toaBbpDt5UGLf2xYx6mX8Zfdk9ehjGTlareQNtfZQWiAi3ZDvIu5D3fCdQYeYMCykQ4uYU19A1zj0OG4YnAJ4t8VrauiXKXs-WKP9hxVWYJe_c9ZiA16961ROuBpbgOJ16GyyXUXQsi/s1600/Hardenbergia+Violacea+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2toaBbpDt5UGLf2xYx6mX8Zfdk9ehjGTlareQNtfZQWiAi3ZDvIu5D3fCdQYeYMCykQ4uYU19A1zj0OG4YnAJ4t8VrauiXKXs-WKP9hxVWYJe_c9ZiA16961ROuBpbgOJ16GyyXUXQsi/s400/Hardenbergia+Violacea+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hardenbergia</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuE-wJtTGRL8U_2AStl-e1QZd8aooQw7Mvy9geiHRx8jCwY0si55TOi8g0eCIN54Fs7XAwtiuRm6v7fWtkGahRqDNhW40c1Wzm-JN_dlPDGOqgtrpP70zb46ZZO-3rbphV2fxHv0jIgnJ/s1600/Lambertia+Formosa1%2528Mountain+Devil%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuE-wJtTGRL8U_2AStl-e1QZd8aooQw7Mvy9geiHRx8jCwY0si55TOi8g0eCIN54Fs7XAwtiuRm6v7fWtkGahRqDNhW40c1Wzm-JN_dlPDGOqgtrpP70zb46ZZO-3rbphV2fxHv0jIgnJ/s400/Lambertia+Formosa1%2528Mountain+Devil%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lambertia Formosa (Mountain Devil)</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjed4HUtk9S2Js6x4QrUz2IO_XUhCzGAPJ2xBbJZzrcskGJI059EDU_BrkgNBhqdRI4l4Qcr8sYmweWLzt-aUavarvMBFFn_bdXlvYBpUhEaF9asf-3cIBHCq5MvR5C3wfqPFntRUVnow/s1600/Lobelia+Dentata+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjed4HUtk9S2Js6x4QrUz2IO_XUhCzGAPJ2xBbJZzrcskGJI059EDU_BrkgNBhqdRI4l4Qcr8sYmweWLzt-aUavarvMBFFn_bdXlvYBpUhEaF9asf-3cIBHCq5MvR5C3wfqPFntRUVnow/s400/Lobelia+Dentata+5.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lobelia Dentata</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-IIFbh0MmcTR0wQhj_Z1_wueNiMBE05SB5_oHtkL3IecwoDkvMYwWjPzqHepjoaNu0OVk-X8D63L-5j0Bj9UiJkjsOtR2cX06ZHEJlF96c0DEVPT7BGYB9DhuCroioRwpYC4tDg5HQj_/s1600/Woollsia+pungens..JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-IIFbh0MmcTR0wQhj_Z1_wueNiMBE05SB5_oHtkL3IecwoDkvMYwWjPzqHepjoaNu0OVk-X8D63L-5j0Bj9UiJkjsOtR2cX06ZHEJlF96c0DEVPT7BGYB9DhuCroioRwpYC4tDg5HQj_/s400/Woollsia+pungens..JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Woollsia Pungens</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rpdjxqfwZr7KRn0rHrqdJiv7L819Ml_8epDtPa7bt7ObJu6AAlmS5tkCvlZ2xFgUogRCI51ez4XeJR2TMtDu_nUe-sMeSNHGb0t1rMw7ZaHmJuy5g2cXpoSan2wLuriMFbC6GeKg9Qzq/s1600/Rocky+Overhang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rpdjxqfwZr7KRn0rHrqdJiv7L819Ml_8epDtPa7bt7ObJu6AAlmS5tkCvlZ2xFgUogRCI51ez4XeJR2TMtDu_nUe-sMeSNHGb0t1rMw7ZaHmJuy5g2cXpoSan2wLuriMFbC6GeKg9Qzq/s400/Rocky+Overhang.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rocky Overhang</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianmZ_nZ90wQHuvCOH8HgboubyZv7fRQrV2qDUn1W_C0G3sEI4KneFNH-6rm7utP2avp0MoFrP6QJ2XGXBXIE9HL9CqegosKVEu9ZHuZu0QxzFhMpgbmBc39ti-ZiaZRojbSRwtUfbTMqB/s1600/Sundew+%2528Drosera+Spatulata%2529++Carniverous+plant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEianmZ_nZ90wQHuvCOH8HgboubyZv7fRQrV2qDUn1W_C0G3sEI4KneFNH-6rm7utP2avp0MoFrP6QJ2XGXBXIE9HL9CqegosKVEu9ZHuZu0QxzFhMpgbmBc39ti-ZiaZRojbSRwtUfbTMqB/s400/Sundew+%2528Drosera+Spatulata%2529++Carniverous+plant.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sundew (Drosera Binata) Carniverous Plant</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipw6W7nzs2V7lTUPy6-7JdUnzDV7Kk6Q-P0VRMYOFk6_Tn7Z51NNbRyHkJY17i4xfes4zctfmDFJ_o6I3-PhJmBh_rWc5XKQYD_GnoMJPPF2D15WcU5tGMwor8SqZxn7uaRw3b-3sFSoab/s1600/Xanthorrhoea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipw6W7nzs2V7lTUPy6-7JdUnzDV7Kk6Q-P0VRMYOFk6_Tn7Z51NNbRyHkJY17i4xfes4zctfmDFJ_o6I3-PhJmBh_rWc5XKQYD_GnoMJPPF2D15WcU5tGMwor8SqZxn7uaRw3b-3sFSoab/s400/Xanthorrhoea.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Xanthorrhoeas (Grass Trees)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1puaSsT31Eud4IRW4dfEnJt7n_h6UlGOXwtzFmzZYd7FIKCdbDhlHZLYUEZvXjG5K25WXDYLXRUY6QATF9ctPDbCFB1qUmtLc6h45-jpVKmaCPt1rJfPytGjIZAydsO2L0eUssDKITpA6/s1600/View+Across+Manly+Dam+%2528bushland+adjoining+Manly+Vale+School%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1puaSsT31Eud4IRW4dfEnJt7n_h6UlGOXwtzFmzZYd7FIKCdbDhlHZLYUEZvXjG5K25WXDYLXRUY6QATF9ctPDbCFB1qUmtLc6h45-jpVKmaCPt1rJfPytGjIZAydsO2L0eUssDKITpA6/s400/View+Across+Manly+Dam+%2528bushland+adjoining+Manly+Vale+School%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Views Looking West Across to Manly Dam<br />(Manly Warringah War Memorial Park)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>2/ Sydney Water land belongs in park</u></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> A parcel of Sydney Water bushland at Kirkwood St, Seaforth was deemed surplus to requirements and consequently advertised for sale and subsequent development. This former Crown land had inexplicably been zoned R2 (low density housing) by Warringah Council (despite being surrounded by the park on three sides. After a flurry of protests, the land has currently been withdrawn from auction. The community is asking the NSW Premier and the Minister for Land and Water to transfer this land for incorporation in the War Memorial Park. Below is the property as advertised by Blackleys Estate Agents:- </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 18.39px;"><a href="http://www.blackleys.com.au/properties/residential/Residential+Land-NSW-Seaforth-201174387" style="background-color: white;">http://www.blackleys.com.au/properties/residential/Residential+Land-NSW-Seaforth-201174387</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A newspaper article,31.5.16, reports that the sale of this land has been put on hold "indefinitely" .<a href="http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/northern-beaches/sydney-water-halts-seaforth-land-sale-after-negative-public-feedback/news-story/fd88d19f1aaecc60730990c288e11a87">Manly Daily </a> The community will continue to work towards ensuring that the land is encompassed within the War Memorial Park. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>3/ Will Council compromise the catchment?</u></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b> </b> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Warringah Council has (very questionably) withdrawn the entire Warringah Aquatic Centre precinct from the War Memorial Park Management Plan and has an elaborate 'Master Plan" to develop and commercialise the area. At this stage there seems to be no consideration of the fact that this land is at the top of the sensitive Manly Dam catchment and that expansive areas of rare vegetation would need to be cleared to comply with modern fire safety regulations. It is also believed that this is still technically Crown land, and therefore, outside the jurisdiction of council to sub lease it. Council has now concurred that a much needed environmental impact study needs to be instigated before further action is taken (surely the high conservation value of the area has already been well documented) More details here:-</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.39px;"><a href="http://yoursaywarringah.com.au/wacsitestrategy">http://yoursaywarringah.com.au/wacsitestrategy</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The new Northern Beaches Council is currently assessing tender submissions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This area is now being earmarked for Frenchs Forest school..which would mean more extensive land clearing for fire safety.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>4/ Massive New Roadways are Destroying Wildlife Corridors.</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Check out the plans for immense new freeways past the new French's Forest Hospital (which in itself has replaced a site of incredibly high ecological significance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/sydney-north/northern-beaches-hospital/northern-beaches-hospital-stage-2-eis-statement-overview-2015-07.pdf">Stage 2 Environmental Impact Statement.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another 6.1 hectares of bushland is earmarked to be flattened here, important wildlife corridors are being replaced by increased roadkill and the fragile Manly Dam Catchment will be exposed to increased siltation and stormwater pollution.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">View the <a href="https://majorprojects.affinitylive.com/public/6ccd91762adc317b46c60a98a7abcd19/11.%20Appendix%20E_Biodiversity.pdf">Biodiversity Assessment Report.</a></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Must the community have to continually strive to protect Manly Warringah War Memorial park from assault or can government step in and provide the long term conservation it deserves?</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Manly Warringah War Memorial Park is the largest single
area of bushland managed by a local council in Sydney’s northern beaches. It is
a valuable natural area for the protection of native flora and fauna. Linkages
to other reserves (both Council managed and National Parks) through bushland
corridors, provides an important genetic exchange and contributes to a more
sustainable biodiversity for the wider region. Its role in the region is unique
and its attributes are highly valued by the community and visitors to the Park.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(From MWWMP Plan of Management)</span></i></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Check out this Guardian article on <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/09/threatened-australian-wildlife-at-grave-risk-from-habitat-loss-study-finds"><span style="color: blue;">habitat loss and extinction</span></a></span></i></span><br />
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Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-70085481058705112012017-01-01T16:00:00.000+11:002018-01-31T07:27:31.261+11:00Beautiful Sydney has such an ugly secret.<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p>In scenic Sydney we’re lucky to have quite a few patches of “urban
bushland” dotted around the traps that have been mercifully
spared from the bulldozers.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkjCacR2ekPutHu-FTvAiXIK24wzinPdis5Uyph8brxKkSe6IwN1-laIdDx8cEBsFXQoT0pnANfSlbhyphenhyphensTJM2GigKOXoG_fhH78PIgZro-KaH8tVXMK-2ml33BTkTzOV55AFnHrsUsfav/s1600/pictures+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkjCacR2ekPutHu-FTvAiXIK24wzinPdis5Uyph8brxKkSe6IwN1-laIdDx8cEBsFXQoT0pnANfSlbhyphenhyphensTJM2GigKOXoG_fhH78PIgZro-KaH8tVXMK-2ml33BTkTzOV55AFnHrsUsfav/s1600/pictures+036.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Unblemished Sydney bushland</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The sad truth though, is that most of these remnants are
being smothered by introduced invasive weeds, used as convenient dumpsites and
are fast losing their (once) amazing biodiversity.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUV5pk2gtaG6MQVgir8y4W8C7Ugd9jYU20ctHFnVZLTWqEP0DJ23PAMGF6tEO8Q7zNQPgfhjZ6QpaI31b8-wOpwPHVghRiHisCICXHL-waw-HamLwf0eCxO4ltcgbNjCXzQgZavBvP_RSj/s1600/pictures+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUV5pk2gtaG6MQVgir8y4W8C7Ugd9jYU20ctHFnVZLTWqEP0DJ23PAMGF6tEO8Q7zNQPgfhjZ6QpaI31b8-wOpwPHVghRiHisCICXHL-waw-HamLwf0eCxO4ltcgbNjCXzQgZavBvP_RSj/s1600/pictures+027.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This ancient Banksia has been smothered to death by introduced weeds</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Just look along the fence lines of properties backing onto
bushland and you’ll discover, almost universally, the same story, a total
disconnection <i>from</i> and lack of
respect<i> for </i>the natural vegetation.
Sydney homeowners invariably seem to grow plant species that “escape” from
their gardens into the bush </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(such as Agapanthus)</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> and “out compete” the fragile natives. They also turn a blind eye to (and neglect to tackle) destructive
weeds such as Morning Glory, Lantana, Ginger Lily and Privet that thrive on the
fertilizers washed out of their flower beds.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgX-kVgVuo5PzheSMkxNCKQLzmhxsCnjfQqBeG30PLAft5axBw9hRQdxYLAbnp3FxahKlvylSnHyW5gxd63MZ7hfsW_sQUfgJ5WjNkQ3u0rkVLE2HW55JqyLDzgViJXTHNsRUu1QOohSY/s1600/pictures+048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEgX-kVgVuo5PzheSMkxNCKQLzmhxsCnjfQqBeG30PLAft5axBw9hRQdxYLAbnp3FxahKlvylSnHyW5gxd63MZ7hfsW_sQUfgJ5WjNkQ3u0rkVLE2HW55JqyLDzgViJXTHNsRUu1QOohSY/s1600/pictures+048.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ginger Lily, Fishbone Fern and Morning Glory will totally replace fragile native plants.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> To compound this problem they tend
to think that it’s their god given right to hurl garden clippings, unwanted
bricks and scrap metal into the bush, providing species of unwanted weeds from
around the globe, a perfect springboard to assault our fragile native flora.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4ZHz24Y77GoXcsSfHAhJGNB_MDggPFA4YDEGG5o9sdhypiIIG31hqAF3dvEn2hmqBFsJgrRT5G6NfxOnLHnirdl_Y0911eTdDq7WE9IygfDewSqrWrRWPMqiY_ZTbk8geh-lSMaMeKZz/s1600/Agapanthus+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4ZHz24Y77GoXcsSfHAhJGNB_MDggPFA4YDEGG5o9sdhypiIIG31hqAF3dvEn2hmqBFsJgrRT5G6NfxOnLHnirdl_Y0911eTdDq7WE9IygfDewSqrWrRWPMqiY_ZTbk8geh-lSMaMeKZz/s1600/Agapanthus+2.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Almost <i>everyone </i>grows this same boring weed species called Agapanthus</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The upshot is that Sydney
bushland, far from being the richly diverse “larder” that sustained indigenous
peoples for millennia, or the wondrous spectacle that would have greeted
Captain Cook and his crew, is fast disappearing before our very eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MrN1SiwZdTHVx9Khyphenhyphenxjojr6xYFHTOSkOO0BD9DvVmFjSVQmnqiJbpxB1qit_jcgwlKJRxsaXvnVT_081mtBPtahBPj_TdnyPREh5fY08x10k6ybICJFB1K1pLuwpyHZcEYjL9ndo9PRq/s1600/weeds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MrN1SiwZdTHVx9Khyphenhyphenxjojr6xYFHTOSkOO0BD9DvVmFjSVQmnqiJbpxB1qit_jcgwlKJRxsaXvnVT_081mtBPtahBPj_TdnyPREh5fY08x10k6ybICJFB1K1pLuwpyHZcEYjL9ndo9PRq/s1600/weeds.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A typical Sydney fenceline..the yellow (Senna) and blue (Morning Glory) are strangling the bushland.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Worryingly,
virtually no one living next to bushland appears to have any knowledge of what’s
happening, very few are inclined to
retain or grow endemic native plants on their land, are bothered to remove weed
species or express concern at the disturbing rate of land degradation (apart
from isolated “Bushcare” groups).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Indeed, almost the only
interaction between residents and bushland is the increasingly popular practice of poisoning surviving Eucalyptus trees to enhance views. Some people also
have a habit of moving into bushland suburbs for the natural beauty values only
to then complain about the fire risks and lobby for greater “hazard reduction”
zones.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> There is an incredible
amount of ignorance in the community about native flora and fauna, so most
residents would fail to distinguish between native plants and the introduced
species that are fast replacing them. If the trend continues, our natural areas
will just become one big weedy desert. As a consequence the birds, animals and
insects that relay on native plants for their food source, will vanish too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_G6AMiqiGRZfHTMWZaaw5HwsCWmvy3Gul21FALprYt0vAM9MB_CSvL9Q7iDgipGF_pij_kTm5MU0fLNYaAlGgiCQGG3k55V9UpZK_XGskkLVtVp1yJfJGwO5PTxu9WFb5h59K_J9rVMtT/s1600/Water+Dragon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_G6AMiqiGRZfHTMWZaaw5HwsCWmvy3Gul21FALprYt0vAM9MB_CSvL9Q7iDgipGF_pij_kTm5MU0fLNYaAlGgiCQGG3k55V9UpZK_XGskkLVtVp1yJfJGwO5PTxu9WFb5h59K_J9rVMtT/s1600/Water+Dragon.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">When native plants disappear, so does most biodiversity</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> So what’s the
solution? Residents whose houses back
onto bushland, should be encouraged to learn more about their “duty of care”,
prompted to remove invasive plants species from their gardens and fined for
doing the “wrong thing”. Councils and government should be much more proactive
in regards to community education (as should our schools). According to the
Australian Conservation Foundation, people today recognise less than 10 plant
species but more than a thousand corporate logos.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Australia these days is populated by people from around the
world. Not surprisingly, most have little understanding or awareness of this
nation’s natural heritage and many have an unnatural fear of this continent’s
nature. I believe new citizens should have to learn not just about the nation’s
history but about its natural history.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It doesn’t help that
TV “gardening” shows totally ignore the
plants that grow naturally in this country and concentrate on promoting only
exotic hybrids and cultivars. Who is going to protest the loss of something
that the community doesn’t even realise is going? The reality is that it would
take a massive capital expenditure to substantially and professionally restore
areas of degraded bushland plus a political will that just doesn’t exist ( most
current rehabilitation programs are small scale and cosmetic).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KU64SPY-tpUUOXeuHBbfgAH1y36z7lJ1k_Qh9HrBg_QTuqK1fTOOGDng-qUmgz3ZXb-rWGJPg0VzTPVy7lSDFXmsMt7lce0XybYp2rvToVxeQ5d3fE5kX4O7c4C5bXvLLgW-lryC9LMg/s1600/Beronias.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KU64SPY-tpUUOXeuHBbfgAH1y36z7lJ1k_Qh9HrBg_QTuqK1fTOOGDng-qUmgz3ZXb-rWGJPg0VzTPVy7lSDFXmsMt7lce0XybYp2rvToVxeQ5d3fE5kX4O7c4C5bXvLLgW-lryC9LMg/s1600/Beronias.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gardening "experts" will never tell you about native Boronias!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> The trouble is, once
you possess the knowledge that urban bushland is in deep crisis, a walk in your
local reserve will never be quite the joyful experience that it once was.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> In a society that puts such a high premium on beauty and
good looks...where did it all go so horribly wrong?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIF6tO6Lu6x_Ybkj63W1q1cQwvrni8wwWjqbJwjS2td694J3lbX2FioIlXQQ49A0m0ocnsmePAkRkRgbFm6CHcF5Tz3k3ZauPu2f1uxZkxAN0FNUivRZ_u4dGkCoHssSED1U-N1B-5ymCg/s1600/Morning+Glory2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIF6tO6Lu6x_Ybkj63W1q1cQwvrni8wwWjqbJwjS2td694J3lbX2FioIlXQQ49A0m0ocnsmePAkRkRgbFm6CHcF5Tz3k3ZauPu2f1uxZkxAN0FNUivRZ_u4dGkCoHssSED1U-N1B-5ymCg/s1600/Morning+Glory2.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fancy a walk amongst the weeds??</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Check out this other
blog post if you are interested in <a href="http://thegreenmanly.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/re-wilding-sydney-backyard.html">"Re-wilding" your backyard</a></span></div>
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<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUAVHqu9cqng7V4gWBp9LrKe9xqVpaeYBwgMJ1mB45YshFddo4ayurw21FYsg4sbiUywWFf1wYB_1_1NBe9Xh7bbkj7MtXONwrduOXZZV3iu4HRIQkjjuIfbbrqIb2DrdykgtLCYOKnsv/s1600/pictures+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUAVHqu9cqng7V4gWBp9LrKe9xqVpaeYBwgMJ1mB45YshFddo4ayurw21FYsg4sbiUywWFf1wYB_1_1NBe9Xh7bbkj7MtXONwrduOXZZV3iu4HRIQkjjuIfbbrqIb2DrdykgtLCYOKnsv/s1600/pictures+046.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">A few community members <i>have </i>seen the light and are caring for</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">remnant bushland.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-1998771178572194922017-01-01T15:22:00.000+11:002017-06-19T07:58:04.555+10:00Weed better talk about this issue...<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Believe
me, for most of my life I thought weed was either something you smoked or kicked sand in the face of. If you’d told me years ago that I would develop a
malevolent dislike for the plural of weed, I would have thought you were off
your trolley, barmy, nuts, crazy, absolutely stark raving, stonking mad. But then
I suppose I went “troppo”, ended up living in the suburbs of Sydney, and
discovered the awful harm these pernicious things actually did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be fair, I was raised in the English
Midlands where weeds were harmlessly insignificant and there was so little
genuine nature left, that <i>they</i> were almost as good as it got.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve since learned that around 80% of
Britain’s flora is not endemic. </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Fast
forward to life in the burgeoning metropolis of Sydney, which is still blessed to have
pockets of native vegetation interspersed with suburbia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here you’ll find incredible plant
biodiversity and species that have survived from the time of the Gondwana
super-continent, learning to adapt and evolve to dry, hot, arid conditions and
nutrient poor soils and fire. You’ll also find lots and lots of weeds. These
are not weedy weeds though...they’re aggressive super-sized marauders on a
testosterone fueled rampage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yes,
like just about everything else that’s bad in this wonderful continent...the
ignorant, thoughtless, careless colonialists and their progeny are to blame.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It
all started with the first British settlers wanting to plant reminders of
“home” at every given opportunity and it continues to this day with the
horticultural industry still bringing in new profit-making varieties from
overseas. Every single one is a potential weed.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Weed
management<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>actually costs the Australian
economy around $4 billion annually,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>weeds represent, the second greatest threat to biodiversity after land
clearing and almost half of Australia's 220 declared noxious weeds were
introduced deliberately, one third of these as garden ornamentals. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People still prefer to plant “exotics” rather
than their own native species and chances are these will invade the bushland
and outgrow, overwhelm and displace the flora that was there
originally, especially when boosted by the steroid effect of high nutrients
provided by garden fertilizers and urban run-off. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you love nature, it is pretty hard to
witness the demise of high diversity bushland as it gets swamped, smothered and
eventually killed off by a suite of foreign invaders. These are some of the
most prominent rogue species on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. If they exist in
your garden, please get rid!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Asparagus
Fern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This menace is from South Africa
and like many other weeds..its seeds are spread by birds that eat the red
berries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can offer see this as a feature
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJk2yzkkpVHf0Bb3TUbSXohWa9EIqbtzzfbcj05iA8eiWDe_3WI6BHNuadC6i1TSlIEGXXDcq1BXwqSGu9Bz6F6BirmZZXKyO3JWicdBa7X-7Hc_svJjBsdtkgRY3nFH0F_WjPFMPYe_m/s1600/lantana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJk2yzkkpVHf0Bb3TUbSXohWa9EIqbtzzfbcj05iA8eiWDe_3WI6BHNuadC6i1TSlIEGXXDcq1BXwqSGu9Bz6F6BirmZZXKyO3JWicdBa7X-7Hc_svJjBsdtkgRY3nFH0F_WjPFMPYe_m/s400/lantana.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Lantana.
This native of Central and South America was brought to Australia in around
1840 as a garden ornamental. It has now invaded around 4 million hectares and
graziers spend over 17 million dollars per annum trying to control it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(NB in heavily denuded areas it is often the
last refuge for small birds so caution is advised before hurried removal).
Lantana has been cultivated for well over 300 years and has hundreds of
hybrids. It has been nominated as among the top hundred world’s worst invaders.
It is thought that the original un-hybridised version no longer exists in nature.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YndCI_TouZ1jPWlotMmLLXqEWLXnJjPoqWm8GE_0kL9AX0ZklHPGOUz51BGPA3eu2nIY3DhubwsbkiwvdzXmJ-uEy6yc-vjo8ysijJKsyCv2CkpZXMQJ5boeUdN1R0nCpvnVKc4wCqG6/s1600/Cotoneaster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YndCI_TouZ1jPWlotMmLLXqEWLXnJjPoqWm8GE_0kL9AX0ZklHPGOUz51BGPA3eu2nIY3DhubwsbkiwvdzXmJ-uEy6yc-vjo8ysijJKsyCv2CkpZXMQJ5boeUdN1R0nCpvnVKc4wCqG6/s400/Cotoneaster.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cotoneaster.
This is another weed from China which is highly invasive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a common garden plant which escapes
into the bush and also acts as a food source for feral bird species.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQPFpNCsd3LAo9GxILeiFUFHXN9fQjhuwBPyVQR9ACPSaa5wQtgevso-wPfWc7b3qHReS_pEAU3PovYArZdn9L1CcVDfDXd_2bf8vAZAtUUDPADqzoo3NNUYXXpXwIZZliJxQIHRwKYe0/s1600/Senna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQPFpNCsd3LAo9GxILeiFUFHXN9fQjhuwBPyVQR9ACPSaa5wQtgevso-wPfWc7b3qHReS_pEAU3PovYArZdn9L1CcVDfDXd_2bf8vAZAtUUDPADqzoo3NNUYXXpXwIZZliJxQIHRwKYe0/s400/Senna.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Senna/Cassia<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is another nasty piece of work from South
America which was imported here as a garden plant..It is very invasive and
thrives in all conditions.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXABHddRfFZMVGwjLzmc2ON8DRKED-RwBT0a1DnIlGWsJ7H7Aub4Z_zDq1787WdrStY3uzUADN2KdJAVvJvFRrpx852OWEim2F3hJ6AWEmfauHKTxoLW4i8MTGkMijcJll3_OXb51hqf7Z/s1600/Morning+Glory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXABHddRfFZMVGwjLzmc2ON8DRKED-RwBT0a1DnIlGWsJ7H7Aub4Z_zDq1787WdrStY3uzUADN2KdJAVvJvFRrpx852OWEim2F3hJ6AWEmfauHKTxoLW4i8MTGkMijcJll3_OXb51hqf7Z/s400/Morning+Glory.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Morning
Glory This is another ostensibly “pretty” garden plant but once it gets into
the bush it can be a nightmare to remove. A native of China, it was used for
medicinal purposes due to the laxative properties of its seeds.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunkrBj0m4ccbRrRH03YqVFBKN6M6lSjePnKud113SDYON5_XUwOi1CWKmxHh8tJzHnr2V_H0tNe1Qb9wHvGkitfAnUnlXipLBqwWMjdLcGDE44gGDoHqblWX0crKPMp0j7wzIZtlKfBYh/s1600/Ochna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunkrBj0m4ccbRrRH03YqVFBKN6M6lSjePnKud113SDYON5_XUwOi1CWKmxHh8tJzHnr2V_H0tNe1Qb9wHvGkitfAnUnlXipLBqwWMjdLcGDE44gGDoHqblWX0crKPMp0j7wzIZtlKfBYh/s400/Ochna.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ochna
is a native of South Africa with bright yellow flowers. It is also known as the
Mickey Mouse Bush due to the plant’s red sepals and black seed which has a
passing resemblance to the Disney character. Another rampant invader of our
bushland.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYDoY2Puc72nvIqrJZiiwqrZY-H1xn7Ks_rVIOHBSEKPjJziutimcliA9TbKlKybDkKVfkzJm_9e3brq2UiQy6RrUCA8EEHjbN1SQPNWL2YlXREeatRJDuvwhOhN7zPaS9TcRKSy7iWuT/s1600/Privet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYDoY2Puc72nvIqrJZiiwqrZY-H1xn7Ks_rVIOHBSEKPjJziutimcliA9TbKlKybDkKVfkzJm_9e3brq2UiQy6RrUCA8EEHjbN1SQPNWL2YlXREeatRJDuvwhOhN7zPaS9TcRKSy7iWuT/s400/Privet.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Privet. As a child in
Birmingham UK, we had massive privet hedges in our garden which were sculpted
and lovingly preened. Little did I know that in later years I would be
frantically cutting these plants down. In Australia, their black fruits are
greedily consumed by birds which collaborate in spreading this pest deep into
fragile bushland where it grows rampantly. There are small-leaf and broad-leaf
varieties native to Eastern Asia and European privet which is native to
Southern Europe and Northern Africa.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9fcxqNOLeOMKpnAN3yMRM7TIK8OhkmwToo4aSXIH14CkAuX8O5pjMeNbZnOPJAgN2LCU3-Q9t7gfWMmFhRYKiTG7PCJINoKiGNQ5TFZmV1FVvIMvkg9UDj41mT8wGzwnCvXC0rb6DKwp/s1600/Pittosporum2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9fcxqNOLeOMKpnAN3yMRM7TIK8OhkmwToo4aSXIH14CkAuX8O5pjMeNbZnOPJAgN2LCU3-Q9t7gfWMmFhRYKiTG7PCJINoKiGNQ5TFZmV1FVvIMvkg9UDj41mT8wGzwnCvXC0rb6DKwp/s400/Pittosporum2.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Pittosporum
Undulatum (Sweet Pittosporum). This is a weird one as it is actually a native
plant that has gone feral and is now out-competing other species and shading
them out. It has done especially well in soils that have been modified by
humans and takes advantage of high nutrient levels.</span></span></td></tr>
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</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For help identifying weeds of the Sydney region click here <a href="http://www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weedident.cgi?tpl=region.tpl&state=nsw&region=sb">weed I.D.</a></span></span></div>
Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-10700265200153998652015-06-14T14:04:00.000+10:002015-06-14T06:48:38.610+10:00A "vision splendid" for Manly Creek<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Manly
Creek is a small waterway on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. It was traversed and explored by Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788
but was obviously significant to the indigenous community for many thousands of
years prior.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">At
one end of Manly Creek you’ll find the beautiful bush-lined Manly Reservoir
(the very last body of freshwater in Sydney where the water is still clean
enough to swim). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5q8sCZzntoU6zWVFnMtL1slg3FirkGuF8lddNCpp0gCrK2TRMr7WulnqY3zK-ngO9OZ0qytEGTEBPblYNhGlV8uFRWwMRYKi1MPXjUfw1mUKMpqt1-UwpNEFmpmWOIGjqhP1EukxB4Ch/s1600/Manly+Dam1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5q8sCZzntoU6zWVFnMtL1slg3FirkGuF8lddNCpp0gCrK2TRMr7WulnqY3zK-ngO9OZ0qytEGTEBPblYNhGlV8uFRWwMRYKi1MPXjUfw1mUKMpqt1-UwpNEFmpmWOIGjqhP1EukxB4Ch/s1600/Manly+Dam1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Manly Reservoir </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">At the other end, adjacent to the glorious surfing beach at
Queenscliff, is Manly Lagoon, renowned for being the most polluted lagoon on the
eastern seaboard of Australia. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCB1yyOhvLkRclGRb-JCswospp8jvDFuMQ4ZeaZ2wohI8W-aCnxB3W05tnd2zhuRYU-6lNzPy-X0akkHDasIg4eVmmn9FtEWplsOpfpm9qppBuoT_laCmanSZeUDs8QJJEAYYRoBV9S91/s1600/fishz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCB1yyOhvLkRclGRb-JCswospp8jvDFuMQ4ZeaZ2wohI8W-aCnxB3W05tnd2zhuRYU-6lNzPy-X0akkHDasIg4eVmmn9FtEWplsOpfpm9qppBuoT_laCmanSZeUDs8QJJEAYYRoBV9S91/s1600/fishz.JPG" width="416" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Manly Lagoon Mass Fish Kill from Herbicide Spill 2001</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> So
let’s take a quick journey along this 3 kilometer stretch of creek and do it
with a mission...to save the pockets of important remnant bushland, connect
them into a wildlife corridor and try to ensure that the waterway itself is
conserved as an important sanctuary for native fish and waterbirds.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The
creek itself was rudely interrupted in 1892 when a concrete dam was built
across it to ensure that the settlement of Manly had a reliable source of
water. These days the waterway relies on leaks in the structure (or scheduled
releases from the dam) for its sporadic flow. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGINCJOENXG7SzvUKC5EhpEpa8RhNtJ3XU0jZUQJaLXTpGFkpZGOsd2-3pWLn6nyw0DAWEPrp454462lBFMpwVpzCxoS0MnkoOzqURm0WGZGcsj72PCtAqzK7hQWJXF4asq4Ts1TfW2EMu/s1600/Manly+Dam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGINCJOENXG7SzvUKC5EhpEpa8RhNtJ3XU0jZUQJaLXTpGFkpZGOsd2-3pWLn6nyw0DAWEPrp454462lBFMpwVpzCxoS0MnkoOzqURm0WGZGcsj72PCtAqzK7hQWJXF4asq4Ts1TfW2EMu/s1600/Manly+Dam.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Manly Dam</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Immediately
abutting the heritage listed dam is a small section of land owned by Sydney
Water . The creek then flows through the facilities of Manly Hydraulics Lab and
the UNSW Water Research Lab. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Because this area is fenced off and
fairly secluded, the areas of native vegetation are of good quality (swamp
wallabies, bandicoots and goannas have been spotted here!). Some work has
also been conducted to tackle the problem of invasive weeds which are the
scourge of remnant bushland.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<u1:p></u1:p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOl4Km1fj17CfXLgQi27BS9QdXxpsVJasQ6V4AkBSeczZTU1bBWIQ8Slvf0JnB1lrxUBt1K4KNdLhoI76TtooLd9tBfErt1-C5EofqvkkMkXJBAOqlyLSTuxEdN-rLPlXwxBHep2V7ezv/s1600/bush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOl4Km1fj17CfXLgQi27BS9QdXxpsVJasQ6V4AkBSeczZTU1bBWIQ8Slvf0JnB1lrxUBt1K4KNdLhoI76TtooLd9tBfErt1-C5EofqvkkMkXJBAOqlyLSTuxEdN-rLPlXwxBHep2V7ezv/s1600/bush.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fenced off section of good bushland on Sydney Water Land</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT_J0u5ddf3wfs5UCuOTIKTYwUpt8_pJf-iuEtVcjXNFXMp1dp1R4e7JQHkbzXp1sR5wsoR1JpbpG_5iA3LbiiX6TbenlNZv4TrZ3zlpcjajUxTX6mQ3mNxDEoVwyionDbKCiiF9Ac4Jc/s1600/Goanna+vs+Rabbit+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT_J0u5ddf3wfs5UCuOTIKTYwUpt8_pJf-iuEtVcjXNFXMp1dp1R4e7JQHkbzXp1sR5wsoR1JpbpG_5iA3LbiiX6TbenlNZv4TrZ3zlpcjajUxTX6mQ3mNxDEoVwyionDbKCiiF9Ac4Jc/s1600/Goanna+vs+Rabbit+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Image of Lace Monitor (Goanna) eating a rabbit </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(courtesy UNSW Water research Lab)</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There
is a small pool of water on the creekline within the university grounds</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDezI73mU_t7yO-KlErl3Z2sji8UyfUUjGcFo9UKO8IJIgaj_zZpMrJxMIEgYtRAu_KExXEcgIKS6hVDkfQ8gsXhFtiqBlctAAl4eSc8fv_vK84mlB9uALFHIlTF0FZZFm1BWhJknLI4fT/s1600/mini+mermaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDezI73mU_t7yO-KlErl3Z2sji8UyfUUjGcFo9UKO8IJIgaj_zZpMrJxMIEgYtRAu_KExXEcgIKS6hVDkfQ8gsXhFtiqBlctAAl4eSc8fv_vK84mlB9uALFHIlTF0FZZFm1BWhJknLI4fT/s1600/mini+mermaid.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Mini Mermaid Pool</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">... and the
larger “Mermaid Pool” and waterfall is just downstream from here.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhC_W8i0OSy3ZMI7LEbGl0gjBXwrW1kZGIbOkn_uSCzUFfreeJ-hHG242usV3cOB14vm72dn21x1maWIlhEXAklhpiW6F71P32XGnEa8RNQ-d_ymzwQnvXJrG9_ntipjvAs90rMmcqAhYe/s1600/MERMAID+POOL+27AUG2011+(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhC_W8i0OSy3ZMI7LEbGl0gjBXwrW1kZGIbOkn_uSCzUFfreeJ-hHG242usV3cOB14vm72dn21x1maWIlhEXAklhpiW6F71P32XGnEa8RNQ-d_ymzwQnvXJrG9_ntipjvAs90rMmcqAhYe/s1600/MERMAID+POOL+27AUG2011+(5).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The larger (and more famous) of the "Mermaid Pools" </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">Mermaid Pool sadly became a dumpsite in the
years since the area became part of Sydney’s suburbia but more happily in
recent years it has been lovingly restored thanks to the “Return of the
Mermaids” project. Read the full story
here:-</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://thegreenmanly.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/how-to-revive-mermaid.html">Everything you need to know about restoring Mermaid Pool</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mermaid Pool falls within the far western boundary of Warringah's District Park which is currently being assessed for a new Plan Of Management. District Park encompasses a number of playing fields and a golf course as well as this section of creek line. Submissions to a discussion paper were canvassed and received but unfortunately the "vision" to include unreserved areas of crown land in the District Park precinct have so far not registered. Submissions are now being received for a "Draft Plan of Management <a href="http://yoursaywarringah.com.au/districtparkpom">District Park Draft Plan of Management.</a> (comments close 14th July 2015).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately the District park boundaries tend to hug the
creek-line fairly closely in this section (especially on the northern side)
leaving much of the remnant bushland outside the boundaries.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVTo4vVWRwtiGUzeCJSyyjv7f6yGcz86vqOjihuvEUV-RZcbawvpaVHr7R3BaOlDhqoEnHewYqmv2fJLln2rlGdWGjasZ7wYY4TXrYFFtyzKN5dzx6pWuV_VBE97_QUFCktrzuLs6mQzD/s1600/mermaidpoolnow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVTo4vVWRwtiGUzeCJSyyjv7f6yGcz86vqOjihuvEUV-RZcbawvpaVHr7R3BaOlDhqoEnHewYqmv2fJLln2rlGdWGjasZ7wYY4TXrYFFtyzKN5dzx6pWuV_VBE97_QUFCktrzuLs6mQzD/s1600/mermaidpoolnow.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of the fragile bushland surrounding Mermaid Pool</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This leaves various parcels of crown land very vulnerable.
It would be great if these parcels could be transferred to District Park
classification.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The specific parcels in question, near Mermaid Pool that are zoned R2 -(residential) include portions of </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lots 7369 & 7370 DP 1165551 and 7371 DP 116557 ). This anomaly apparently happened during the "translation process from LEP 2000 to LEP 2011". </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklZombQga0644pt5wNKhdoFiOA8ac5dFqQL-mylgZgJrSGQA0ZZ6jU_sxQJamM7D5ptPWFoV4LHtdzewTcAho5JeYcfdtvsnMyGz-z6ZTZ1nfYojlN6TXx7odWSq3YpH0gjH1w4d2fR2g/s1600/Suzannah+Fox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklZombQga0644pt5wNKhdoFiOA8ac5dFqQL-mylgZgJrSGQA0ZZ6jU_sxQJamM7D5ptPWFoV4LHtdzewTcAho5JeYcfdtvsnMyGz-z6ZTZ1nfYojlN6TXx7odWSq3YpH0gjH1w4d2fR2g/s1600/Suzannah+Fox.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the volunteers working to restore this special place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> This area of bushland has the highest biodiversity value of
all the creeks leading into Manly Lagoon. The Department of Lands has
already indicated in the past that they would be happy to transfer this land to
Council jurisdiction without charge. This would help
secure this unique riparian zone and protect a wonderful (but often unheralded)
feature of District Park. Conserving the upper catchment, of course, is also
the best way of ensuring the environmental health of Manly Lagoon (so
long under scrutiny).</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The Manly Warringah War Memorial Park (Plan of Management), states (page 61) that:- “Bushland linkages need to be
protected and enhanced to enable movement of flora and fauna between reserves
in Warringah. Other areas adjoining the Park could be considered as linkages
including <b>District Park</b></span></span><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> As the creek leaves Mermaid Pool on its journey towards the ocean it passes a magnificent stand of ancient rainforest before invasive weeds close in.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIBv0VpCSrezcmDZserQey2TDuSe4xLbdWXAK4wgl5cYQu-6HVYtQhQfElFKj-DbnS3nSRnRrxaHEWprvI5hsnQjirtwJ2tvJa3q9GV8ctSEWvkupK3XSwGWj2tvIxiVHWV7CTDVldhNx/s1600/pictures+079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjIBv0VpCSrezcmDZserQey2TDuSe4xLbdWXAK4wgl5cYQu-6HVYtQhQfElFKj-DbnS3nSRnRrxaHEWprvI5hsnQjirtwJ2tvJa3q9GV8ctSEWvkupK3XSwGWj2tvIxiVHWV7CTDVldhNx/s1600/pictures+079.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Surviving patch of glorious Rainforest...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoLHRozptfRyvoFpjbM-zmMv0S0viAncV-1WLKM2DxQ4iA7BDwIm-dWNdDyWbPNDsnkEjoLqzxYp4qAzCe91wLCCTx89uXJoBhxa0fWWAJO5iaBKXai8ftB0FWikifh_XPQTtskfe4XNU/s1600/pictures+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoLHRozptfRyvoFpjbM-zmMv0S0viAncV-1WLKM2DxQ4iA7BDwIm-dWNdDyWbPNDsnkEjoLqzxYp4qAzCe91wLCCTx89uXJoBhxa0fWWAJO5iaBKXai8ftB0FWikifh_XPQTtskfe4XNU/s1600/pictures+031.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...followed by a wall of invasive weeds..morning glory, lantana, privet etc</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> One particular nemesis is the noxious Ludwigia Peruviana (yes it was introduced from Peru) which has the capacity to block the flow of the water. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Anecdotal evidence suggests that you could once paddle in a canoe from Mermaid Pool to the beach...although a section of piped creek in Warringah Golf Course would now make this impossible. ideally as part of the new Plan of Management the piped area will be rehabilitated to assist the migration of native fish up the creekline. For more information on the fish population of Manly Creek read <a href="http://thegreenmanly.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/theres-mermaid-hiding-in-our-creek.html">here</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIDgmkYEIZgC88Dg8ldmQ24pQUA-BRInvzgAhyphenhyphenajF9UTHkUdBDDOQ15JeFBVkeCo7zXsyXQbARdQ9c63D5vGb049VzjjwHHvBiK8qzQnNcYEo_PoUHgFM2zUShz-sD28kFwXQoeZh_p55/s1600/Andrew+and+Wol+removingspraycans+from+Manly+Creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIDgmkYEIZgC88Dg8ldmQ24pQUA-BRInvzgAhyphenhyphenajF9UTHkUdBDDOQ15JeFBVkeCo7zXsyXQbARdQ9c63D5vGb049VzjjwHHvBiK8qzQnNcYEo_PoUHgFM2zUShz-sD28kFwXQoeZh_p55/s1600/Andrew+and+Wol+removingspraycans+from+Manly+Creek.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Volunteers, Wol and Andrew retrieving discarded graffiti paint spray cans </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">from under Condamine St bridge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Warringah Council has already produced an excellent
blueprint for the future of Manly Creek, in a report titled:-</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Warringah Council Local Habitat Plan, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Habitat Restoration Plan, Manly Creek Corridor”. This
document details plans to preserve, restore and expand the pockets of b</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ushland that still survive along Manly Creek as well as
other ways to improve and protect this important community amenity. All we need now is for them to implement it !</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other important related documents are:-</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Warringah Natural Area Survey, Vegetation History & Wildlife
Corridors, August 2005</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Warringah Natural Area Survey, Vegetation Communities &
Plant Species, August 2005<u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Warringah Local Habitat Strategy November 2007</span><u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Further down the creek, volunteer, Tom Hazell and his team have done an amazing job in planting indigenous vegetation along the waterway between Nolans and Passmore Reserve. This is Manly's hidden Venice but in a glorious native plant and parkland setting.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE30lqsiUC_ERaBmDAG1jk3qfEu-8MBufICAKvAO_G1uStYy4SNdPztJbyTDySMJhGWPsDIOSAQbm_72YEIS3-JsABW2yBvobqfTF9aYetAGhdWwL9uA7X2Z4NhFvTscldBhPi2LdQW2SN/s1600/Manly's+hidden+backwaters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE30lqsiUC_ERaBmDAG1jk3qfEu-8MBufICAKvAO_G1uStYy4SNdPztJbyTDySMJhGWPsDIOSAQbm_72YEIS3-JsABW2yBvobqfTF9aYetAGhdWwL9uA7X2Z4NhFvTscldBhPi2LdQW2SN/s1600/Manly's+hidden+backwaters.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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<u5:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Heading towards Manly Lagoon and the beach !</span></u5:p></div>
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<u5:p><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u5:p></div>
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<u5:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read about the benefits of wildlife corridors</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">:-</span><a href="http://www.acs.edu.au/info/environment/environmental-management/wildlife-corridors.aspx"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">here</span></a></u5:p><br />
<br />
<u5:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Please support community efforts to conserve, protect and improve this important part of our natural heritage. </span></u5:p><br />
<u5:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u5:p>
<u5:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>NEWS UPDATE </u></b></span></u5:p><br />
<u5:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u5:p>
<u5:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The NSW Government is currently seeking ways to transfer parcels of crown land to council jurisdiction <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/nsw-to-measure-opportunity-cost-of-crown-land-used-for-community-services-20140327-35lr5.html">SMH article (28.3.14)</a>. </span></u5:p><br />
<br />
<u5:p><br /></u5:p>
<u5:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read A fact sheet detailing the concern for the future of Crown Lands here:-<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3jiXZGKg16eSGxJR1k1UVNYT28/view">Crown Lands fact Sheet</a></span></u5:p><br />
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Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-87280110196080786182015-02-05T07:44:00.000+11:002015-09-30T06:06:34.073+10:00Batting For Australia<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> What
an amazing service bats do for this nation and what little thanks they get for
it! Most of us are familiar with larger bats, the flying foxes, as we can
witness their spectacular flight formations over the Sydney sky at dusk. These animals provide vital ecological services.
They are important pollinators (the sole pollinators of certain tree species)
and they also disperse seeds which helps keep our forests viable. Their natural
diet is native fruit and pollen.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span>
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"> What
you may not know is that we also have nearly twenty species of microbat in our
area. Most of these are very
small...some are as tiny as your thumbnail and weigh less than a 10 cent coin! Most microbats eat only insects and some
thrive on mosquitoes - scoffing down thousands every night. In fact, if bats ever became extinct, insect
numbers would soon reach plague proportions </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">(they
already save us billions of dollars a year in agricultural pest control). </span>So why do humans get so illogically squeamish
at the very thought of these cute and beneficial creatures? Well many people wrongly associate bats with
vampires, witchcraft and black magic but the only spells I’ve seen them cast in
real life are those of wonder and fascination. Bats are warm blooded, placental mammals. Like us, they usually have one baby at a time,
with occasional twins. They carry their offspring around with them for about
three weeks after they are born, and continue to breast-feed them for up to 6
months. Although flying foxes have good sight and all bats can see with their
eyes, the really amazing thing about microbats is that they fly and hunt in darkness using
echolocation. They basically emit ultra
sonic calls and by repeatedly scanning the echoing sound patterns, can mentally
construct an accurate image of the environment in which they are moving as well
as their potential prey. No wonder they have such big ears! </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"> Until
recently there was a colony of around 22,000 Grey-headed flying foxes roosting in
the Royal Botanical Gardens. It became quite a tourist attraction as it was
possible to observe the chattering, upside-down hanging, melee during daylight
hours. Unfortunately, the Botanical
Gardens Trust decided that the bats were causing too much collateral damage to
their exotic trees and with Federal Government approval, moved them on, using
loud recorded noises. Grey-headed flying foxes are a threatened species,
protected under both state and national environment law. Thankfully, it seems,
many of the relocating bats have been welcomed by the Centennial Parklands
Foundation and small colonies have even made themselves at home on the Peninsula.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"> It
is recommended that people do not disturb or handle bats though, as, like all
animals, including cats, they can carry disease.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjGYPasxIKfAYQUTnf42Mc_MzO454SpBIiiPNh-H6q-ZPrNIvQFA41yw91NDM91WKzDOthDypVZOucjyNa5GzaVWVHxvLlF1O2G9UyqpkI6TCG7IA3I8_lK5Z4yxy045zTeleBmPaf93K/s1600/flying+fox1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjGYPasxIKfAYQUTnf42Mc_MzO454SpBIiiPNh-H6q-ZPrNIvQFA41yw91NDM91WKzDOthDypVZOucjyNa5GzaVWVHxvLlF1O2G9UyqpkI6TCG7IA3I8_lK5Z4yxy045zTeleBmPaf93K/s400/flying+fox1.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Endangered Grey-headed flying foxes roost near a busy road at Balgowlah</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> Microbats
roost inside tree hollows and sometimes under rock overhangs, bridges and
culverts during the day. Their main
threat is loss of habitat and competition f</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">or roosts from Indian Miners and
feral bees. They are also at risk from predation by cats and rats and are
sensitive to pollution, loud noise and bright lights.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Footnote: Amazingly, our part
of the world can even boast a bat that fishes....the Large-footed Myotis.</span><span lang="EN-GB"> </span>It forages over pools of water in rivers, lakes and small
streams, using its over-sized feet to scoop along water surfaces for small fish
and aquatic insects. It has recently been found at Narrabeen Lagoon.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAjxEBJeJmFtZqOfh7ZbGNeYWQPRQ-Fy3BTpdLmFClT9giBXha7S_dqcKQFuqH3NVva9sEvUJ70iRh9gCF8jQBxtm4MAn58P9_Hg9ZT2yXGQaXCVoLzAKt1uzGVW12QRpnAikgzHaADTh/s1600/longeared+bat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAjxEBJeJmFtZqOfh7ZbGNeYWQPRQ-Fy3BTpdLmFClT9giBXha7S_dqcKQFuqH3NVva9sEvUJ70iRh9gCF8jQBxtm4MAn58P9_Hg9ZT2yXGQaXCVoLzAKt1uzGVW12QRpnAikgzHaADTh/s400/longeared+bat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">A Lesser long-eared bat</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: small;">People in "the know" believe that bats are the coolest animals on the planet. To find out more and to help with conservation efforts check this link..</span><a href="http://www.sydneybats.org.au/"> Sydney's bats</a><br /> </span></div>
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Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-21885416149427281602014-10-10T10:22:00.000+11:002014-10-19T07:54:17.466+11:00Welcome Home "Diggers"<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Great
news for conservationists (and conversationalists)!</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Two “lost” species are returning to our
suburbs. The Long-nosed Bandicoot, </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">a once common resident (but not seen in
Manly Vale for 45 years) is amazingly, making a comeback. And the
Brush-turkey..a rare visitor to Sydney in the last 20 years or so, is now
strutting up and down my street (and many others) with “gay abandon”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Bandicoots,
it seems, have benefited from targeted fox baiting and their numbers are
bouncing back, as the population of this introduced predator is curtailed. Brush (or Scrub) Turkeys, which were virtually
wiped out by hunting and loss of habitat (apparently their tough and stringy
meat provided many a family feed during the Great Depression) are also
reclaiming their territory.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Of
course these great examples of wildlife resilience has stimulated a cacophony of
criticism. Some churlish people baulk at the small v shaped holes that
bandicoots make in lawns when looking for grubs...whilst the fact that
Brush-turkeys build large nesting mounds doesn’t win them many fans (especially
with the “English style” manicured garden brigade). The irony is , these “protected species”,
vilified by some for their habitual digging, are benefiting us all by doing
just that !<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> A
recent Murdoch University study has found that native digging animals (also including Bilbies,Potaroos etc) play a key role in promoting eco-system health. Their activities increase soil nutrition,
seed dispersal and water infiltration. Some foraging animals are also credited with
reducing bush-fire risks by taking leaf litter underground. The diggings of
feral species such as rabbits, in contrast, promote the spread of weeds and have a
negative effect on the soil.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Imagine
how our landscape might have looked if we hadn’t systematically eradicated most
of our native wildlife! (Australia has the world’s worst record for mammal
extinction in the last 200 years). </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">So please, embrace these lovely “diggers” give them some space, keep your pets away and
make the wildlife feel at home!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>Long -nosed Bandicoot (Perameles
nasuta)</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> A nocturnal
marsupial with large pointed ears and a long muzzle. It is greyish brown in colour with a creamy
white forefeet and under-body.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Habitat</i>:
Rainforests, woodlands, heathland, grasslands.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Distribution</i>:
from Vic to Qld borders. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Size:
310-425mm<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Lifespan:</i>
around 2.5 years<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Diet</i>:
Omniverous. Primarily beetles, ants, larvae, fungi, roots, shoots.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Breeds:</i>
July to March<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Gestation</i>:
only 12.5 days (shortest of any mammal)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Litter:</i>
1 to 5. In a good year, females may
produce up to 4 litters.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Predators</i>:
dogs, cats, foxes (and cars)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> An “isolated” population of around 200 can be
found at Manly’s North Head and is listed as “endangered”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYykabPIUKdK0CSf0R1nwRm1J__V3mAl4UWOlFzIogC0PI7zl2LkU2Pl9qnenjCGDQZxlGuvaO9VLtGC46T0liclnrWT4rlyZ0aga1zzI9r1O2VCGuwsg814CHTJULmz7IHl8yokh7OAU/s1600/DeadBandicootJim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYykabPIUKdK0CSf0R1nwRm1J__V3mAl4UWOlFzIogC0PI7zl2LkU2Pl9qnenjCGDQZxlGuvaO9VLtGC46T0liclnrWT4rlyZ0aga1zzI9r1O2VCGuwsg814CHTJULmz7IHl8yokh7OAU/s400/DeadBandicootJim.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sadly, many Bandicoots fall prey to domestic cats (photo James Taylor)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><b>Australia Brush-turkey (Alectura
lathami)</b></u><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One
of three Australian “Mound Builders”- the other two being the mallee fowl and
the orange-footed scrubfowl. It has deep black plumage, bare red head and neck,
a broad flat fan tail. Males have a redder head and neck and a distinguishing
yellow “wattle”. A chick looks similar to a quail and has brown feathers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Habitat</i>: Rainforest and eucalypt forest<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Distribution</i>: Australia’s east coast from NSW to Queensland<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Size</i>:
60-70cm body length.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Lifespan</i>:
10 years<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><i>Diet</i>:
</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Leaf litter, invertebrates and fruits</span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Breeding</i>: Occurs from August to January. The male
brush-turkey builds a large mound of organic matter up to 6 metres wide and 1.5
metres high. The females are attracted to a well built and maintained mound and
one or more birds will lay eggs inside it. The decomposition of the vegetation
inside the mound produces heat The male checks the temperature by inserting his
bill and then adds or removes material to maintain a 32to 33 C degree
temperature. After around 50 days the young brush-turkeys hatch and have to
fend for themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Female
brush-turkeys lay between 20 and 30 eggs a year. (one mound may contain up to
150 eggs over a season)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Predators</i>:
Goannas, snakes, birds of prey, foxes, domestic cats and dogs. To protect
themselves, brush-turkeys form roosting groups in trees.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXrmG2mEXVZdKJSxJTUCCyywbpeCsgRLWad_IBtSAUiC3lFgK0F0MFXMztPJt-opzuwNW8eyR_EJUeRWivFEa_SXLUTlM7iFnRtB8HEoZBIyF0UZflh_H07mKRtBA-lbxH0MrQePeswK4/s1600/brushTurkey2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXrmG2mEXVZdKJSxJTUCCyywbpeCsgRLWad_IBtSAUiC3lFgK0F0MFXMztPJt-opzuwNW8eyR_EJUeRWivFEa_SXLUTlM7iFnRtB8HEoZBIyF0UZflh_H07mKRtBA-lbxH0MrQePeswK4/s1600/brushTurkey2.JPG" height="640" width="476" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxsjr_N56GXJu3lc1IiQUplPnRn1JUfR0bqsq50qwPDBz6QR72ElUeZjPPK8sTB1JdqyjQ31RdGWOcPMXIyYw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And here's a view of a Bandicoot visiting my own Manly Vale backyard (after many years of endeavouring to create the right habitat for them!) </span><br />
<br /></div>
Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-24894621055034450122014-05-08T13:17:00.000+10:002014-05-08T13:17:05.756+10:00There's a Mermaid hiding in our creek!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> E</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ach successive modern generation is growing up in world that has less biodiversity and beauty than the one before. As a consequence the sense of loss at what is disappearing becomes diminished. Nowadays polluted creeks and lack of biodiversity
have become the norm, a far cry from when the traditional Aboriginal owners
were custodians of this land.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> It’s amazing to think that in suburban Sydney
just a mere seventy years ago...platypus still occupied some of our creeks and
streams. That was before most of the waterways were piped or sullied by
storm-water drains and leaking sewage infrastructure. If we could suddenly turn
back time to how the area used to be, then more people would realise the ugly
truth of what our “civilisation” has done. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVWb-MmDKZunc2GgLu6sLNsQL6JdRhc5xde0Q2RrsisuM7fnOPAIu1WVDOIPrjSKKLOh_UlOal7SaNxqdmxFGCohkBzlypiJLzykIqfElm8uTk6a1YFuncNlo-T6_WCgS81sAv5Qf9y1v/s1600/Mermaid-Pool-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVWb-MmDKZunc2GgLu6sLNsQL6JdRhc5xde0Q2RrsisuM7fnOPAIu1WVDOIPrjSKKLOh_UlOal7SaNxqdmxFGCohkBzlypiJLzykIqfElm8uTk6a1YFuncNlo-T6_WCgS81sAv5Qf9y1v/s1600/Mermaid-Pool-3.jpg" height="436" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Just some of the junk removed from Manly Creek one Clean Up Australia Day</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Of
course many of these creeks are now hidden away and choked by invasive weeds
and discarded rubbish. Incredibly though,
some ancient denizens still cling to life in their murky waters, much like they
have done for a large chunk of eternity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> On
Manly Creek, in the Northern part of Sydney, there is a place called Mermaid
Pool (named after the young girls who used to bathe there in the Great
Depression). But a local native fish
expert, Andrew Lo, insists that the <i>real </i>Mermaids
are the fish themselves...and it’s hard to argue with his logic.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Andrew
was the guy who discovered that an amazing fish, which breathes through its
skin and climbs up sheer rock faces, lives within the Manly Dam catchment area
(in the upper sections of Manly creek-line). This Climbing Galaxias population is the most
northerly in Australia. It’s a living Gondwanan relic, but its clean-stream
habitat is very vulnerable. Members of the community once celebrated its
birthday with a special 60 millionth birthday cake, a symbolic gesture during a
protest blockade against development of its habitat. This area has since become
a housing estate and one of the Galaxias’ creeks and bushland surrounds was
ultimately bulldozed and concreted to make way for “progress”. Read more about the Climbing Galaxias on the <a href="http://australianmuseum.net.au/Climbing-Galaxias-Galaxias-brevipinnis-Gunther-1866/">Australian Museum</a> website.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Back
down the creek towards Manly’s surfing beaches you can still spot a number of
other “Mermaids” which still migrate to spawn up this waterway just as they’ve
always done...and they somehow still do it, despite the golf course dams, the
pollution incidents, the choking exotic weeds, the irregular water flows, the algal
blooms, the feral fish predators and the general lack of knowledge of their
existence and consequently, any regard for their well-being.. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> These are some of the native fish in question:-<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <b>Jolly
tail</b>. The common galaxias spawns downstream in rivers and streams amongst
vegetation on the banks of the estuary regions during a spring tide mainly in
autumn. The eggs remain on the bank (out of the water) until the next spring
tide when they hatch into larvae which are swept out to the ocean. For the next
5–6 months the larvae live in the sea and develop into juvenile fish, often
referred to as whitebait.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">The Striped Gudgeon </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">is best recognised in the wild by the five to seven dark
stripes on the sides of the body, and a dark stripe running posteriorly from
the eye.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVg44E2UNbs0_IjeXjMnF5rgWT2wJacr6w6VApiWG-82wXGtexbcl-tBCVGxL4hbsQp4R2OwHKQqdbIX59oioLFYa9WTMljz6zndTgN2lXLk0wDNqGgFYybfjMLqBhr-tJvWNPq0ZSAqmz/s1600/A+tiny+juvenile+striped+gudgeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVg44E2UNbs0_IjeXjMnF5rgWT2wJacr6w6VApiWG-82wXGtexbcl-tBCVGxL4hbsQp4R2OwHKQqdbIX59oioLFYa9WTMljz6zndTgN2lXLk0wDNqGgFYybfjMLqBhr-tJvWNPq0ZSAqmz/s1600/A+tiny+juvenile+striped+gudgeon.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Andrew finds a tiny juvenile Striped Gudgeon during a survey</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cox’s Gudgeon</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. Juveniles are able to climb waterfalls by rotating
their pectoral fins so that the inside surfaces of the fins are pressed against
the wall creating suction. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqqNbvvWUgRXAoxIQIVzsIgcgVeIE1Zw5KY22Jxg2jb-N8enJ5xW9jfbA_e1lroaAaPA29esE7wzQGns9SoAg1Avh2wEUSStidBlywyWW2enHvPVVY22BcR-QKKZuKm27yBmhxTgQeUGm/s1600/IMG_2776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqqNbvvWUgRXAoxIQIVzsIgcgVeIE1Zw5KY22Jxg2jb-N8enJ5xW9jfbA_e1lroaAaPA29esE7wzQGns9SoAg1Avh2wEUSStidBlywyWW2enHvPVVY22BcR-QKKZuKm27yBmhxTgQeUGm/s1600/IMG_2776.jpg" height="576" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Juvenile Cox's Gudgeon climbing a sheer rockface</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Empire Gudgeon.</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> Females
are brown to golden and whitish below. In the breeding season males become
bright orange-rea on the head and belly. The dorsal and anal fins become bright
red-orange basally and with a dark sub-marginal stripe and lighter margins.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Australian Bass</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> are an
iconic, highly predatory native fish.Longevity is a survival strategy to ensure
that most adults participate in at least one exceptional spawning and
recruitment event, which are often linked to unusually wet 'La Niña' years and
may only occur every one or two decades.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgAzPcpf94Y-7RPGCtvlR5lg8pGyCSVUie7v1kJclE62Aa2RkUZYSMDlsgbGnxHP3SK2qYd6Thwrkc9iLO2RgxQqLv6ZMGreTfxlzlWgOoCIwlWQnr8ps10xZS3iKKgmhsEe1svyXdJ0-/s1600/Mermaid+Bass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgAzPcpf94Y-7RPGCtvlR5lg8pGyCSVUie7v1kJclE62Aa2RkUZYSMDlsgbGnxHP3SK2qYd6Thwrkc9iLO2RgxQqLv6ZMGreTfxlzlWgOoCIwlWQnr8ps10xZS3iKKgmhsEe1svyXdJ0-/s1600/Mermaid+Bass.jpg" height="323" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This Australian Bass was caught and released</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">The Bullrout</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> should
be handled with extreme care. The dorsal, anal and pelvic spines all have venom
glands. A puncture wound from one of these spines can be excruciatingly
painful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">The Flathead Gudgeon</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> is primarily found on muddy bottoms, often amongst
vegetation. The species occurs in freshwaters, but is also recorded from
estuarine and protected areas in coastal bays. (There is also a <b>Dwarf Flathead Gudgeon</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Firetail Gudgeon</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">This is a small native Australian fish that occurs in
freshwater coastal streams. The body is generally grey to bronze with black
scale margins. During the breeding season males can be almost black, with
intense red-orange fins. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIb_KezGfvOyENou6mJ6H-LhbsWPia73t5kfwB2t-KBXez61Zoa_q1lRRVgFAq1lEjltjwA8oUWc7xQCPKBcFYv3enoMhDUViZLEbgCDxbQaRpigqPeYxfJmT6VkJ3Z8ZRaasQBJgJRB4/s1600/Fire+Tail+and+Cox's+Gudgeon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIb_KezGfvOyENou6mJ6H-LhbsWPia73t5kfwB2t-KBXez61Zoa_q1lRRVgFAq1lEjltjwA8oUWc7xQCPKBcFYv3enoMhDUViZLEbgCDxbQaRpigqPeYxfJmT6VkJ3Z8ZRaasQBJgJRB4/s1600/Fire+Tail+and+Cox's+Gudgeon.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Firetail and Cox's Gudgeon</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <b>Longfinned
eel.</b> Female eels can have millions of eggs in the ovaries. Developing
leptocephali take about one year to return to the streams of eastern Australia.
Glass eels arrive in New South Wales in early Summer. Those that make the
additional journey south to Victoria arrive from January to late May. Young
eels (called elvers) then swim upstream and spend a number of years maturing in
freshwater.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Shortfinned eel.</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> When
they reach maturity, they stop feeding and migrate downstream to the sea, then
anything up to three or four thousand kilometres to a spawning ground in deep
water somewhere in the Coral Sea off New Caledonia.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TsJ7FmXo6ol76jwpqVY3OqDN0dy7XF7rK9oy7e0rMpey174R-ew2GXUVO0GxI-CnL79QrdEQ_pg9jPFod7gBBzZYj5CF4I3AYiM-ITCIgLRoIjCabKqTQ5cbUp1SWvXY55x_G0ew9q9X/s1600/Manly's+hidden+backwaters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TsJ7FmXo6ol76jwpqVY3OqDN0dy7XF7rK9oy7e0rMpey174R-ew2GXUVO0GxI-CnL79QrdEQ_pg9jPFod7gBBzZYj5CF4I3AYiM-ITCIgLRoIjCabKqTQ5cbUp1SWvXY55x_G0ew9q9X/s1600/Manly's+hidden+backwaters.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Native fish migrate from the sea via Manly Lagoon up Manly Creek to breed.<br />In 2001 there was a herbicide spill near here from a local golf course which killed many thousands of fish. Manly Lagoon is rated as one of the most polluted waterways in Australia</span></td></tr>
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Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-20338027947077875392014-04-13T17:24:00.000+10:002014-05-08T13:13:51.317+10:00Time For Some Casual Lily Gilding...<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A
locally occurring native plant that looks fabulous, smells divine, is “as tough
as buggery” yet easy to grow. It sounds
like some weird, antipodean, utopian dream but it's fortunate botanical reality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
Swamp Lily (Crinum Pedunculatum) can be found in NSW, Queensland and the
Northern Territory and occurs naturally close to mangroves as well as on the edge of
forests. It is a robust plant that grows up to 2 metres tall (with a spread to
3 metres) and thrives in both full sun or partial shade. Crinum ( from the
Greek, <i>Krinon</i>, meaning Lily) is a
genus of around 100 species, most are African, with 5 native to Australia. This
one flowers from around November and its elegant white spidery blooms are
followed by the production of bulbous seed pods, which can easily be potted or
transferred to create new plants. I grew the plants pictured from pods I
gathered from the wild.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
plants are sometimes voraciously eaten by two kinds of moth caterpillar
(Spodoptera Picta and Brithys Crini) but the massed, yellow and black striped creatures are a
spectacular sight in themselves and the lily will recover and re-sprout (so
there’s no need for the chemical warfare recommended by most "conventional" gardening guides).<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF03pR2V769inx5ZiSC37KyJQSqg02YkgFiLd4MuFJVMqTjxTAWXU43w2GSl-FEMpzISm8yXrchPesCBvPSsItEqDcoorkmBJkWf4qaUgZsNpvF7HyZxEBa9X0_yqIYWWgFi39t_BnLyEf/s1600/pictures+058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF03pR2V769inx5ZiSC37KyJQSqg02YkgFiLd4MuFJVMqTjxTAWXU43w2GSl-FEMpzISm8yXrchPesCBvPSsItEqDcoorkmBJkWf4qaUgZsNpvF7HyZxEBa9X0_yqIYWWgFi39t_BnLyEf/s1600/pictures+058.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">April is "Munch Time"</span></span></div>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aborigines
used sap from the Crinum to ease the pain of marine stings and the plant was
also used to make materials for fishing lures.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So,
get rid of your boring, weedy, foreign Cliveas and Agapanthus and replace them
with something authentic and much more unusual...you’ll never regret it! </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> And as for "gilding the lily" ? The expression is a common misquotation from Shakespeare's play King John. The correct line is this </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<dl style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.2em;"><dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px;">"<i>To <b>gild</b> refined gold, to paint <b>the lily</b>, to throw a perfume on the violet, to smooth the ice, or add another hue unto the rainbow, or with taper-light to seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish, is wasteful and ridiculous excess.</i>"</dd><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFqTkRT3MuKXc8hB7NIaLKq5w8vb7Ktki2jqgkoS1rzeEJ_9Y7wGJet812qsFMUMBVSJ6HXUgHwCBSLmDuqzx5Hqj_beU2ig4nrlYnSM9gjo7ltOooHRTo30I9-bom0YSkkjyQ0Gc0iAS/s1600/crinumbud2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFqTkRT3MuKXc8hB7NIaLKq5w8vb7Ktki2jqgkoS1rzeEJ_9Y7wGJet812qsFMUMBVSJ6HXUgHwCBSLmDuqzx5Hqj_beU2ig4nrlYnSM9gjo7ltOooHRTo30I9-bom0YSkkjyQ0Gc0iAS/s400/crinumbud2.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The beauteous</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFe-kdATqRNXCiwFVhEDo5QyFIjTpVkETO0opjKIoawcr5Rcbnfrj8wEhyphenhyphenHte-PM_swK5hLunHIl8mPrJqdDzBNxppb-w43DQ-Uxkt8ioxcZRp7kQt85qvDNu0NVg9C1XnCNPLImJXN0Ty/s1600/Crinum+bud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFe-kdATqRNXCiwFVhEDo5QyFIjTpVkETO0opjKIoawcr5Rcbnfrj8wEhyphenhyphenHte-PM_swK5hLunHIl8mPrJqdDzBNxppb-w43DQ-Uxkt8ioxcZRp7kQt85qvDNu0NVg9C1XnCNPLImJXN0Ty/s400/Crinum+bud.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">eye of heaven</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFozzLogld2IpD3WKtLpGNZJGYCAG7EMT6mTMIkOKUFvdJxNeGLsf5AyH7FhTXe7PAJRMtjgt7vkMME7-2GgurMKYXAeqpEySMgBsVwrrU3tzXZ32ktf1qGfmW0V3YjWYsyHFU2clt0I4z/s1600/Crinumflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFozzLogld2IpD3WKtLpGNZJGYCAG7EMT6mTMIkOKUFvdJxNeGLsf5AyH7FhTXe7PAJRMtjgt7vkMME7-2GgurMKYXAeqpEySMgBsVwrrU3tzXZ32ktf1qGfmW0V3YjWYsyHFU2clt0I4z/s400/Crinumflower.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">needs no garnish</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<dd style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px;"><br /></dd></dl>
Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-783846480779288162014-03-14T15:49:00.001+11:002014-05-08T13:14:29.339+10:00Letter to Tony<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear
Hon Anthony John Abbott, Member For Warringah, 28th Prime Minister of Australia</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> May I call you Tony? I used to think that we were rather alike. Both of us born in the U.K at a similar time, both
of us with the rather unimaginative “John” as a middle name <i>and </i>we lived as near neighbours in the
very same NSW electorate. In fact, I’m told, you were pursuing the property I
ultimately purchased when we were both house hunting. We both have a pretty
loopy affection for an outdated Monarchy, both love to hurl ourselves into the
surf at Manly Beach (budgie smugglers optional) and were both raised in a
strict code of contrived Christian morality. I suspect these days our voting
patterns may be slightly different though.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Before
de-camping to government-owned digs, you lived in a suburb ironically called “Forestville”. I know now that you don’t put much value
on native forests apart from their capacity to provide wood for furniture
makers. No one seems to have told you
that, in reality, most logging involves bulldozing and wood-chipping the trees
which are then exported to foreign companies to be pulped for paper. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Apparently at a recent forest industry “love
in” you recalled learning about the esoteric mysteries of wood at the knee of
your grandfather, a shipwright by trade. The loggers must have thought you very
quaint. You called them the “ultimate
conservationists”...Comedian Corinne Grant was a little more adroit “If loggers
are conservationists, then Ivan Milat is a champion of population control” she
penned. Another person observed that it was just as well Australia doesn’t
still have a whaling industry because he couldn’t bear to hear the PM refer to
the plucky harpoonists as the “ultimate animal welfare activists”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I’ve tried to understand you Tony. When you
say Australia is now “open for business” part of me (i.e. my hands) wants to
applaud. Then I realise that what you <i>really
</i>mean to say is that our fragile environment and wildlife can now be
exploited for a quick buck, no questions asked. You project a patriotic fervour
but in reality you work at the behest of corporate greed-wherever it lays its
shady hat. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Surely it goes against all sense of Australian
pride to want to de-list Tasmania’s World Heritage forests or “open up” our much
loved National Parks to commercial interests. It amounts to hocking precious
family heirlooms to pay for gambling debts. Oh yes and I remember that you did
a similar thing, in your own constituency, when you withheld federal government
intervention and allowed high conservation bushland to be sold off to overseas developers. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The community even took your
wife Marg and daughters to see the creek-line habitat of a rare climbing fish that was threatened with local extinction but even that didn’t sway you. Later at a public forum you said you were
“wearing sackcloth and ashes over that one”. But I see from your actions now
that you must have been <i>far</i> from
repentant. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnEOcWiaXW_yehV3PflDWRg2-XqEoAQ9zIJ80aG3DTrjWk7WA0aSBkdzeLOgHWuEL-0rx0fI2nN7MUU5OPq73NjwGQmE4bXrmpyKXHqIGULzl0h5Zsn7k-d4W_qgEgo4iZ0P6tmpBkPQ8/s1600/Abbott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnEOcWiaXW_yehV3PflDWRg2-XqEoAQ9zIJ80aG3DTrjWk7WA0aSBkdzeLOgHWuEL-0rx0fI2nN7MUU5OPq73NjwGQmE4bXrmpyKXHqIGULzl0h5Zsn7k-d4W_qgEgo4iZ0P6tmpBkPQ8/s1600/Abbott.jpg" height="348" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tony meets community reps trying to save bushland in his Warringah electorate (1999)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Since
coming to office it’s not just Tasmania’s forests that have been targeted. Your
environment Minister, Greg Hunt, (and aligned State Liberal Premiers) have
approved the dumping of 3 million cubic metres of dredging spoil on the Great
Barrier Reef, allowed cattle grazing in Victoria’s Alpine National Park, given
the green light to burning native forests for electricity in NSW and authorised
the culling of Great White Sharks in W.A. (a globally threatened species).
Philistines are leaping out of the parliamentary closet everywhere. Not a good look in relation to the stewardship of our
planet. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"> As
a professed "man of faith" and one who even trained to be a Jesuit priest, I
would have thought you’d have taken heed of the many Biblical references which
guide us towards caring for God’s creation e.g. “</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: ivory; line-height: 115%;">You shall not pollute the land in which you live, you shall
not defile the land in which you live, in which I also dwell” (Numbers
35:33-34). Even with the welfare of three daughters at stake and climate change
predictions forecasting a bleak future, you still won’t entertain the possibility of
curbing the nation’s carbon emissions.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: ivory; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGhg4b7PZ29nELvcSf1es-UUndDVTvg8z0eimNHllhF_9K4TSG8jTQI46VIX4HOs5_Plu7EemRUzeqatqFRM4ULiWf0D1m5CRFm22JaED4g1jkbjwCThqb1duGHwdd7qGv-FINtJpW0Gg/s1600/Jam+for+Dam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGhg4b7PZ29nELvcSf1es-UUndDVTvg8z0eimNHllhF_9K4TSG8jTQI46VIX4HOs5_Plu7EemRUzeqatqFRM4ULiWf0D1m5CRFm22JaED4g1jkbjwCThqb1duGHwdd7qGv-FINtJpW0Gg/s1600/Jam+for+Dam.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: ivory; line-height: 115%;">Just metres from Tony's electoral office, demonstrators gather to protect the environment.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: ivory; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Another
thing that sticks in the craw is when Liberal Treasurer Joe Hockey tells the
Australian people that “the age of entitlement is over”. This is pretty hot on
the heels of <i>you</i> claiming travel expenses, from the public purse, for attending
charity and sporting events not to mention fronting up at colleagues’
weddings! Don’t you get paid enough
money already as Prime Minister?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Years
ago, before you were elected to the highest office, I dedicated a poem to you
and the people of your political persuasion. It now seems more relevant than
ever and I reproduce it below.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Minds Wide Shut.<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There
are too many rednecks in Australia..you can see their flaky skin and rabid
eyes. And they make coital moans at the sound of Alan Jones. As they celebrate
his overture of lies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There
are far too many crazies in this country. Whose philosophy is far right of
right extreme. They’ll sacrifice our forests, our rivers and our seas. Whilst
deludedly profess to “live the dream”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There’s
one born every minute in this wide brown land. The refugee hating, Shooters
party voting, climate change denying, wood chip loving type. They’ll be growing
nuclear plants in our garden. And proliferating, when the fruits are ripe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There’s
a lot of Tony Abbotts in Australia. We’ve got the best democracy that money
bought. And they steer this stately ship with a firm despotic grip. While they
plunder human rights and don’t get caught.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So
be sorry for these funny little Minchins. That roam the corridors of power and
Cubbie Station. For Barnaby Joyce, will one day lose his voice. And Bob Brown
will get the vote to lead this nation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">(</span><span lang="EN-GB">Footnote:-we may need a <i>new</i>
Bob Brown!)</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7qcAZt8YCyOWdiPBSYJ5vHL35itq6TVGHF-anG8ypG_PqEqEBasyuU7HMAQN3aTGVVpGIsZTKgVO4HvH1U95XMqnKKbnLfurS_2CXKmN8AhQz2B3-H5BONYkf8tkzr9CkhLtASFdYLQA/s1600/Orphaned+Ringtails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7qcAZt8YCyOWdiPBSYJ5vHL35itq6TVGHF-anG8ypG_PqEqEBasyuU7HMAQN3aTGVVpGIsZTKgVO4HvH1U95XMqnKKbnLfurS_2CXKmN8AhQz2B3-H5BONYkf8tkzr9CkhLtASFdYLQA/s1600/Orphaned+Ringtails.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If<i> only</i> our wildlife could vote!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">M J Fisher</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-37785934456009643952014-01-13T08:10:00.000+11:002014-05-08T13:20:37.257+10:00What makes trees so special ?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> The
best trees of, course, are the ones that grow in intact native forests,
supporting complex ecosystems ...and their conservation is of premium
importance. Tragically, Australia’s government wants World Heritage listing for
Tasmania’s iconic forests to be revoked so they can be logged. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/ntqc44z"><b>Tassie's Forests</b></a></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><b> </b>; they
allow Victoria’s fragile forests to be pulped to make Reflex Paper. </span><a href="http://www.ethicalpaper.com.au/" style="line-height: 115%;"><b>Ethical Paper Campaign</b></a><span style="line-height: 115%;">; whilst majestic Karri and Jarrah forests in Western Australia continue to fall.<b> </b></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://tinyurl.com/k9weu92"><b>Logging in W.A.</b></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> But if you live in a city environment, the “urban forest” is pretty significant
too.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"> In
my suburban street at Manly Vale, Sydney, the community has planted a 1.5 km
avenue of native trees and shrubs alongside a moderately busy road called King
St. This was done with the assistance of a NSW government grant and it is now
maintained by volunteers. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"> We did this because we wanted to plant species that
were endemic specifically to this area and to help replace some of the
biodiversity that was missing from the street (and most other local
streetscapes). </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9wIIDDLn1bWh8tfBjWABHG_7nfsqwpbFi8QQ84mFvZNzYhas3HhFxEB5LaGgBLrXcH2U8VWylMtgLrEd6AVxrsi7UAhOk92ZwefOx8oytYDuUgzuDOebLS1znCYzjXlfAdYNrQCaFr9i/s1600/dec2013c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9wIIDDLn1bWh8tfBjWABHG_7nfsqwpbFi8QQ84mFvZNzYhas3HhFxEB5LaGgBLrXcH2U8VWylMtgLrEd6AVxrsi7UAhOk92ZwefOx8oytYDuUgzuDOebLS1znCYzjXlfAdYNrQCaFr9i/s1600/dec2013c.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">King St Tree Planting in Manly Vale.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"> It was hoped maybe that the species chosen could be a template
for other street plantings (where, traditionally, foreign or “out of area”
species were selected). </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Native
trees grown from</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">locally sourced </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">seeds, are naturally already suited to our soil
and weather conditions and won’t escape into our bushland areas as invasive
weeds</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"> Unfortunately
a new plan by Warringah Council to plant trees in a few selected streets
contains a significant proportion of “exotic” trees (some invasive weed species) and numerous natives not local to our region. </span></span><b><a href="http://yoursaywarringah.com.au/greeningwarringah" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Warringah Council Tree Plan</a> </b><span style="line-height: 115%;">This
isn’t exactly following the “Landcare ethos”</span></span><br />
<!--EndFragment--><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"> The avenue was also
planted as memorial “avenue of honour” to pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of
Merchant Navy personnel in two world wars. Often, these servicemen were not included
in other traditional war memorial settings. <a href="http://www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/content/king-st-avenue-honour"><b>Avenue of Honour</b></a></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXB3iz-RMShFx3eGVt_P0OrpN3qB0PltpHs6Q_Erws9JyRDZKLN3iDSph-SlC_hieNk3rj4662Z33qsNSKhOOChDxId-l13kSduh6UI2-O1jTjAKyZsJlXJ4NQaM2kubojbD3-9Kw8qdrP/s1600/King+Res+Oct2013c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXB3iz-RMShFx3eGVt_P0OrpN3qB0PltpHs6Q_Erws9JyRDZKLN3iDSph-SlC_hieNk3rj4662Z33qsNSKhOOChDxId-l13kSduh6UI2-O1jTjAKyZsJlXJ4NQaM2kubojbD3-9Kw8qdrP/s1600/King+Res+Oct2013c.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A stone monument to the Merchant Navy acts as a centrepiece in Kings Reserve.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19i1K4W6lGTwxuPc-oL1VQHCnxAEUuVSkb63OS_B9smz1u1hijhPFv30k7WpKW8o5ONqjOT7igsNg3uaB_LoWoeLkmYSqO3SLRotrRBqlK7Q6XOuDcgP5UVqyjpYes0Qdo4IWHexT6QgS/s1600/King+St+planting+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19i1K4W6lGTwxuPc-oL1VQHCnxAEUuVSkb63OS_B9smz1u1hijhPFv30k7WpKW8o5ONqjOT7igsNg3uaB_LoWoeLkmYSqO3SLRotrRBqlK7Q6XOuDcgP5UVqyjpYes0Qdo4IWHexT6QgS/s1600/King+St+planting+025.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The species planted are endemic to the suburb of Manly Vale, NSW. On the left is a Banksia Serrata (Old Man Banksia) on the right is<br />a Banksia Marginata (Silver Banksia)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nQ5Jy5q3U3Xri-wqSL9AK2x1vRIzn2mhWarE5EH9cMlOuIyNZdmRf3u5KLho40twd93m_s0BpZMPoEZBqlF-mQL0Xw6f1-yq8SMlAUUTpUYHTFnN9mZclsCPst1LvIiKSHvtSsH5bKah/s1600/King+St+planting+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nQ5Jy5q3U3Xri-wqSL9AK2x1vRIzn2mhWarE5EH9cMlOuIyNZdmRf3u5KLho40twd93m_s0BpZMPoEZBqlF-mQL0Xw6f1-yq8SMlAUUTpUYHTFnN9mZclsCPst1LvIiKSHvtSsH5bKah/s1600/King+St+planting+030.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> This one is a rare Angophora Crassifolia.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">All
this was important..but it seems that the value of street
plantings far exceeded our wildest expectations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><u><span style="color: #274e13;">Here
is a selection of the additional benefits that planting, or preserving, urban trees can bring.</span></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">1/
Shade provided by urban trees can cool buildings by up to 20 degrees in the
summer. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Researchers
at Curtin University in Perth found that a lack of trees in the city contributed
to heat-related problems for residents. Without tree cover, conditions could get worse, as predicted temperature increases associated with climate change, posed a "significant threat" to human health.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">2/
A single tree can produce a day’s oxygen for four people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">3/ In one day a large tree can remove up to 380
litres of water from the ground and release it into the air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">4/
A tree living for 50 years will generate $62,000 worth of pollution control
plus increase soil fertility and control soil erosion to the tune of $31, 250.
It will also generate $31, 250 worth of oxygen, recycle $37,500 worth of water
and provide a home to animals worth $31, 250. In total, one tree is worth $193,
250 (Professor T.M.Das, The University of Calcutta).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 13.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">5/ Research has
found that motorists slow down whilst travelling through a tree lined portion
of a street </span>as drivers tend to go more
slowly when something is in their peripheral vision. <span lang="EN-GB">(Texas A and M)</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">6/
According to the real estate sector, tree
lined streets can add $15-25,000 of value
to homes and businesses versus non tree comparable streets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">7/
Studies conducted in California show that shade from urban trees can add 40% to
60% more life to road and pavement surfaces through the benefits of shading.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">8/
Trees create a safer walking environment by providing distinction between road
edges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">9/
Trees create more pleasant walking environments, provide a sense of place and
encourage more pride, ownership and care in (and of) an area.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">10/
Businesses on treescaped streets show 20% higher income streams.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">11/
Trees reduce storm water run-off and flooding by absorbing water <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;">Water sinks into the soil
under trees at 67 times the rate at which it sinks into the soil under
grass!</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">12/
Trees provide protection from rain, sun and heat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">13/
Trees absorb car and truck exhaust pollution including carbon monoxide, nitrogen
oxides, organic compounds and particulate matter which add to asthma and other
health impacts. They also convert harmful gasses back into oxygen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">14/
A properly shaded urban street can reduce energy bills for a household by 15%
to 35%.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">15/
Trees convert streets, parking areas and walls into more aesthetically pleasing
environments and act as a screen and filter of "visual pollution".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">16/
Trees reduce blood pressure and improve emotional and psychological health.
They have a calming effect on ADHD effected adults and teens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">17/
There is compelling evidence to suggest that motorist ‘road rage’ is less in
green urban environments compared to stark urban areas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">18/
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">Research has shown that healthy street trees help
lessen the levels of domestic violence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 13.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">19/ An analysis of numerous studies in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em>BMC Public Health</em><span class="apple-converted-space"><i> </i></span>found evidence for street trees having "direct and
positive impacts on well-being," in the form of reduced anger and sadness.
</span>Getting people actively
involved in the planting process makes communities even happier<span style="color: #333333;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 13.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">20/ </span>A Dutch study suggests every 10% increase in
green space can postpone health complaints in communities by five years. And a US
study is suggests patients that have a view of nature through hospital windows
recover better after surgery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 13.5pt; mso-line-height-alt: 13.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">21/ Street Trees
help improve biodiversity as </span>as
tree-lined streets provide wildlife corridors for birds, animals and insects to
travel. In Australia, “hollow
bearing’ trees are vital in creating homes for arborial marsupials, bats and
birds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">22/
Dutch researchers at VU University discovered that even
glimpsing “green” through a dingy urban window can push the brain to consider
the long-term future. People who watch plants grow exhibit better spending
impulse control. Inner-city girls with views of green space from their window
have proved more adept at concentration, impulse inhibition, and delay of
gratification.<br style="box-sizing: border-box; mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000;">Why
not contact your local Council for assistance and plant endemic native species
from your own specific environment in <i>your</i>
street ! If you live on Sydney sandstone country..the one below would be perfect!</span><span style="color: #b45f06;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHsL__zgx5vBtuj9SrOPBpW6ClTpaQjIzmmPF_HXDzC268z5_SRMfb1dccMU0o4gyqX1AHVrwhVXWzd9hfaysM_x8QoGOQcuC084PnkM570TaBWOKYBooo3cZUmb_BZE9yEaYFCxRBBsc/s1600/Angophora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHsL__zgx5vBtuj9SrOPBpW6ClTpaQjIzmmPF_HXDzC268z5_SRMfb1dccMU0o4gyqX1AHVrwhVXWzd9hfaysM_x8QoGOQcuC084PnkM570TaBWOKYBooo3cZUmb_BZE9yEaYFCxRBBsc/s1600/Angophora.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Angophora Costata (Smooth-Barked Apple)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/content/king-st-avenue-honour">Avenue of Honour</a></div>
Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-53996607604444951632014-01-01T16:48:00.000+11:002016-04-29T08:45:24.377+10:00Endangered vegetation now a hospital case.<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 11.25pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> French Forest is a
Sydney suburb 13 km from the CBD. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Much
of the “Forest” has long been consumed by business parks, housing estates and
bitumen but right next to busy Warringah road sits a unique remnant of rich
biodiversity. This is the vital wildlife corridor that links <a href="http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHome.aspx?id=N0076"><span style="color: #7b2b57;">Garigal National Park</span></a> with<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manly_Dam_Reserve"><span style="color: #7b2b57;">Manly
Dam Reserve</span></a> and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.narrabeenlagoon.org.au/"><span style="color: #7b2b57;">Narrabeen
Lagoon catchment</span></a>. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
True to form, the NSW government has chosen this very
land as the location for a brand new<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>private</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>hospital. It is on notice to be
bulldozed, concreted and lost forever in the near future. The frustrating thing
is that the high quality, existing Mona Vale and Manly hospitals nearby (one
with extensive land to expand and upgrade) will also be sacrificed for this
misconceived project.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4EdwLK4wmp3cJ-UgghBEKOsRrrnH1bFwrpw7WlFXI0qtUDfxVSXY6sYNPlVmYZv15mazkkMBoTVBOdS9oK1rxmCX1fGSAMK9Q9vAP3qwiesclVmfG3UG6pjOoKfaAvO6uBvbVCLceVEm/s1600/pictures+063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4EdwLK4wmp3cJ-UgghBEKOsRrrnH1bFwrpw7WlFXI0qtUDfxVSXY6sYNPlVmYZv15mazkkMBoTVBOdS9oK1rxmCX1fGSAMK9Q9vAP3qwiesclVmfG3UG6pjOoKfaAvO6uBvbVCLceVEm/s400/pictures+063.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">The proposed hospital site (corner of Forest Way and Warringah Rd. Sydney) a remnant area of ancient bushland and a <i>vital</i> wildlife corridor</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
bushland on the 6 hectare land parcel is not your average “scrub”. No, this is
an unusual sub-segment of an already endangered type of woodland called <a href="http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/DuffysForestEcologicalCommunitySydneyEndComListing.htm">Duffys Forest Ecological Community</a> (named after Peter Duffy who was the first man to purchase land in the area). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is basically some of the rarest vegetation on the face of
planet Earth (dominated by tree species that include Red Bloodwood, Silvertop Ash, Brown Stringy Bark and Angophora Costata) </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">and is </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">at real risk of extinction. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The politicians (of most persuasions) don’t know, care or have any
interest in this special element of our natural heritage. They are sadly blind and
blinkered to the environmental values that make this part of the world so extraordinary. Their focus, as usual, is development and economic activity at any cost. Because this project has been designated as being of "state significance", most of the flimsy environmental restrictions that <i>do</i> exist are being overridden.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjvsAi9AwhdYHboquLJUI7OOwi3mAlVRzv3WkoTvskIaKkDQdxkWTq3DTnInf4HmW22TtSxqVtF9ozkzFhNa6vKfACJq0wbLmW6IuKmjmBhO5PxMhXTqCeYNttsKngj_f9n1693zXkEMo/s1600/pictures+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjvsAi9AwhdYHboquLJUI7OOwi3mAlVRzv3WkoTvskIaKkDQdxkWTq3DTnInf4HmW22TtSxqVtF9ozkzFhNa6vKfACJq0wbLmW6IuKmjmBhO5PxMhXTqCeYNttsKngj_f9n1693zXkEMo/s400/pictures+035.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Just off a congested intersection, is this exquisite area of remnant bushland...all will be lost to the bulldozers.</span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> If the hospital is built at this location, it will be curtains
for endangered Powerful Owls, Swamp Wallabies,
Sugar gliders, Bandicoots and other rare
wildlife that survives here against all the odds. Even Koalas and Tiger Quolls have been sighted in this area.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxfJ_ZvdKXeXyK3BnDrmyIG898mniroIHPgg2ZW8ISC-MuG1X6cxSogqFru6IYHtsuCM__lDoMOgqsNS6aydo1Qejo3aLfRMM1OymaV19UlIzwpKXsyU6nIYRVCFRy8bbGIVoR1MYSJ-s/s1600/Powerful+Owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxfJ_ZvdKXeXyK3BnDrmyIG898mniroIHPgg2ZW8ISC-MuG1X6cxSogqFru6IYHtsuCM__lDoMOgqsNS6aydo1Qejo3aLfRMM1OymaV19UlIzwpKXsyU6nIYRVCFRy8bbGIVoR1MYSJ-s/s640/Powerful+Owl.jpg" width="430" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">The Powerful Owl (Nonox Strenua), a threatened (vulnerable) fauna species listed under NSW legislation, has been recorded repeatedly at this site. (photo M Allen)</span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> So, yet more of Warringah’s natural environment
seems destined to be consigned to the history books because of ignorant, misinformed or corrupted, planning decisions. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmfJttLOmSeTwDnFRrWwoATJ82T4nhxKS3L2Sxebb-0ngg7r05VSB_DJzFnhJe0l_MTF_Db7z2BBBs2UFj_tQ0wcmN-fdH728j_MARXKZZbPjJ3tgjH7MM1gxvGYGZ_8g-rXqfoLx1LtT/s1600/pictures+047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmfJttLOmSeTwDnFRrWwoATJ82T4nhxKS3L2Sxebb-0ngg7r05VSB_DJzFnhJe0l_MTF_Db7z2BBBs2UFj_tQ0wcmN-fdH728j_MARXKZZbPjJ3tgjH7MM1gxvGYGZ_8g-rXqfoLx1LtT/s400/pictures+047.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">"</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Duffys Forest Endangered Ecological Community." Already some of the rarest vegetation on Earth.</span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> As much as 70% of
Australia’s native vegetation has been cleared or modified in the past 200
years. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> There should be no excuse to destroy intact, endangered bushland when other, much more suitable, options are available. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJ99WFOxYkiucv40439IikkjQNcqK0XnxfRidBTsjtoSdaSduY-JewWPpbmw90CnL3RDA3akVCybwEtfFJFHosGnYKq6xaszzyzPCDE3_ei1WPTIpckx0hyvTKb3enb02zL1dtnvIvNEV/s1600/pictures+050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJ99WFOxYkiucv40439IikkjQNcqK0XnxfRidBTsjtoSdaSduY-JewWPpbmw90CnL3RDA3akVCybwEtfFJFHosGnYKq6xaszzyzPCDE3_ei1WPTIpckx0hyvTKb3enb02zL1dtnvIvNEV/s400/pictures+050.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Survey marks predict a bleak future for this high conservation value site.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #282527; font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Just down the road,
residents fought a long but losing battle to save bushland in the Manly Dam
catchment from the Ardel Housing development. Endangered listing for the
Duffy's Forest Ecological Community came just too late to stop the project
proceeding .. but the one small consolation was that, supposedly, "it could
never happen again!" Check out this website for the full story:- <a href="http://members.iinet.net.au/~kenhiggs/manlydam/">The fight to save Manly Dam Catchment</a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white; color: #7b2b57; text-decoration: none;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The community tries to save bushland at nearby Manly Dam in 1999 (photo M Allen)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnC3cl5nm5Ql0MKmx6EQETFnBnTqSPv0an48rK77Af5Qnv5DEwt0TZTCVTs9tog3LbTHsM9mmYQwx2ZFtaxbAaippgT1PkQD3O1Xo4k-IMBDcWi4CJ_tAOnZa2kP-a-j5c9lh7yR7rxg1/s1600/Police+move+in+on+protesters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnC3cl5nm5Ql0MKmx6EQETFnBnTqSPv0an48rK77Af5Qnv5DEwt0TZTCVTs9tog3LbTHsM9mmYQwx2ZFtaxbAaippgT1PkQD3O1Xo4k-IMBDcWi4CJ_tAOnZa2kP-a-j5c9lh7yR7rxg1/s400/Police+move+in+on+protesters.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">The Police "Special Patrol Group" move in to remove protesters trying to save endangered "Duffys Forest" bushland at Manly Dam in 1999 (photo M Allen)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Tragically even more "Duffys
Forest" vegetation is earmarked for clearing when the planned widening of
Mona Vale road takes place. Another segment could be compromised by the
proposed Warringah Aquatic Centre expansion. Nearby at Bantry Bay, the
Aboriginal Land Council has sold off sensitive land adjoining Garigal National
Park for a housing estate and the National Parks and Wildlife Services has
announced plans to clear bushland within the National Park itself for a
contentious mountain bike track.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, and somewhat ironically, Warringah Council has created a
website called <a href="http://duffysforest.warringah.nsw.gov.au/"><span style="color: #7b2b57; text-decoration: none;">Duffys Forest
Defenders</span></a> where it states " Some people don't know much
about Duffys Forest and can hurt it without understanding the consequences. if
no-one helps, Duffys Forest may be lost forever." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> It goes on to say that there are
many reasons to retain our bushland including ecological conservation for
diverse flora and fauna; food,habitat and passageways for native animals; protecting threatened species; Aboriginal heritage values; education and
scientific research; scenery, tourism and recreation; pollution reduction and
as a division to urban sprawl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea) an ancient feature of this fragile site.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14.25pt;">The
hospital site lies within the electorate of NSW Planning Minister, Brad
Hazzard. When in opposition, he released plans to turn French's Forest into a
major economic centre,with a hospital being the catalyst for massive commercial
growth. The NSW Treasurer, Mike Baird, whose seat is in neighbouring Manly, has
given full support to this chosen hospital site. </span><br />
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<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Incidentally,when the NSW government
compulsorily acquired the land from the local government jurisdiction of
Warringah Council in 2012, Council agreed to the transfer but with the proviso
that the Duffy's Forest Ecological Community be protected. It was also noted
that "Health Infrastructure will still remain bound by State and
Commonwealth environmental legislation"</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">However..if
the government has its way.....the earth movers will soon be getting another
outing and another magical wild place will be consigned to the history
books. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In late Nov 2013 there was a <a href="http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/northern-beaches/residents-rally-at-northern-beaches-hospital-site/story-fngr8hax-1226769884997"><span style="color: #7b2b57; text-decoration: none;">protest</span></a> rally
on site. If you'd like to join the group fighting to stop this
destruction (whilst also attempting to save existing community hospitals) check
out the <a href="http://healnorthernbeaches.wix.com/frenchsforesthosp">H.E.A.L</a> website.
The short term imperative is that this application (5982) must be referred to a
Planning Assessment Committee where the environmental concerns, plus a host of
other issues, can be thoroughly examined.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDKdvKNqbfoZUUq_YRwRzQcVlt7-Enj3AK3cpHNNmSHi2IEPkBjau57qZIVbtXoI0KseB2RbEsapN-VXpXTWQwjMYRrynaQTPfKdjJGlg_zRC3zDJk8BGhRFqQfhjDRuZgVIhzM8RRR79/s1600/pictures+043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDKdvKNqbfoZUUq_YRwRzQcVlt7-Enj3AK3cpHNNmSHi2IEPkBjau57qZIVbtXoI0KseB2RbEsapN-VXpXTWQwjMYRrynaQTPfKdjJGlg_zRC3zDJk8BGhRFqQfhjDRuZgVIhzM8RRR79/s640/pictures+043.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Going, going ?...A spectacular Persoonia Pinifolia (Pine-leafed Geebung).</span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Mona Vale and Manly hospitals could be upgraded and expanded
at a fraction of the cost of a new development and this site could be conserved
and donated as a precious gift to future generations. Now </span><i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">there's</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> a
healthy alternative!</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Please sign a petition to stop this proposal here</b>:<a href="http://tinyurl.com/n5hze25">Petition</a></span><br />
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<u style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Footnote</u></div>
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<span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">it has been over 20 years since 1,700 senior scientists
(including 104 Nobel Prize winners) signed a document called '<a href="http://www.ucsusa.org/about/1992-world-scientists.html" style="word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: #310099; text-decoration: none;">World
Scientist's Warning to Humanity</span></a>'. The opening words are worth
reading at length:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Human beings and the natural world are on a collision course.
Human activities inflict harsh and often irreversible damage on the environment
and on critical resources. If not checked, many of our current practises put at
risk the future that we wish for human society ... and may so alter the living
world that it will be unable to sustain life in the manner that we know.
Fundamental changes are urgent if we are to avoid the collision our present
course will bring about.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We all know the rest of the story. The warning has not been
heeded and as the 2005<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.maweb.org/" style="word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="color: #310099; text-decoration: none;">Millennial
Ecosystem Assessment<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></a>stated,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em style="word-wrap: break-word;">every
single living system</em><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>on
the planet is in a state of decline and the rate of decline is increasing.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/biodiversity/elements_of_biodiversity/extinction_crisis/">More info on the "extinction crisis"</a></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Check out the following article on the proposed new private hospital and the NSW Nurses and Midwives Assoc plan to campaign against it. By Amy Corderoy, featured in the Sydney Morning Herald, 25.1.2014 <a href="http://m.theage.com.au/nsw/union-plans-mack-truck-of-a-campaign-against-new-hospital-20140124-31e7p.html">SMH story</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In July 2014 bulldozers moved in to clear the critically endangered vegetation. Witnesses say that ancient trees with hollows were knocked over and chipped with scant regard for arboreal wildlife. Representatives from Sydney Wildlife (who care for injured and orphaned native animals and birds) were barred from the site. Seed collectors, hoping to salvage some of the rare plant seeds for trans location were also denied access. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvFMhdW3mnHi9OH6pUTPZICOe2z5-PN_trr1CsS0bSsk6BAZuK6CdVO3Bfj_o46EmjZQXj_m2uanfSyNWHuBTe5u3eWy6AKq5GLt58MjWwieyDIzu-Vk7ODLfHNt5PJ_qztTS809m0GQ4/s1600/Clearing+starts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVvFMhdW3mnHi9OH6pUTPZICOe2z5-PN_trr1CsS0bSsk6BAZuK6CdVO3Bfj_o46EmjZQXj_m2uanfSyNWHuBTe5u3eWy6AKq5GLt58MjWwieyDIzu-Vk7ODLfHNt5PJ_qztTS809m0GQ4/s1600/Clearing+starts.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bulldozing of this irreplaceable remnant of natural Sydney commenced in July 2014</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZ9ltdjgkPctzZDYSHvkWICTc8zQFpDtHLvt6_9Qt37YxkrxmSha9i4rsY8HIlZXAx9oWmOhpznGsosu0hYGWl144Zt4_c9Y5KkykJgwoNZWlE1c_tRIDSo2MT24bYKbB6z60u1y1sntl/s1600/protest23.7.14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZ9ltdjgkPctzZDYSHvkWICTc8zQFpDtHLvt6_9Qt37YxkrxmSha9i4rsY8HIlZXAx9oWmOhpznGsosu0hYGWl144Zt4_c9Y5KkykJgwoNZWlE1c_tRIDSo2MT24bYKbB6z60u1y1sntl/s1600/protest23.7.14.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Community members bear witness to the carnage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Jan 2016). Constructing massive new road networks around the new Northern Beaches Hospital facility now means that a further <b>6.1</b> hectares of the (fast disappearing) "Duffys Forest Endangered Ecological Community" will be cleared. Full gloomy details are listed in this <a href="https://majorprojects.affinitylive.com/public/6ccd91762adc317b46c60a98a7abcd19/11.%20Appendix%20E_Biodiversity.pdf">Biodiversity Assessment Report.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Footnote..if you could see the destruction and loss of vegetation today...you would weep.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqOBlgjze1d0Q2zWujoqeSNuEBoROZyCxOfhr8dbs9UDy51RFAbJuDCBBfEpXsvaopqmUeNyX3hrE7HtdA2Auq5JVXKD7GOXuQuPEVzo-_4QSJgfxGG5LFwJ2JnfOyAp_3xy5GBMivpYJ/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqOBlgjze1d0Q2zWujoqeSNuEBoROZyCxOfhr8dbs9UDy51RFAbJuDCBBfEpXsvaopqmUeNyX3hrE7HtdA2Auq5JVXKD7GOXuQuPEVzo-_4QSJgfxGG5LFwJ2JnfOyAp_3xy5GBMivpYJ/s640/012.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-24236098434650112412013-12-26T16:09:00.000+11:002013-12-26T16:15:50.237+11:00Infrequent flyers<div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Butterflies used to be so prolific that excitable
children would run after them with huge nets in an urge to fulfill their megalomanic urge for bright fluttery things.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Avaricious c</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">ollectors
would pin the fragile little thoraxes of butterflies onto display boards to
show off their hunting prowess. In Victorian times, the pursuit of butterflies
bordered on being a community obsession. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Of course these days, now that butterfly visits have become a rarity, we know much better than to harm them
directly.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">The gardening commentators
still fail to make the simple connection between caterpillars and butterflies
though.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">If it looks remotely like a
caterpillar, then they reckon it should be poisoned, squashed or otherwise eradicated
from the neatly manicured, grub free, back yards that they champion.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5pHUmOS9-BIm5nZxUawJfkRrIsmSHDbwoZOrqDL8baA_AaA7KyvRnkqI3J_dMvkIpLI1OKzZbYwkhz6DBP_CoeHgzgrwNu4Vx71hSqtFD10877g1xEFgy1XlSeHEysxWRfAwWoOuBmhA/s1600/cropped+Graphium+sarpedon2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5pHUmOS9-BIm5nZxUawJfkRrIsmSHDbwoZOrqDL8baA_AaA7KyvRnkqI3J_dMvkIpLI1OKzZbYwkhz6DBP_CoeHgzgrwNu4Vx71hSqtFD10877g1xEFgy1XlSeHEysxWRfAwWoOuBmhA/s640/cropped+Graphium+sarpedon2.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>A Graphium Sarpedon or Blue Triangle Butterfly found in parts of Australia and South Asia, known for their habit of feeding by the edge of puddles. Did you know that a butterfly's sense of taste is 200 times stronger than a human's!</i></span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> The fact that one day...those caterpillars would, magically transform themselves into beautiful and highly effective
pollinators...seems to interest them not one jot. And the likelihood that waging chemical
warfare on caterpillars will then have a domino effect on beneficial insects
and birds would never enter their horticultural heads.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Bm2fiNU1ep4faxH0rwNGQP4PeKox69rNgpOlDG4FS98am0mhepNHsApF3Sg23lqr4YV8RBC8eKc4l6iPAo5sJQHWdwxPcTYnjVCBwS5SPc4QtY32qOscZ4ZneOs5hhr41ATxI0a-BHK-/s1600/Euploea+Core+Butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Bm2fiNU1ep4faxH0rwNGQP4PeKox69rNgpOlDG4FS98am0mhepNHsApF3Sg23lqr4YV8RBC8eKc4l6iPAo5sJQHWdwxPcTYnjVCBwS5SPc4QtY32qOscZ4ZneOs5hhr41ATxI0a-BHK-/s640/Euploea+Core+Butterfly.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>The Australian crow (Euploea Core) Butterfly. One of the most common migrating butterfly species</i></span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Butterflies have been on this planet for 40 or 50
million years and there are a between 15,000 and 20,000 species worldwide, but,
thanks to habitat destruction and the use of pesticides, their numbers are in
steep decline. In North America, the journey of the Monarch butterfly is
heralded as a natural wonder of mass migration. Millions of these brilliantly
coloured creatures flutter over 3,000 kilometers from the US to Mexico to
hibernate. But now their numbers are decreasing from around 100 million to less
than half that (and falling) due to logging, development and the loss of native
Milkweed plants that they rely on for sustenance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of the drivers causing butterfly decline is
gardeners and the fact that they almost invariable eschew endemic native plants for foreign cultivars. American naturalist Benjamin Vogt made these observations –<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">“</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">We need to be gardening for insects as much if not
more than ourselves. We talk about vegetable gardening as this holistic, green,
wonderful thing to do for the planet -- but why don't we ever talk about
ornamental gardening for insects and larvae? We garden for butterflies (too often with
butterfly bush), but we don't garden with the plants they evolved with to eat. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">We need to
stop gardening solely for ourselves and see the incredible, beautiful,
soul-magnifying existence that happens when we open up our gardens to the rest
of the local environment by using native plants. We believe in giving to the
needy and poor of our own species, and to other causes near our hearts, why not
the birds, insect pollinators, amphibians right out back in the gardens we
supposedly cherish so much?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEtEvuufua93IpCvOEQbp5oRbAeQdrGBYMn9mkNSBwYSwtkGiQro4yXsCHRyWNei8ZfBaIU6MSfhsURrdBGM3ijaFSyxMWerkkzwRzadgSc1tbiYvS-Q3eOO-ZMiwR1inuv6MMWd1ZjA1/s1600/wasp+moth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcEtEvuufua93IpCvOEQbp5oRbAeQdrGBYMn9mkNSBwYSwtkGiQro4yXsCHRyWNei8ZfBaIU6MSfhsURrdBGM3ijaFSyxMWerkkzwRzadgSc1tbiYvS-Q3eOO-ZMiwR1inuv6MMWd1ZjA1/s640/wasp+moth.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><i>Wasp Moth (Eressa Angustipenna). Found in NSW, Queensland and the Philippines.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s all pretty simple really… to
create a well balanced, backyard eco-system, we need to restore the endemic trees, shrubs,
ground-covers and grasses that existed there originally. Don’t use herbicides or pesticides remove
exotic weeds by hand and gradually the natural order and hopefully the butterflies will return. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
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Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-74640970983107196522013-12-17T16:17:00.000+11:002013-12-17T16:29:04.154+11:00The Manly Fringe 2013<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's an end of year montage of some of the natural beauty to be found inland from Sydney's Northern Beaches...and a glimpse at a few of the community initiatives designed to help retain it.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxTeH0XRzmQKsgc5FRshy5QtEOM_N_n-7AmJGiLZtoVgWmAgvEIDy6qAqILu_9QcQ1-8jYipMaan2aG6_lBModBQ-NbAm_ytIwiuYGx5PumNd48ihXmKbZi0Cx2bkILW7pEOPwT5W4PuF/s1600/manlydamview1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxTeH0XRzmQKsgc5FRshy5QtEOM_N_n-7AmJGiLZtoVgWmAgvEIDy6qAqILu_9QcQ1-8jYipMaan2aG6_lBModBQ-NbAm_ytIwiuYGx5PumNd48ihXmKbZi0Cx2bkILW7pEOPwT5W4PuF/s400/manlydamview1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Manly Dam Bushland..<i>always</i> in need of more protection</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs28LLNp2fAhPajzfdyHDW3OczGmywTxh3i4DDHbR00YzOkAe1p2ViH-aIzcFAy1OJDcGM7UrYqobFjpnz9hUR3nlre8KpGiQYFnUww4QN4aPLJtWYjyWIAhnRALTpPfJksbIo0-W2IkXZ/s1600/Alan+Izzard+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs28LLNp2fAhPajzfdyHDW3OczGmywTxh3i4DDHbR00YzOkAe1p2ViH-aIzcFAy1OJDcGM7UrYqobFjpnz9hUR3nlre8KpGiQYFnUww4QN4aPLJtWYjyWIAhnRALTpPfJksbIo0-W2IkXZ/s400/Alan+Izzard+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mermaid Pool, Manly Vale, a focal point for conservation efforts.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIK9cjMCqInLWIwttcu6ePLNSP6Zq-YmxFe1Kx8B8U99qWHgsKhOPld30FmoFnvh3S6txWy85wmU9-sluJkcTUkkbmtYdy3HmdlTyaQbP6dO8BkKmM6wFo54Zz1Bw_nU84DMpzcJp2qq0/s1600/Picture+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIK9cjMCqInLWIwttcu6ePLNSP6Zq-YmxFe1Kx8B8U99qWHgsKhOPld30FmoFnvh3S6txWy85wmU9-sluJkcTUkkbmtYdy3HmdlTyaQbP6dO8BkKmM6wFo54Zz1Bw_nU84DMpzcJp2qq0/s400/Picture+029.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A volunteer team removing invasive weeds as part of the <a href="http://www.cleanup.org.au/au/SpecialProjects/mermaid--s-pool-fix-up-project.html">"Return of the Mermaids"</a> restoration project.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRnYtvNMlKSVyJGYk-Ev73v6CeSSMmnZkjYDnZWnyjkBeaprTCXs6rQy1SWR-HtV3HYvYDwv6ytCjw3nRgzCDByrkRuQd3fkPHCzu3P5Yxkp4GHnPO5o28qGqGMVszItWvE4DuErce-3j/s1600/Andrew+and+Wol+removingspraycans+from+Manly+Creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRnYtvNMlKSVyJGYk-Ev73v6CeSSMmnZkjYDnZWnyjkBeaprTCXs6rQy1SWR-HtV3HYvYDwv6ytCjw3nRgzCDByrkRuQd3fkPHCzu3P5Yxkp4GHnPO5o28qGqGMVszItWvE4DuErce-3j/s400/Andrew+and+Wol+removingspraycans+from+Manly+Creek.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Community members "rescuing" graffiti spray cans discarded in Manly Creek.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vLbOZskSeT5Bvh-gNgwgmOhSMwDcC2PdOMbsS8v2zMbGdbj3OUOdZVtdJsGnqLuAwbE1kw8Q1d9dJhSIxpPthvbYEDFqEIEiVkH8h4bsqVEh7-OGbNl8Q6H534JjXQjxfrJgSxxf81e4/s1600/Bushlink+pic+of+Orara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vLbOZskSeT5Bvh-gNgwgmOhSMwDcC2PdOMbsS8v2zMbGdbj3OUOdZVtdJsGnqLuAwbE1kw8Q1d9dJhSIxpPthvbYEDFqEIEiVkH8h4bsqVEh7-OGbNl8Q6H534JjXQjxfrJgSxxf81e4/s400/Bushlink+pic+of+Orara.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Orara Reserve, Allambie. Gradually being restored from weed invasion by <a href="http://bushlink.org.au/index.html">Bushlink</a>, Beach School and Save Manly Dam Catchment Committee</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCF5Hz6Jg3Ta2Os_qqm0Z-pGmN8SRpbPhY_GqQ3T-030h6zLRu4uYCCFgQeK8ctaR603k2LcUNBqp9Rnp2aAzU43PRjMTabx9p953dIJBpcI_w-AmXSLjBByxmt0UmMhqQ5cWwr_8OVgjw/s1600/Callistomen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCF5Hz6Jg3Ta2Os_qqm0Z-pGmN8SRpbPhY_GqQ3T-030h6zLRu4uYCCFgQeK8ctaR603k2LcUNBqp9Rnp2aAzU43PRjMTabx9p953dIJBpcI_w-AmXSLjBByxmt0UmMhqQ5cWwr_8OVgjw/s400/Callistomen.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Avenue of Endemic Native Plants to Commemorate the Wartime Service</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">of the Merchant Navy (Manly Vale). <a href="http://www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/content/king-st-avenue-honour">King St, Avenue of Honour</a> </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeorGvlL3wocGWtcbQuGVdQp3WoOKU_spfUuRmm9T4bZTsS_IB-6wsG7jkOhbWH46QGLcQ6107vd_gNYiDMmd1lhMzSoEX8PN_7yUnZi8e2hmN7IUs2XEeD81S0mD2TIzP9k31g1Ehw8O/s1600/Photos+from+Iphone+088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeorGvlL3wocGWtcbQuGVdQp3WoOKU_spfUuRmm9T4bZTsS_IB-6wsG7jkOhbWH46QGLcQ6107vd_gNYiDMmd1lhMzSoEX8PN_7yUnZi8e2hmN7IUs2XEeD81S0mD2TIzP9k31g1Ehw8O/s400/Photos+from+Iphone+088.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Beautiful Gumbooya Reserve, Allambie...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RtE1qecgguR6oELQhQSsBWZ5qTUToHyHJqkuBljpTIsk6OMvuuWeHRx8GTYMpa4O_REG7LvGOnTWxx5-4o7pbIQdJHVE6b-v-3gmhJmGpeI-Y432xHQnpAgqN6LXlS_-QUQAUUDJunK4/s1600/The+Michaels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RtE1qecgguR6oELQhQSsBWZ5qTUToHyHJqkuBljpTIsk6OMvuuWeHRx8GTYMpa4O_REG7LvGOnTWxx5-4o7pbIQdJHVE6b-v-3gmhJmGpeI-Y432xHQnpAgqN6LXlS_-QUQAUUDJunK4/s320/The+Michaels.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">...cared for by a volunteer team as part of <a href="http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/environment/bushland/friends-bush">"Friends of the Bush"</a></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzXnVb1PsOCYDIctaeCtjDLUErDUJVSbeN44TPKT437U8HWnuxfNlFgt3OBdxFRvQNFUW2pTkBWU3ecQFefP3z7Djo3LokRNGdJdI79xw_vhFonRANfWBEbu4-OSGj77Vq48tezBC3fh_/s1600/Brushtail+possum+box+going+up!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzXnVb1PsOCYDIctaeCtjDLUErDUJVSbeN44TPKT437U8HWnuxfNlFgt3OBdxFRvQNFUW2pTkBWU3ecQFefP3z7Djo3LokRNGdJdI79xw_vhFonRANfWBEbu4-OSGj77Vq48tezBC3fh_/s400/Brushtail+possum+box+going+up!.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Local residents putting up nesting boxes for native wildlife (This one is for a Brushtail Possum)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryaI7slkkoPE3R1nUHzz0Hn9XNoL38waOh5C_AOJmccSfn_pXoa4IEZdvgo37OYqx9kMFBWAFa4LtSTswLct3SpB57iMxr5P_K8d4oknBaQC5wu88sGOQCbiI-7szTyDS93TVeV_ezzao/s1600/Photos+from+Iphone+165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryaI7slkkoPE3R1nUHzz0Hn9XNoL38waOh5C_AOJmccSfn_pXoa4IEZdvgo37OYqx9kMFBWAFa4LtSTswLct3SpB57iMxr5P_K8d4oknBaQC5wu88sGOQCbiI-7szTyDS93TVeV_ezzao/s400/Photos+from+Iphone+165.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Restored rock outcrop with remnant native species, Manly Vale</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9SmcHa1CKEbgkbn7TS0SxwWpvmuX4cLCQVnRsxjenmP6_batkvkAlDm2MrOMNayjLJqYsYlAs-_K2k13oguR8Udc9eUfDA6aYrZ18pMwIZzjiDrLDAQARUBx4wo-DTqk02hvo1vjNTel/s1600/juvenile+flying+fox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9SmcHa1CKEbgkbn7TS0SxwWpvmuX4cLCQVnRsxjenmP6_batkvkAlDm2MrOMNayjLJqYsYlAs-_K2k13oguR8Udc9eUfDA6aYrZ18pMwIZzjiDrLDAQARUBx4wo-DTqk02hvo1vjNTel/s400/juvenile+flying+fox.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Juvenile orphaned Flying Fox being looked after by a volunteer from <a href="http://www.sydneywildlife.org.au/">Sydney Wildlife</a></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNR57CK_ej4GKuC7yn4it2Z8U6rEiVIbvDogsinCirxf3tqsMAYR8WPC5YVdyovqu6SGyPOcQcdfEpmjQJ7eR8tasQaVe_oHsov21o2rgookRPxlcM5eXmF3fXfI_cNTJ52GxqMqnJhKra/s1600/Great+Egret+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNR57CK_ej4GKuC7yn4it2Z8U6rEiVIbvDogsinCirxf3tqsMAYR8WPC5YVdyovqu6SGyPOcQcdfEpmjQJ7eR8tasQaVe_oHsov21o2rgookRPxlcM5eXmF3fXfI_cNTJ52GxqMqnJhKra/s400/Great+Egret+3.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A Great Egret visits a Manly Vale pond looking for food </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQMG78raK57aSW42yKimZlwxfTPhn5ugGvOZRCYXzD4D1Rf1d4cb9f53pyjexW34-01BLxxfcipVQU2QNVtXz286O8J2V62etGg1Fd91gKfaBuxsS5ElJ7ZM5SqvfJFs6gB8W4ChjBp7X/s1600/Comelina1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQMG78raK57aSW42yKimZlwxfTPhn5ugGvOZRCYXzD4D1Rf1d4cb9f53pyjexW34-01BLxxfcipVQU2QNVtXz286O8J2V62etGg1Fd91gKfaBuxsS5ElJ7ZM5SqvfJFs6gB8W4ChjBp7X/s400/Comelina1.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Native Commelina Cyanea is also called "Scurvy Weed" as it was eaten by early European settlers to avoid scurvy (it contains Vitamin C)</span> </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKdfxZGLBFCzD1ze6bgS_FUqO77kyLAgagkr_hqSaI4N6CnNqwoGrwWGqiLYVVEgdTGTEJ1OktAtbgQ_g0kwDHk30weBA55yu7XQ3tZbiyf33CEkC2e8H2F_-0h1D9Qr8b5kVntfSQ7kE/s1600/cropped+Graphium+sarpedon2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKdfxZGLBFCzD1ze6bgS_FUqO77kyLAgagkr_hqSaI4N6CnNqwoGrwWGqiLYVVEgdTGTEJ1OktAtbgQ_g0kwDHk30weBA55yu7XQ3tZbiyf33CEkC2e8H2F_-0h1D9Qr8b5kVntfSQ7kE/s400/cropped+Graphium+sarpedon2.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A spectacular Blue Triangle butterfly (Graphium Sarpedon) visits a Manly Vale garden</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86Q-NgRQs5AD-xUZoKTQ-shl49NwrMSew3P5RtNJUbVOYJ1iktAJ3sXv34xyHdyk8a-RcqTzTnfb4rKuGvArr92XFO-a1XrAHJutvIwRSVCdXGJae1xRXySorivdPXFhr_ZalGx6tMZmg/s1600/camouflaged+katydid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86Q-NgRQs5AD-xUZoKTQ-shl49NwrMSew3P5RtNJUbVOYJ1iktAJ3sXv34xyHdyk8a-RcqTzTnfb4rKuGvArr92XFO-a1XrAHJutvIwRSVCdXGJae1xRXySorivdPXFhr_ZalGx6tMZmg/s400/camouflaged+katydid.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Spot the camouflaged Katydid</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Yq1rOoKNTwF-0zKRYN3G3tlFg0q88s3UNPIIwN8B4d4hX3IKxKnwuHSQpREOWrGcl7NxrYauBuLQJTdVl-cw7vljRzhL9zElgvoPVjCQQhOh7dLxX67C7-bzzfrBaLqzvgk33eJWx6ug/s1600/epacris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Yq1rOoKNTwF-0zKRYN3G3tlFg0q88s3UNPIIwN8B4d4hX3IKxKnwuHSQpREOWrGcl7NxrYauBuLQJTdVl-cw7vljRzhL9zElgvoPVjCQQhOh7dLxX67C7-bzzfrBaLqzvgk33eJWx6ug/s400/epacris.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gorgeous Apacris Longiflora (Fuschia Heath) at Manly's "North Head"</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWYKGX-tt2iCPq-zm2YnHq8z5Ke6x0Iar7GqprpvdLj_Y2oms9vbEoSawSaDqgqn2kaY1XOPY4Ah9UG4W8r_LjOmhebTrhwL-D1G2TZJZoElN57r5PI3MrxXNxRtgdn1MJE3IxXEUBvEn/s1600/Ringtail+Possums.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWYKGX-tt2iCPq-zm2YnHq8z5Ke6x0Iar7GqprpvdLj_Y2oms9vbEoSawSaDqgqn2kaY1XOPY4Ah9UG4W8r_LjOmhebTrhwL-D1G2TZJZoElN57r5PI3MrxXNxRtgdn1MJE3IxXEUBvEn/s400/Ringtail+Possums.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ringtail possums. (Two very special Manly Vale locals).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaW24Tw94D5dLI1_NkvtokkLc1kwEgc0gtRUCbIhWaqqpmjgHxuFc24vROKhlVbGvrDSkwoT7ER-RwXaRqvHcgG5e5g08wxfrVXRavqx8MTMgI1wGv_KPtML06KuPqN68xRnaU9qdVo1ua/s1600/A+Juvenile,+yet+ancient,+Manly+Vale+Resident..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaW24Tw94D5dLI1_NkvtokkLc1kwEgc0gtRUCbIhWaqqpmjgHxuFc24vROKhlVbGvrDSkwoT7ER-RwXaRqvHcgG5e5g08wxfrVXRavqx8MTMgI1wGv_KPtML06KuPqN68xRnaU9qdVo1ua/s400/A+Juvenile,+yet+ancient,+Manly+Vale+Resident..jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A juvenile yet ancient member of the Manly Vale community.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYq7YSAtz8nhFm_bXKFgvABrJSzOzpziM7kYaqbVDWayBcj-3VfIrHo86x5FFjArtlW6q-zvH2v5o_euzztv3Rs5FR8HHefG6y9Ecc-ARXkTRzhfXB3Bo_aP0ezFy3GzD4oq6Fux96p9p/s1600/Coral+fern2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYq7YSAtz8nhFm_bXKFgvABrJSzOzpziM7kYaqbVDWayBcj-3VfIrHo86x5FFjArtlW6q-zvH2v5o_euzztv3Rs5FR8HHefG6y9Ecc-ARXkTRzhfXB3Bo_aP0ezFy3GzD4oq6Fux96p9p/s400/Coral+fern2.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Magnificent Coral Fern at Freshwater</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zkYOIoI0wP5ALg4l2KYjJic1y6fhkCnYXYXo1LiTCWwkQemEJeJRymIDCMPyufX6mqkYL17wZZW1GfhnaQqtpIHf95tnkoQBlKroOKRW9hTyKLuPQ7vXEarw7BO2CYEyJMMV7AQ5sbt_/s1600/Angophora+Costata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zkYOIoI0wP5ALg4l2KYjJic1y6fhkCnYXYXo1LiTCWwkQemEJeJRymIDCMPyufX6mqkYL17wZZW1GfhnaQqtpIHf95tnkoQBlKroOKRW9hTyKLuPQ7vXEarw7BO2CYEyJMMV7AQ5sbt_/s400/Angophora+Costata.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Angophora Costata (smooth-barked apple)..a truly wonderful tree</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjr8NkZljZabghcfGCvXyy67H03MzKgaF-cHtOdVZz9ZEZqB5_vl0gvivJWiKH8Tt29Tam9LkInU-q07t1ruobHEFLgAyM5tg_mDGGk8KeaZk3GPjwCV7w1VFyxSCgextQ_jNfWwr4RwD/s1600/clematis1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjr8NkZljZabghcfGCvXyy67H03MzKgaF-cHtOdVZz9ZEZqB5_vl0gvivJWiKH8Tt29Tam9LkInU-q07t1ruobHEFLgAyM5tg_mDGGk8KeaZk3GPjwCV7w1VFyxSCgextQ_jNfWwr4RwD/s400/clematis1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Stunning Clematis Aristata (old man's beard) at Manly Golf Course...a star amongst native plants</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope you've had a great year..please treasure and protect your own local native animals and plants...<i>wherever</i> you may be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-41500988117642588572013-12-06T07:57:00.000+11:002013-12-06T07:57:36.040+11:00Swanning Around Manly<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There’s
nothing quite as exquisitely, elegantly, beautiful as a swan is there? And
Black Swans seem to take the word “gracefulness” to a whole new dusky level. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Europeans believed that all swans were white, until “gobsmacked” Dutch
explorers came across the black variety in Western Australia in 1836 (a “black
swan event” has since been used to describe an historical incident that was
unprecedented and unexpected).</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The
Black Swan is a highly nomadic bird with an erratic migration pattern,
dependent on food availability and climatic conditions. It is native to
Australasia but has been reintroduced to New Zealand , where it had been hunted
to extinction.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Dee
Why Lagoon, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches was once home to a large colony of
swans which fed on the prolific sea grass. The “useless swamps” surrounding the
lagoon were systematically drained to enable urban development and the living
birds largely disappeared -their image, ironically, being retained in symbolic
form to represent the suburb (one wag believed that the swan logo should have
been replaced by the crane!)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> In
recent times, small numbers of black swans have tentatively returned to the
area but dog attacks, the ingestion of fish hooks and human interference has
lead to a perilous existence. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You’re
most likely to observe Black Swans on larger bodies of water because they lose
all of their flight feathers after breeding and are unable to fly for a month.
They settle on lakes and lagoons, therefore, for relative safety. They are
almost exclusively herbivorous, feeding on aquatic, marshland and pasture
plants and algae. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Black
Swans breed mainly in the southeast and southwest of the continent, they are
monogamous and share incubation and cygnet rearing duties between the sexes.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRTs-IGWoZpQNGSoLszBrn85o7C2Vr12mK1POjsavbIAbnYO2sNRUA7ZL14ealZdpyVbcxaOQaSSQFjJ7ZMGEE_ST3S5qD4ES0exfn7HTXC6kPkiH0ZLSJE763V9yDRhCmSMGBhVmVQMD/s1600/Black+Swan+at+Manly+dam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRTs-IGWoZpQNGSoLszBrn85o7C2Vr12mK1POjsavbIAbnYO2sNRUA7ZL14ealZdpyVbcxaOQaSSQFjJ7ZMGEE_ST3S5qD4ES0exfn7HTXC6kPkiH0ZLSJE763V9yDRhCmSMGBhVmVQMD/s640/Black+Swan+at+Manly+dam.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Black Swan at Manly Dam</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Black swan (Cygnus Atratus)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Size:
120cm to 142cm<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Weight
6kg<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wingspan:
2 metres<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Breeding
Season: June to September<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Clutch
size: Up to 9 eggs taking 35 days to hatch<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lifespan:
Up to 40 years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-92176184745049332142013-10-30T14:38:00.001+11:002020-08-04T06:14:29.138+10:00The Lost Rocks of Sydney (Part 2)<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The Dilema:</span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">In
“part one” of this report, we discovered that most of the lovely rocky outcrops,
dotted around Sydney like gigantic unclaimed parcels, were in a “spot of bother”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">These hulking great edifices have been
gradually entangled by deviously aggressive weeds. Most of them now lie
ensnared, their original biodiversity choked and suffocating... or already expired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">One
of the monumental “lost rocks”, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, epitomised this
miserable scenario. It was besieged by
the “Who’s Who” of invasive species. And these are the main culprits:- Fishbone
Fern, English Ivy, Japanese Honey Suckle, Asparagus Fern, Lantana, Ochna,
Crucifix Orchid, Buffalo Grass, Mother
of Millions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">The Solution:</span></u><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><b> </b> The small team of volunteers from <i>Rock
Face Renaissance</i> gradually worked to remove the weeds, rescue the surviving
endemic plants and rejuvenate this
cascading colossus of historic stone. Never in the field of weed removal, were so many green bins filled, by so few.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The Result?<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">Resurrection,
resuscitation and renewal! A beautiful
stone feature has been revealed after years of neglect and what’s left of the
indigenous flora and fauna has room to breathe once more.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Check out these <i>before</i> and <i>after</i> shots:-</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxm5VjgqlPxAKFD_VNUO_3kfT-d8sCGo6YeyPWuuKR-wF5QwQBGTXY1lXJZPO8Hp1Q15y3_YaBawJiLd0XOu-UrVFIwEKhydhgXg5OMlfufdoG_DIfg0ixRA-ilxZZHav-TFh4F_P09po/s1600/Photos+from+Iphone+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxm5VjgqlPxAKFD_VNUO_3kfT-d8sCGo6YeyPWuuKR-wF5QwQBGTXY1lXJZPO8Hp1Q15y3_YaBawJiLd0XOu-UrVFIwEKhydhgXg5OMlfufdoG_DIfg0ixRA-ilxZZHav-TFh4F_P09po/s400/Photos+from+Iphone+100.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">This was then..</span><br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And these are now...!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dl2gJLvgUpNjOZeUC1tLoXrWZOWBP0flCVijCwR-aHjp9UYswlFjxrlEs5AQWf2iBOlS4i06vNM-mxphX2WlssdLFqycWKW9qsNewl569VQorCao8RcIqNxd_BcfWaQ2_X15hZk6x-6U/s1600/Photos+from+Iphone+170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dl2gJLvgUpNjOZeUC1tLoXrWZOWBP0flCVijCwR-aHjp9UYswlFjxrlEs5AQWf2iBOlS4i06vNM-mxphX2WlssdLFqycWKW9qsNewl569VQorCao8RcIqNxd_BcfWaQ2_X15hZk6x-6U/s400/Photos+from+Iphone+170.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">It's amazing what was hidden beneath all those weeds</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUm3jyYynRuzK8HwMHUctcvfUwiIHFuvvafdwlDWVuVu-GwkIBJ-SE-1HhJ6F5cHkFrOrYegO0-WlP1ELRODWamt65APX0QAwoU213YKr6ELfed9OOzW7ctJ-o8HoUFz6OJrPvVlzb5VQ/s1600/Photos+from+Iphone+165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUm3jyYynRuzK8HwMHUctcvfUwiIHFuvvafdwlDWVuVu-GwkIBJ-SE-1HhJ6F5cHkFrOrYegO0-WlP1ELRODWamt65APX0QAwoU213YKr6ELfed9OOzW7ctJ-o8HoUFz6OJrPvVlzb5VQ/s400/Photos+from+Iphone+165.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">The native flora shines through!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJ8EVRImPaNYl2JTUrPZp-0geOohG6WB4OzggiU0yKP9paacDGAYMXVocWOny0Cj5op8ak9CJ6QKlUTN6bf8KiN8J0PRtDs6JTu1cctvqDLUormIIeP2ksIHmds02ZYVlsxAvh4l9nmBq/s1600/Photos+from+Iphone+166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJ8EVRImPaNYl2JTUrPZp-0geOohG6WB4OzggiU0yKP9paacDGAYMXVocWOny0Cj5op8ak9CJ6QKlUTN6bf8KiN8J0PRtDs6JTu1cctvqDLUormIIeP2ksIHmds02ZYVlsxAvh4l9nmBq/s400/Photos+from+Iphone+166.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Concealed "treasures" revealed!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVG4HpoC6O0X7p4Y8Szakegss9IWeno4Uy_8J7ULbk5-P61gYlPIaXZ5Ss6-2GVWzRsCCJPZIwzOO6rB2IbNM4Bd_A6D8ieKmn6nVb8QkZChbuQE_nDdDJrlyEL0WJ1OOhVtRmiKhgDrrb/s1600/Photos+from+Iphone+171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVG4HpoC6O0X7p4Y8Szakegss9IWeno4Uy_8J7ULbk5-P61gYlPIaXZ5Ss6-2GVWzRsCCJPZIwzOO6rB2IbNM4Bd_A6D8ieKmn6nVb8QkZChbuQE_nDdDJrlyEL0WJ1OOhVtRmiKhgDrrb/s400/Photos+from+Iphone+171.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">On top of the rock, some Lomandras have survived underneath a carpet of weeds!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBZIJnfUBmXntjwimd2L9aDbS8j7T3gKxcPlUGDExYjbJtdDzJ6FiHgc0T_CMrdYd4g9AP0k7fpgb7-XVumF6RuxD5Z6qAqt3-g-VXddXCf4Kzv8ZurH76-GQMJyPtTSWrwJDSh-gXo2B/s1600/Photos+from+Iphone+172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBZIJnfUBmXntjwimd2L9aDbS8j7T3gKxcPlUGDExYjbJtdDzJ6FiHgc0T_CMrdYd4g9AP0k7fpgb7-XVumF6RuxD5Z6qAqt3-g-VXddXCf4Kzv8ZurH76-GQMJyPtTSWrwJDSh-gXo2B/s400/Photos+from+Iphone+172.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">And a tiny Acacia Terminalis (Sunshine Wattle) germinates.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-size: medium; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">If only <i>more </i>of Sydney’s "lost rocks" can be saved before it’s too late. If you have any examples of rocky outcrops in need of salvation or require help with some rock rescue..email <a href="mailto:thegreenmanly@gmail.com">thegreenmanly@gmail.com</a></span></div>
</div>
<br /></div>
Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-33242721121005403112013-10-12T09:48:00.003+11:002020-08-04T06:34:25.509+10:00The Lost Rocks of Sydney...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclua-SdPUPd76-cNUbM2HqNtDIFYXvajYrBtKTkacVxP9jq0e-Kp5p2O1-om4lxBIl_SP2-zsc1SupqNB19TcZmydcTBfV8iSQUNovQ7UCKKv6cDHLrDUujS0LUKM9gP_Cf57ZlxDJuGO/s1600/Warringah+Asthma+weed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclua-SdPUPd76-cNUbM2HqNtDIFYXvajYrBtKTkacVxP9jq0e-Kp5p2O1-om4lxBIl_SP2-zsc1SupqNB19TcZmydcTBfV8iSQUNovQ7UCKKv6cDHLrDUujS0LUKM9gP_Cf57ZlxDJuGO/s400/Warringah+Asthma+weed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some
of the enduring features of Sydney are the wonderful sandstone outcrops which
are dotted around the city and suburbs. In fact, this metropolis is built on top of a giant swathe of sandstone around
50 metres thick. The eroded matter was brought here around 200 million years
ago, in the form of sandy deposits, by an ancient river. Many of Sydney’s
iconic old colonial buildings are made from this attractive yellow-brown material.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"> Immense
bulky formations of sculptural sandstone sit heavily at the end of cul-de-sacs, hover broodingly over backyard gardens or majestically frame
our beaches. They were mostly too hard to shift when the bulldozers came
through, so they were often skirted around and left in a lumpen "too hard basket". Today they are somber and
silent reminders of a lost landscape, a forgotten time, an ancient past. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> These
rocky edifices also harbour some of our last remnant suburban biodiversity; ferns, trees
and bushes that tenaciously cling to the surviving islands of undeveloped
land. The outcrops don’t have a lot of naturally occurring plant-life on them but the species
that do (or <i>should</i>) exist, are critical to the fauna of these nutrient poor and thermally
stressed environments</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> Almost
from day one, post European settlement, these native plant refuges have been under siege from invaders. Tenacious weeds were unthinkingly brought here from
overseas such as English Ivy, Morning Glory, Asparagus fern, Mother of
Millions, Lantana, Honeysuckle and Agapanthus. These, and other opportunistic plants such as Fishbone fern are now blanketing the rock faces and
crowding out the indigenous specimens.
Chances are, <i>most</i> of Sydney’s signature rocky outcrops are all
but invisible, literally buried beneath a festoon of introduced species.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"> One example, among a multitude, is the towering rocky cliff featured below. It was blanketed by a thick green curtain of weeds,
but the promise of something special hiding unobtrusively beneath was still
evident.</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> The
guys from <i>Rock Face Renaissance</i> decided to move in for a exercise in rejuvenation. Check out what happened..</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgr55M1r4Tep3VFgmRPjGQRx0FBr72VSLA7lmt36xUiCIRFPhKFpTSw_GGrohdREP7rWS7DdBJ8p73b6-sfhLOAzWd7PYo0jybZdBp5W3L1VtumcdFWomo73ZyH4u8k63pLr8yvLyD7pC/s1600/Photos+from+Iphone+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgr55M1r4Tep3VFgmRPjGQRx0FBr72VSLA7lmt36xUiCIRFPhKFpTSw_GGrohdREP7rWS7DdBJ8p73b6-sfhLOAzWd7PYo0jybZdBp5W3L1VtumcdFWomo73ZyH4u8k63pLr8yvLyD7pC/s400/Photos+from+Iphone+100.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This was the subject rock face before the "renewal" </span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVpg7M3WXEpSDaCUZOarDRNAo6XnLpIKbvoM3EBHMUF-iph-agtOoZs2AEPyq69-JQ4ygVP5AUzRv11S3Lmb0QbI8y7R5zqdOx05jMPSYVqFTE_lnirO61vAglAvfkBhUxd5T3QPGG8-S/s1600/Photos+from+Iphone+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVpg7M3WXEpSDaCUZOarDRNAo6XnLpIKbvoM3EBHMUF-iph-agtOoZs2AEPyq69-JQ4ygVP5AUzRv11S3Lmb0QbI8y7R5zqdOx05jMPSYVqFTE_lnirO61vAglAvfkBhUxd5T3QPGG8-S/s400/Photos+from+Iphone+046.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The weeds were gradually peeled back to reveal some hidden natives</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBCKHO8xsWzhFixRqoIPIcf-Q_ni6sQFjDg5MQUZ0Ejq1igprbTID9QfTjGrx_yDsauxBIk8UCw3AmzVXkXC3tG6-Z2Y9HHyj3MtNk4oqY9GIxEOIaYvnlQR_KxwtISnGiczML6aZKCEz/s1600/Eriostomen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBCKHO8xsWzhFixRqoIPIcf-Q_ni6sQFjDg5MQUZ0Ejq1igprbTID9QfTjGrx_yDsauxBIk8UCw3AmzVXkXC3tG6-Z2Y9HHyj3MtNk4oqY9GIxEOIaYvnlQR_KxwtISnGiczML6aZKCEz/s400/Eriostomen.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...an Eriostemen...</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...and a glorious grass tree emerge "gasping" from beneath the Fishbone ferns</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The giant curtain of ivy is also slowly drawn away and underneath is...</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Indigenous but barely surviving, Coral fern </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">...and an ancient Fork-fern</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%; text-align: left;">(Skeleton
Fork-fern (Psilotum nudum) is one of the most primitive and simple plants
around and its descendants can be traced back 410 million years. They are truly
living relics. Amazingly you can still see them on the rock face adjoining the
Opera House and on Cockatoo Island..most passers-by wouldn’t give them a first
glance, let alone a second one).</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">An unusual looking Skink also enjoys the new found light </span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Martyn
Robinson from the Australian Museum advises that this is an “interesting one”
and is known as a gully skink,
(Saproscincus Spectabilis/Galli) </span><span lang="EN-AU" style="color: #1f497d; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saproscincus_galli">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saproscincus_galli</a></span></span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Meanwhile, this juvenile southern leaf tailed gecko shows off its amazing camouflage</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">There are many other similar sandstone formations on the Northern Beaches (see examples below) and across Sydney that could also urgently do with some TLC.</span><span style="line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Email me at </span><a href="mailto:cowfish5@bigpond.com" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">cowfish5@bigpond.com</span></a><span style="line-height: 18px;"> if you have some examples.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A rocky, but weedy, headland at Queenscliff</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A rocky but weedy "Welcome to Warringah"</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A rocky, but weedy streetscape in Manly Vale</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Check out this blog next time to see how our subject rocky outcrop has been amazingly resuscitated and rejuvenated after decades of neglect</span><span style="font-size: 21px;">.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></span></span><br />
<div>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
</span></td></tr>
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Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-90698136988035866362013-09-19T08:05:00.000+10:002013-09-19T08:16:15.723+10:00Edible reminders of an unpalatable truth.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The reality of residing in Sydney’s “Northern Beaches” area, is that we are here "living the dream" at
the expense of a society that has been almost totally expunged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time of European settlement, this
region was known as </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> Guringai
country, the land of the Garigal or Caregal people</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manly itself was occupied by the Cannalgal
and Kay-ye-my clans who had been here for around 20,000 years, well before even
Sydney Harbour was formed. This beautiful "water feature" was created at the end of the last ice age,
around, 6,500 years ago when, what was a deep river valley, was breached by the
sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the Europeans came in 1788,
they brought disease, such as smallpox, to which the locals had no resistance.
In less than a year, over half of the indigenous people living in the Sydney
basin were dead.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are approximately 5,000 registered
Guringai sites (rock engravings, shell middens, grinding grooves etc) in the Sydney metro area, all plaintive reminders of a rich
culture. But most of their history, knowledge, beliefs, customs and way of life
have been sadly lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a very
limited awareness of some of their medicines and food plants..most of which can
be grown in your own garden if you live around here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spare a thought when you're tasting "bush tucker" for a proud people who lived in harmony with this land and who met
such a sudden, harsh and undeserved fate. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><u><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A SELECTION OF </span></u><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"><u><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">MANLY<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">-</span>WARRINGAH "BUSH TUCKER" </span></u></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3PUv17udDx4qZB0dGMBzZ6SsVfbxXmHy24neFuX5yxKunIhdi0qqo8tzV0gXy9LRtGqqb0HGxHxBzndGWfm9o2IAM2T2j1UPVLBSiOhuYbFC4vBsaf7_TqMWLtfzLNRY4Qm-9HSPjajT/s1600/Burrawang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3PUv17udDx4qZB0dGMBzZ6SsVfbxXmHy24neFuX5yxKunIhdi0qqo8tzV0gXy9LRtGqqb0HGxHxBzndGWfm9o2IAM2T2j1UPVLBSiOhuYbFC4vBsaf7_TqMWLtfzLNRY4Qm-9HSPjajT/s400/Burrawang.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Burrawang/Macrozamia Communis</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
Cycad is a truly ancient plant that has been around for up to 200 million
years. The red seeds are rich in starch and were a staple for Aborigines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be very careful though because they need to
be pounded and soaked in water for a week to remove toxins.</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RONF5mjxexA9AQMh9aSO48oEyQLH7lG3O4FQnLm-SMZpV4Rnp8ZoRmAERj2aKMOayZ1h_sWxeXke4NhixH5meygpXVsq16Y5QNEqylAAjZZVamkFIFSC222gFB-Hc7Zp17ov6DVipsof/s1600/Cabbage+Tree+Palm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RONF5mjxexA9AQMh9aSO48oEyQLH7lG3O4FQnLm-SMZpV4Rnp8ZoRmAERj2aKMOayZ1h_sWxeXke4NhixH5meygpXVsq16Y5QNEqylAAjZZVamkFIFSC222gFB-Hc7Zp17ov6DVipsof/s400/Cabbage+Tree+Palm.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Cabbage Tree Palm/ Livistonia
Australis</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
tips of the plant (the cabbage) can be ground up and eaten.</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJt3OeaV_sbbkTVvYNicX8OAkkk4cuEbNwbyGkzF7DrLE_eYza5O5DV3X9cgtO3hx8ms-jxHhyuKXB034yejum71yzVDarRXb1-n6NnMZ4rR_V8TObmCnMdUg8eoyPLr2TIlQAkA56uvSU/s1600/Dianella+fruit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJt3OeaV_sbbkTVvYNicX8OAkkk4cuEbNwbyGkzF7DrLE_eYza5O5DV3X9cgtO3hx8ms-jxHhyuKXB034yejum71yzVDarRXb1-n6NnMZ4rR_V8TObmCnMdUg8eoyPLr2TIlQAkA56uvSU/s400/Dianella+fruit.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blue Flax Lilly/ Dianella Caerulea</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
purple berries can be eaten raw or cooked (although too many may have a
laxative effect).</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiHLD3GmDtFsZ-oywhSrjYADk6GoquiiTduudcXZ6BwHEwFQT_QAPKrwedpFhcx3We1_H9AeOyNNDNrEFo2PL0Zb_yqSIRo2FL5yUxYGyx-kdi8iZoebyiGWkx6YIeYJpt7txXCD5Wgnc/s1600/Sandpaper+Fig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiHLD3GmDtFsZ-oywhSrjYADk6GoquiiTduudcXZ6BwHEwFQT_QAPKrwedpFhcx3We1_H9AeOyNNDNrEFo2PL0Zb_yqSIRo2FL5yUxYGyx-kdi8iZoebyiGWkx6YIeYJpt7txXCD5Wgnc/s400/Sandpaper+Fig.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sandpaper Fig ( Ficus Coronata)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
small dark fruit is edible but the furry skin should be peeled first. The sap
can be applied to wounds to assist in healing. (The leaves are so rough they
can be used to smooth wood)</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfvedIGcJM8Oz9alFFxX5d7kVDKbw40vSrPKx3C17EjVtV-xFdX2DwTeEuQEfX4gIYKXYiydHOxvocyVcgyEo7y5thYEYgx8u7-SFadd6sBuwb-b6_t552HXpzt9wFhhyphenhyphenuti7VIZxmI7e/s1600/Warrigal+Greens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfvedIGcJM8Oz9alFFxX5d7kVDKbw40vSrPKx3C17EjVtV-xFdX2DwTeEuQEfX4gIYKXYiydHOxvocyVcgyEo7y5thYEYgx8u7-SFadd6sBuwb-b6_t552HXpzt9wFhhyphenhyphenuti7VIZxmI7e/s400/Warrigal+Greens.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Warrigal Greens/ Tetragonia
tetragoniodes</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
leaves are best blanched or boiled as they can be bitter if eaten raw.</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegtT4KUeNw82ZGy7n_rKPrhyT3QXY-PmfULBbbpi_L-P7c635f2-XgvUuCpjsE7_Q5uyJtG0b4huM1cyWLafMJv5T03j2TZjaW63mJ1ZJMaPpdvuVJms0olnDf-qTMCESONs-xdA6GCDU/s1600/Comelina1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegtT4KUeNw82ZGy7n_rKPrhyT3QXY-PmfULBbbpi_L-P7c635f2-XgvUuCpjsE7_Q5uyJtG0b4huM1cyWLafMJv5T03j2TZjaW63mJ1ZJMaPpdvuVJms0olnDf-qTMCESONs-xdA6GCDU/s400/Comelina1.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Scurvy weed/Commelina Cyanea</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
leaves can be used as a vegetable, raw or cooked. Because of its high vitamin C
content, it was used by early European settlers to avoid scurvy.</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGbEUf5FAm_h0C-zwNK-bzPiGgexRnBnsbi8dlZePQADbycVtt6fTUvuwNGlEcBlrZeex8aEi5Z7w3fqa2yEY3oKKTpmGMHFoLlFadx3saEVmIz7NpzrTBXEhUXRiHa2JH1n-qLYuzDu7/s1600/lomandra+seeds+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGbEUf5FAm_h0C-zwNK-bzPiGgexRnBnsbi8dlZePQADbycVtt6fTUvuwNGlEcBlrZeex8aEi5Z7w3fqa2yEY3oKKTpmGMHFoLlFadx3saEVmIz7NpzrTBXEhUXRiHa2JH1n-qLYuzDu7/s400/lomandra+seeds+2.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mat Rush/Lomandra Longifolia</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Aboriginal Australians ground the
seeds to make damper and also chewed the watery base of the leaves to avoid
dehydration.</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sydney Golden Wattle/Acacia
Longifolia</span></span><br />
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
seed pods can be eaten green, raw or cooked..or dried, roasted and ground. Bush
bread can also be made using the seeds.</span></span><br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Incidentally,
I once asked an Aboriginal Australian if there were any indigenous
vegetarians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked at me with
bemused incredulity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then,
however, I have come across many who are concerned about the plight and demise
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killing of this animal currently occurring around Australia and are trying to
stop it.</span> <a href="http://theconversation.com/food-fight-aboriginal-elders-take-on-the-kangaroo-industry-2905">Elders v Kangaroo Killing industry</a></span></span></div>
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Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-59170435939012977322013-08-29T07:19:00.000+10:002013-08-30T20:16:11.161+10:00What nice orbs you have...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> British comedian, Ricky Gervais, recently
said that Aussies were the “coolest people around” because we have the
“deadliest snakes, spiders and jellyfish on the planet” yet “walk around drunk
all the time in flip-flops”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most Aussies
actually have a morbid fear of spiders which is probably the reason for our
national drinking problem. </span>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> To be fair, in Sydney there <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i> a couple of deadly arachnids such as
the Funnel-web and the Red back but hardly anyone every gets killed by them. In
fact since antivenom became available, <i>no</i> fatalities have been recorded.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Most of our spiders just go about their
business, weaving ingenious webs, waiting patiently for a feed and clinging
tenaciously to existence in a arachnophobic world. To me, spiders are fascinating;
they’ve been around for 400 million years and can be found in every natural
environment on earth (except the deep oceans). Here are a couple of my
favourite local species which are <i>almost</i> harmless...unless you annoy them to the extremes
of spider tolerance. (mildly numbing bites have been known!)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJ-JKanj7niT7iwtQN00ihfOFCNc6KO8FSymYjlX2R2fLgykqKGKasHkm9oHArmKQqH1zCZDChAyelK4VLKLr79aG3lgRT_5G2ve-vAxpnn65et-OgMXQ1vUXvf8P_-IFCitvesVQ5rpr/s1600/Golden+Orb+spider+at+Mermaid+Pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJ-JKanj7niT7iwtQN00ihfOFCNc6KO8FSymYjlX2R2fLgykqKGKasHkm9oHArmKQqH1zCZDChAyelK4VLKLr79aG3lgRT_5G2ve-vAxpnn65et-OgMXQ1vUXvf8P_-IFCitvesVQ5rpr/s400/Golden+Orb+spider+at+Mermaid+Pool.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Golden silk orb-weaver.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">These spiders build some of the largest webs
in the land made from silk with a golden hue (hence the name).</span> </span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It seems that the silk's colour may ensnare bees
that are attracted to the yellow strands..it's not unknown for small birds or
even snakes to be caught in this golden trap! In dappled light the web blends
in to the background and acts as camouflage. The spider can actually adjust the
pigment intensity.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Sometimes you
can see rows of these spiders in concurrent webs slung across or above
pathways. (They normally soon learn by experience to build them out of harm’s
way). The weird thing is that the females, with grey bodies and black and
yellow banded legs, are quite large (up to a 9cm leg span). But if you look
closely at the web you’ll often see a number of tiny black spiders lurking at
the fringes ..those are the males waiting for a chance to mate! You
may also see some other small spiders (such as the Quicksilver) which “pirate”
some of the smaller insects caught in the web.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As winter approaches, just before the Golden-orb succumbs to the colder
weather, you’ll see her wrap her eggs in a mass of golden web and hide them
amongst leaves or twigs away from the nest..ready to hatch in spring.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvpbAokXS4BjKaGfTk5W2oN2YwxILHA1vhgpBWjUMVeBUpiB46lhTa6TBaQEYa5IRtDu98iMdFMnhSoIVjbyS_vtP196hFmFwnV-MFJ3rdE112bzdn-EfYIfTySlnHEXkj87e2kkq5PQt/s1600/leaf+spider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvpbAokXS4BjKaGfTk5W2oN2YwxILHA1vhgpBWjUMVeBUpiB46lhTa6TBaQEYa5IRtDu98iMdFMnhSoIVjbyS_vtP196hFmFwnV-MFJ3rdE112bzdn-EfYIfTySlnHEXkj87e2kkq5PQt/s400/leaf+spider.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Leaf curling spider</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Leaf curling spiders have long legs and plump bodies but in the day time
you’ll rarely see them. They’ve devised an ingenious solution to keep
themselves safe from predators such as the Noisy Miner and parasitic wasps. As
their name suggests, they haul a leaf into their webs, curl it over, line it
with silk and use it as a protective haven (which also shelters them from the
elements). They’ll then sit in this cylinder with just their feet protruding,
which will sense the vibrations of prey, caught in their web</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> The leaf, or another curled leaf additionally becomes a nursery for the spider’s
eggs. The male of the species is also much smaller…and it dies after mating!</span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Remember..as an Aussie, it’s your job to be hospitable to spiders and to act nonchalantly
around them… (but we must continue the pretence to English people, that we live
amidst poison-soaked agents of the devil). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-67107350919020577912013-08-22T09:50:00.000+10:002013-08-22T09:50:26.089+10:00Time to visit "new" climbs<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Plants
are much like people..some like to stand strong, alone and proud. Others like
something (or someone) to crawl all over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Climbing plants do a wonderful job of disguising ugly structures or
shielding you from the gaze of over attentive neighbours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The horticultural industry has been bountiful
in providing us with gorgeous climbers such as star jasmine, golden trumpet
vine, white potato creeper and wisteria. These plants <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>are tediously ubiquitous in backyards,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>coast to coast across Australia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trouble is, none of them are native to
this land and, just like cuckoos they’ve pushed our endemic species right out
of the “nest”.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> If
you live in Sydney sandstone country, there are some spectacular native
climbing plants, many currently in flower that are not only a joy to behold but
are an important component of our local eco system. Here is a quick glimpse of
a few which deserve to be seen more. You can purchase <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>them at an indigenous plant nursery such as <a href="http://www.indigonursery.com.au/">Indigo </a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_mFuN3XmEoSSVzwXorc-25WngWSIOY1Bh3N6UCbz28xqrEHJGllm730yYfCq1r58vQr3jiTn5xxNRNvyzty4-MzSWPMBmoJ6zAlHhvoDrio-dwo-KG1PB9n83Aki3t5oLkg2nkfuhd2c/s1600/kennedia+rubicunda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_mFuN3XmEoSSVzwXorc-25WngWSIOY1Bh3N6UCbz28xqrEHJGllm730yYfCq1r58vQr3jiTn5xxNRNvyzty4-MzSWPMBmoJ6zAlHhvoDrio-dwo-KG1PB9n83Aki3t5oLkg2nkfuhd2c/s400/kennedia+rubicunda.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kennedia Rubicunda (Dusky Coral Pea)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Aborigines
used the vine as string and sucked nectar from the flowers.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgco6ipndUaYmofjCRKeh2_DUd-S-tw2DANsKvX5PSpGYoIJGvue-q9EahhtBQuQvrN257YOeYXnHjc2O2CDBj3hRIYWDx7eJ5e_GZqsccghIVAjuRIcacasT__Nr_ZDyJaSbzJs2CcMzQG/s1600/clematis3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgco6ipndUaYmofjCRKeh2_DUd-S-tw2DANsKvX5PSpGYoIJGvue-q9EahhtBQuQvrN257YOeYXnHjc2O2CDBj3hRIYWDx7eJ5e_GZqsccghIVAjuRIcacasT__Nr_ZDyJaSbzJs2CcMzQG/s400/clematis3.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Clematis (Old Man’s Beard)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Aborigines
cured headaches by crushing the leaves and inhaling the strong aroma.</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZmQJewkJG4A-muGldD9LSsQxn3ouysaz1UiSshABx6oAUkv3_oaPTQTKrymm7dHLsS8Db3hxtZW7HbuNvOVgUMgkeOPiHRPVRVvoW5RPzHqQy2NqIRbPc3dGlz6kEEzhO59Ginz84IlF/s1600/Hardenbergia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZmQJewkJG4A-muGldD9LSsQxn3ouysaz1UiSshABx6oAUkv3_oaPTQTKrymm7dHLsS8Db3hxtZW7HbuNvOVgUMgkeOPiHRPVRVvoW5RPzHqQy2NqIRbPc3dGlz6kEEzhO59Ginz84IlF/s400/Hardenbergia.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hardenbergia</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A
sweet tea can be made from boiling the leaves</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY8pRJgtXWE-pkYzq7y7VvLFCjgJg00Dlsg-4eFGE-2hw9sHG-wXa0JNIReN9WX6vnaeImVmXNSbSa4qpQiGcCss0BwTqHbIXxd3yU5moYs0Bm2gk2nz_HPYyE-GFPsHbEec1kZ56VZ0s/s1600/Hibbertia+Scandens2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxY8pRJgtXWE-pkYzq7y7VvLFCjgJg00Dlsg-4eFGE-2hw9sHG-wXa0JNIReN9WX6vnaeImVmXNSbSa4qpQiGcCss0BwTqHbIXxd3yU5moYs0Bm2gk2nz_HPYyE-GFPsHbEec1kZ56VZ0s/s400/Hibbertia+Scandens2.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hibbertia Scandens (Golden Guinea Flower)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeuzAZpnKGm4QZdt_kYqEGg5QGAIQ7T79ayCplkmsTRWKizpqfLM8n_WxZPUulXRDP2AtQbC8-2bEYtyJLOa6sVKL4vI1DWx1Ga-Mw7wt1FVxDBPCgL7ZL8YaolJhHXJu-TpTGKoAfpWT/s1600/wombat+berry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeuzAZpnKGm4QZdt_kYqEGg5QGAIQ7T79ayCplkmsTRWKizpqfLM8n_WxZPUulXRDP2AtQbC8-2bEYtyJLOa6sVKL4vI1DWx1Ga-Mw7wt1FVxDBPCgL7ZL8YaolJhHXJu-TpTGKoAfpWT/s400/wombat+berry.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Eustrephus Latifolius ( Wombat Berry)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7umo8qoHgGE630XFOQUa0GU7yaeaoCx8MgeimQQzEPEAEmlu-FkH4I_qyNHCZFaKoPpVk8Fs6acZuzo8eknPbhW2lrgI6aozTJg4aCc1hXb0-AjKjKscPJKWiEv5k7iOxsA778-r_PN8/s1600/Smilax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7umo8qoHgGE630XFOQUa0GU7yaeaoCx8MgeimQQzEPEAEmlu-FkH4I_qyNHCZFaKoPpVk8Fs6acZuzo8eknPbhW2lrgI6aozTJg4aCc1hXb0-AjKjKscPJKWiEv5k7iOxsA778-r_PN8/s400/Smilax.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Smilax Glyciphylla<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Native Sarsaparilla)</span></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
new leaves have a sweet sarsaparilla flavour and made a popular “Bush” tea in
pioneering days </span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkpKRUEuqEQgXdZSbvhyvd_XbQgIONetRqcfmXD5Li-8aZrM0Ga-yJxrWYp9EVbW2UNLD_WOg1AhBbAOMkXwif-ZynBgwmMzmfTJjCU9KPJig_aEjsDZPlJQlTIoNB6O3nwm_IZXQr2FO/s1600/Wonga+Wonga+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkpKRUEuqEQgXdZSbvhyvd_XbQgIONetRqcfmXD5Li-8aZrM0Ga-yJxrWYp9EVbW2UNLD_WOg1AhBbAOMkXwif-ZynBgwmMzmfTJjCU9KPJig_aEjsDZPlJQlTIoNB6O3nwm_IZXQr2FO/s400/Wonga+Wonga+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Pandorea Pandorana (Wonga Wonga Vine)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span>
</div>
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Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-13077676911518334532013-08-15T10:20:00.001+10:002013-08-15T10:22:40.779+10:00Tongues out in the suburbs.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> To
live in Warringah and still have “dinosaurs” roaming around your garden is
something of a modern day miracle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
Eastern Blue-tongue lizards have somehow adapted and to some extent, flourished
in the Sydney suburban sprawl. Blue-tongues (there are six types across Australia)
are the largest member of the skink family and grow to around 60cm in length.
They love eating the slugs and snails which abound in most backyards and will
also eat caterpillars and beetles making them a boon to gardeners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blue-tongues are shy, gentle, harmless
creatures that love to bask in the sun. They find shelter under rocks, in
woodpiles or in discarded drainage pipes. Their vivid blue tongue is just a
“bluff” mechanism to frighten off potential predators. So, if threatened,
they’ll poke it out, hiss and look as intimidating as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also use their tongue to “smell” the air
for food. They don’t like being handled so it is best to just let them be and
observe from a distance.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
female of the species tends to hang around home base but the male will roam
across an area the size of approximately 15 house blocks keeping visiting
several “ girl friends” on his rounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unlike most reptiles, Blue –tongues give birth to up to 25 live young
(usually between December and January and four months after mating). The baby
Blue-tongues (about 14cm long) can look after themselves straight after birth
but are very vulnerable and can easily fall prey to Kookaburras and other
predators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If extremely lucky, they will
live up to 30 years in the wild.</span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To
help them survive, don’t ever use snail or slug pellets (if they eat snails
that have taken the snail baits, they will, themselves, die). Ensure that there
are some un-manicured areas of your garden (ideally planted with endemic native
grasses and shrubs). Also watch out for them when you are in the car – they
love sunning themselves on black tar roads and driveways. Most importantly,
keep dogs and cats away at all times, they are very bad news for these docile
creatures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To me, the occasional glimpse
of a Blue-tongue is always a source of great joy and wonder. They provide a
living connection to this timeless land. </span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIBm7dH_2Av5dvZMYWIk3CLs1583-PA3J_op53xMQTEYGbTQPf9QtVPr8aIr2cZxb8waGH65pbrAl2ymmWtnz6VnVT9Ga1xK03dIi7nxEek3W3SLl3WETtzMIiqmPaRcL9hyphenhyphenXAzLtyxyf/s1600/A+Juvenile,+yet+ancient,+Manly+Vale+Resident..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIBm7dH_2Av5dvZMYWIk3CLs1583-PA3J_op53xMQTEYGbTQPf9QtVPr8aIr2cZxb8waGH65pbrAl2ymmWtnz6VnVT9Ga1xK03dIi7nxEek3W3SLl3WETtzMIiqmPaRcL9hyphenhyphenXAzLtyxyf/s400/A+Juvenile,+yet+ancient,+Manly+Vale+Resident..jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Juvenile Blue-tongue</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3049239074342552494.post-8629277340716088322013-08-08T10:49:00.000+10:002013-08-08T10:54:58.939+10:00It's not called "Botany" Bay for nothing.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Hawkesbury
Sandstone is the surface bedrock of the greater Sydney basin. It covers an area
of approximately 17,100 square kilometres <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">.</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Two hundred million years ago, mountain ranges
in Antarctica were eroded and produced vast quantities of sand. This was
carried by a huge river system across southern Australia from Antarctica (then
part of Gondwanaland). These sands were deposited into the Sydney basin where
they were consolidated into sandstone up to 50 metres thick . </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This sandstone is the
basis of the nutrient-poor soils found in Sydney which developed over millenia
and 'came to nurture a spectacularly diverse range of plants. “It is a singular
fact that in Australia the most brilliant flowers are found on the most
worthless country” wrote A.G. Hamilton in 1930. </span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The fact that the impoverished
soils were not suitable for agriculture means that large areas, around the
city, have been conserved into modern times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But now, urban sprawl is sadly taking its toll. Foreign invasive weeds
are thriving on all the nitrates and phosphorus washed into the bushland from
our roads and gardens but the highly evolved natives, which can’t survive high
nutrient levels, are being decimated. The gardening “experts” meanwhile encourage
us to fertilize and spray our back yards at every given opportunity which
compounds the situation. They’ll also try and seduce you into purchasing
commercially created, hybrid “natives” which are both expensive and unauthentic
(they might even impact negatively on the gene pools of genuine endemic plants.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> It’s
not too late to grow some Hawkesbury Sandstone “originals” though. Firstly acquire
them from a reputable indigenous plant nursery or from your local Council.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are much cheaper, require no fertilizers
or pesticides and are perfectly adapted to local soil and climatic conditions.
Whack them in your, non macro-nutrient enhanced, patch of dirt. Then, sit back, enjoy and feel a closer connection to the natural world! Here
are some wonderful examples of native plants currently in bloom on Sydney’s
Northern Beaches<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which would look
glorious in <i>your</i> garden (if you live around here).</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRDDxhfNOcr_ChfybNKmDWqVUXJhypqNoYAwyZz-jhGf4ylTeqTjhAvqm3q1hla7Qno4sDnyKOSMGD7vweURiAXKaJP0tHmctNGKZUhyphenhyphenGKM2iPrS3TemYAtUgQt6HVc0q6FJwrGKL7zWb/s1600/epacris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRDDxhfNOcr_ChfybNKmDWqVUXJhypqNoYAwyZz-jhGf4ylTeqTjhAvqm3q1hla7Qno4sDnyKOSMGD7vweURiAXKaJP0tHmctNGKZUhyphenhyphenGKM2iPrS3TemYAtUgQt6HVc0q6FJwrGKL7zWb/s400/epacris.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Epacris Longiflora (Native Fuschia)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEA1QJ5dQcHqe99ynTr1YCEbLZFXgc1kYS0w_wUVeWPf3ibmJk4qEb3WjzIhBaL49OiF8lof_YQFuL-U5cLcB_ZluUzQUbulHR4g6qdhHhjcTWwbY1RRzHy8qRTopO1iyHVBet7tQtR6bB/s1600/grevillia2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEA1QJ5dQcHqe99ynTr1YCEbLZFXgc1kYS0w_wUVeWPf3ibmJk4qEb3WjzIhBaL49OiF8lof_YQFuL-U5cLcB_ZluUzQUbulHR4g6qdhHhjcTWwbY1RRzHy8qRTopO1iyHVBet7tQtR6bB/s400/grevillia2.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Grevillea Speciosa (Red Spider Flower)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBq0zKv-Mv0hMTWvTo-LpqHqIGOmd5uyTM67053BUp91A_qRzHK04BqcWR5IobXqSRysP3R7YOBmdCaMP75qZHcXMzo4p7Opd0itW5_F2KySfaTr2_U3Bg56PfUcmpAx_Af2OAxdBwdik7/s1600/hakea2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBq0zKv-Mv0hMTWvTo-LpqHqIGOmd5uyTM67053BUp91A_qRzHK04BqcWR5IobXqSRysP3R7YOBmdCaMP75qZHcXMzo4p7Opd0itW5_F2KySfaTr2_U3Bg56PfUcmpAx_Af2OAxdBwdik7/s400/hakea2.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hakea Sericea (Bushy Needlebush)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaw8R4X_ELRVm_o02OUNef8VqnFrV1S8W_Q3XltPnKlDLB0fYL_MTq4Afs4mZXU-ftKy1F8yGm4bZnduUWyp3JNFACOmhCFgoR9nEzfJ4bZhQFJ4C1uuSXW13ZODiguJy4jPN9Tih8D0l8/s400/Hibertia+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="298" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hibbertia Scandens (Golden Guinea Flower)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tHNUXoM9Rel2r4ui_b54dTK_7IxbmR93ASBWbH5FtrWZKxqj3MNy1XWh1u6y87SjXAiKbqdawcjc41A7ddl_Ofy2UfYplj4y606eyolbmE6MzRyBRALd4idaDzebGCMR8nCxBm1vde6T/s1600/Photos+from+Iphone+089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tHNUXoM9Rel2r4ui_b54dTK_7IxbmR93ASBWbH5FtrWZKxqj3MNy1XWh1u6y87SjXAiKbqdawcjc41A7ddl_Ofy2UfYplj4y606eyolbmE6MzRyBRALd4idaDzebGCMR8nCxBm1vde6T/s400/Photos+from+Iphone+089.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Acacia Longifolia (Sydney Golden Wattle)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3lrqbZZFhdScv-RKntNej3BWDi7Wy7thKp4MtSnnxfpbg6E0t5eDp5LiC-0UgyHIl9td3KzGqCbMhsPGctEv-EAgLoiwnOVfVmWsY_5L1M23iUBkHLqoZ8wXoaBWXRW8iG_CjCmxU8YC/s1600/Woollsia+Pungens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3lrqbZZFhdScv-RKntNej3BWDi7Wy7thKp4MtSnnxfpbg6E0t5eDp5LiC-0UgyHIl9td3KzGqCbMhsPGctEv-EAgLoiwnOVfVmWsY_5L1M23iUBkHLqoZ8wXoaBWXRW8iG_CjCmxU8YC/s400/Woollsia+Pungens.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Woollsia Pungens (Snow Wreath)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Eub0C4OFc0QtjrnmKw0y-nZ2Jg_CT9nMDpo0sSL2Kx3WSbUDjCNWODv8Aa8R70ppl6P62QZspop8p3fNKIkGbOMt-4ISpiD5_NDQwBqvzmX7w27r6hsnFmHESpMv6GAdhOvrGKe922kL/s1600/Photos+from+Camera+093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Eub0C4OFc0QtjrnmKw0y-nZ2Jg_CT9nMDpo0sSL2Kx3WSbUDjCNWODv8Aa8R70ppl6P62QZspop8p3fNKIkGbOMt-4ISpiD5_NDQwBqvzmX7w27r6hsnFmHESpMv6GAdhOvrGKe922kL/s400/Photos+from+Camera+093.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dendrobium Speciosum (Rock Lily, Rock Orchid)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This book by Les Robinson is a fantastic resource and contains a wealth of valuable info.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.weedinfo.com.au/bk_fldgnativp.html">Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney </a> </span></span></div>
Wild About Sydneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16219729826965469976noreply@blogger.com0