Landcare

About the group

The Geary's Gap/Wamboin Landcare Group welcomes new members to its nursery sessions which are held usually on the first Saturday of each month. At these sessions, and on a Wednesday evening  during winter, members engage in the propagation of seeds and seedlings which are grown into shrubs and trees for use in the group's plantings and for sale to the public and members. Interested parties are invited to place their e-mail address with the Secretary to receive a regular newsletter detailing the group's activities.

The group:

• is committed to the conservation and enhancement of Australian plant communities, and to sustainable land use

• supports efforts to repair the effects of land and water degradation

• encourages and participates in the propagation and planting of natives trees as windbreaks, shelter belts and habitat

• encourages feral plant and animal control

• supports co-operative planting schemes to link pockets of remnant vegetation as wildlife corridors

• can provide advice on plant selection

Landcare guidelines

The Group has produced some guidelines to help residents to prevent land degredation and restore habitat for the future:

Looking after the local area

Your Landcare Group recognises that the Geary's Gap/Wamboin/Bywong area is part of the Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment Area. It was once dry sclerophyll forest and woodland dominated by eucalypts such as box, stringybark, peppermints and gums.
Since settlement in the 1820s, the area has been used for agriculture, logging and gold mining operations fostering villages at Newington, Bywong and Brooks Creek. More recently the area's proximity to Canberra has made it a desirable site for housing developments. The consequence of almost 200 years of change has meant the disappearance of fauna once common in the area such as brolgas and green and gold bell frogs. Loss of habitat has meant that more species, such as the superb parrot, Rosenberg's monitor and a species of sugar glider are also under threat.
The area retains small but valuable remnants of the once extensive woodlands, forests and native grasslands. However, this generation has inherited, and in some cases continues to contribute to, significant problems with erosion, rising water tables, salinity, habitat loss, river degradation, weed infestation, overgrazing and feral pests.

What can we do on our blocks to make a difference?
scientists estimate that many millions of native trees must be re-established on the Southern Tablelands in order to arrest and reverse land degradation and restore habitat for the future. We can all help by planting our own properties with the appropriate species. Landcare is happy to provide a list of suitable plants!
many trees and shrubs commonly planted in suburban gardens, including cotoneaster, broom, firethorn, hawthorn and pampas grass can become serious pests when planted in a rural environment, as can pines, poplars and willows in many situations. Landcare is happy to provide a list (including some native species) of unsuitable plants!
dead and fallen trees, plus mature eucalypts with hollows, provide breeding habitats for birds, reptiles, frogs, small mammals and invertebrates. So, providing they're not too close to the house forming a bushfire hazard, leave these to provide much needed homes. This also goes for termite mounds, which are necessary for the Rosenberg's monitor to breed and are not the same termites which eat houses!
planting a variety of flowering native trees, shrubs and herbs is an easy way to increase food resources and shelter for local fauna. Landcare is happy to advise on suitable choices.
a well-maintained pasture of native grasses can bind fragile soils, prevent erosion and help drought-proof a property. Landcare can help you learn to identify native grasses and propagate them.
family pets, particularly cats, can be a threat to many species of local fauna. Consider methods of controlling these family members so they don't roam freely, especially at night. A night-time stroll which torch in hand might reveal bats, possums and night birds which you didn't know existed!

The Geary’s Gap/Wamboin Landcare group had its AGM in November 2009 and the following people were elected for 2009/20010:

Committee

Convener - Roger Good  62369048
Co-Convener – Geoff Butler  62369158
Secretary – Chris Fowler  62369189 chrisft@spitfire.com.au

Treasurer – Kathy Handel  62383596
Committee members – Kathy Cook; Kris Nash; Brian Higgison; Graeme Harris; Jacqui O’Leary

Major activities of the Group are the conservation and linking of remnant native vegetation, revegetation of cleared public land, advice to landholders and other knowledge sharing activities.

The Group supports the principle that an important part of landcare is to maintain existing remnant native vegetation and to promote vegetation links that lead to viable size ecological areas.
Landcare includes strongly supporting enforcement of Council's Tree Preservation Ordinance and the principles of the NSW Native Vegetation Conservation Act as well as other measures to conserve and restore to health landscapes, soil and water.

The Geary's Gap/Wamboin Landcare Group  published a booklet entitled "Look after your natural assets: landcare for the bush block and small farm acreage". The booklet was published with the assistance of the Natural Heritage Trust and was distributed to all households in the district. Re-publication is being considered.

Information from your Landcare Group

•  Looking after your local area 
•  Landcare list of plants suitable for the region 
• Landcare list of plants suitable for permanently boggy or moist soil
• Yellowtailed Black Cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus funereus funereus) 
• Small Scale Farm Forestry with Natives 
• Native Hardwood Species for the Southern Tablelands from the Landcare Group
• Other Landcare Groups and information
   Landcare Australia
   Landcare New South Wales
   Landcare South Australia
   Tasmanian Landcare Association
   Community Landcare Information Online (CLIO)
• Threatened Species Website
  The Yass Area Network of Landcare Groups advises that there are currently 131 species, 3 populations and 4 ecological communities listed as endangered or vulnerable in the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority region.
  To find out which species are found in your region visit
  to explore regional lists.

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/weather-data.shtml
For those of you who are interested in these things, I came across this BOM website recently: To many of you it may not be new, but for me the historical data was a revelation. If you keep reasonably accurate rainfall records, it’s worth a look.
Monthly rainfall is default
Follow the the prompts for 1, [enter Bywong, Wamboin, Bungendore etc] 2, and 3, [untick ‘only interested in open stations’ for better historical data].
Wait for the appropriate number to appear alongside ‘Get Data’.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
http://www.snakestoppers.com
Snakes are a hot topic for conversation around the propagation table, and two people [from outside the area] have recently drawn my attention to this device. I have no idea whether the claims made for it are true [and probably a bit unscientific!], but if, like me, you prefer the snakes to be anywhere but outside the back door, it’s a possible solution.