Preventing Bank Erosion
The Hays Inlet Bush care group recently repaired a damaged creek bank in order to limit erosion and sediment entering Hays Inlet.
Treating Singapore Daisy at Hays Inlet: Solarisation
Singapore Daisy is a noxious weed and very difficult to remove. It can choke waterways and impact the functioning of our precious wetlands. In the video above, you can see how REF environmental and our Bushcare team of volunteers have trialled a process known as solarisation. This method is being used to avoid the use of chemicals in the precious wetlands of Hays Inlet.
Preparing for a planting session: Dealing with Panic Grass
At REF Environmental, we have been working on the Hays Inlet Bushcare site for 10 years now, and what was once an open weed-infested paddock is now a functional forest (including evidence of use by our local koalas). Panic Grass is a notorious weed, which if left uncheck will smother any new plantings. By digging the clumps up, shaking the soil off the roots and laying it down flat, the grass will dry out an act as a humus layer restricting further weed infestations. This will allow us to plant some endemic trees and plants to complete the forest rehabilitation process. Thanks to all our wonderful volunteers who got stuck into this troublesome grass!
Planting out the corridor
Hays Inlet Bushcare Gallery
Once a month on a Sunday morning we get together to do some work on the Silcock Street Site. Its only for a couple of hours but we get plenty done under the guidance of our bushcare expert, Jasper Johnson. Its not all work though, we have a good laugh, get to check out some of the wonderful nature at the site, including our Koala rehabilitation site and enjoy morning tea afterwards!
Nov 2021
As summer approaches, the Hays Inlet Bushcare team of volunteers gathered to plant 240 seedlings of understory plants under the koala plantation project. Starting in 2015, the project has seen a large area of weeds and grasses rehabilitated into a forest area with many trees reaching 10 metres in height. Apart from the active birdlife, participants were also pleased to see evidence of koalas and kangaroos using the forest. With an established canopy, many weeds have been shaded out and so it was time to plant understorey plants to increase the diversity of the area. Thanks to Stefan Hattingh from the Moreton Bay Regional Council Bushcare Program, participants were provided with a mix of ground cover, shrubs, sedges and grasses including Hovea, Dodonaea spp,, Gahnia spp., Juncus spp. and Lomandra. With 16 different species planted into the forest floor, it is hoped the increased diversity will add to the ecological value of the Bushcare site.