Landcaring

There is always Landcare activity happening around Coal Point, weeding, mulching and planting in various places.
 
This month will see a milestone reached in Burnage Reserve. Five years ago the local landcare crew set out to remove a mass of Lantana in “Lilipilly Gully” by mosaic weeding and planting so that we kept shelter for birds and possibly other critters as well and could replace what was removed to “head off” weeds as much as possible.
 
The last patch of Lantana and some of Colonel Burnage’s orchard of exotic fruits will be replaced and with a planting of the Australian Fingerlime, Microcitrus australasica – a rainforest species that will hopefully be happy in the sheltered gully replacing the old and very decrepit fruit trees. The Fingerlimes were donated to the group by Sue Herd who was a horticulturalist with our Hunter Region Botanic Gardens at Heatherbrae, Raymond Terrace. 
 
Congratulations to the local landcarers who received recognition for their contribution to the local environment at the recent Annual Environmental Excellence in Landcare Awards. 
 
The Bushcare In Threlkeld on Thursday group received a Long-Standing Landcare Group award, Jean Austen received the award behalf of the group and was then duly presented with a personal Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition for her inspiring and ongoing commitment to maintain the unique bushland of Threlkeld reserve.
 
Thursday Landcare ladies Lois Simpson and Judy Hughes were awarded Local Legend Awards for their continued regular and enthusiastic work in our local reserves over several years.