A FSP avenue

[Denis Wilson <>]

Further to Martin and Rosemary's excellent suggestions, can I point out that there are many alternatives to planting rows of Eucalypts (the "landscape architects' boring weapon of choice").

For example, Blackthorn, or Bursaria spinosa makes a very successful alternative to Hawthorns. Yes, it is smaller, but grows vigorously, and self-seeds after a while.

And shrubby Acacias (not Cootamundra Wattle) are also very successful plantings (there are examples at FSP from memory)

Also local species of Kangaroo Apple (Solanum sp) are incredibly popular with birds as a food source, and so the seeds get spread.

And what's wrong with the occasional Kurrajong?

Give them a couple of years start, and then commence removal of the introduced trees.

Denis Wilson
Springtime - Ya wouldn't be dead for Quids.

"The Nature of Robertson"
www.peonyden.blogspot.com.au

On Tue, Oct 22, 2013 at 7:43 AM, Martin Butterfield <> wrote:

Rosemary

You are of course correct that it is a good idea to remove the invasive species.  

However they are, as you note, very popular with birds.  That isn't restricted to the berry-eating/distributing starlings of Fyshwick.  Out my way the dense thickets of hawthorn are used as nesting sites for many small species (especially finches), the berries are very popular with parrots and cockatoos, and a number of larger species (eg Brown Falcon, Barn Owl) use them as roosts.  

To avoid dislocation to these uses of the undesirable trees it would be highly preferable to put in the replacement trees so that they have established before the invasive ones are removed.  That might make life a bit more difficult for the tree removal contractors, but then life wasn't meant to be easy.

Martin

On 22 October 2013 07:30, Rosemary Blemings <> wrote:

In April I mentioned to Michael McConachie that the avenue of trees between Dairy Flat Road and the Fyshwick Sewerage Treatment complex contained many invasive species. These introduced trees contained large numbers of berries which birds eat and transfer to nature reserves.
The ACT Parks and Conservation Service (PCS), with countless volunteers from Landcaring and Parkcaring groups, have spent decades of energy and time removing these invasive plants which deny space, nutrients and water to native species.

Removing these Fyshwick trees and combining this process with a thorough and state-of-the-art revegetation of the Treatment Works would bring significant benefits for wildlife and especially the birds which already have the area ingrained in their genetic makeup. Having complimentary, healthy habitat beside the Jerrabomberra Wetlands can only enhance the work of the Friends of Jerrabomberra and PCS.
It is vital that as much land as possible be retained for and managed as connectivity-corridor in our region. Open, natural spaces also bring enormous benefits to humans though this positive factor is rarely included in budgetary allocations for 'the environment'.

Rosemary
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--
Martin Butterfield

http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/