Lane Cove Bushcare is a dedicated group of volunteers who work tirelessly to protect and enhance the natural environment in the Lane Cove Council area.
These passionate individuals play a crucial role in maintaining the biodiversity of Lane Cove’s local bushlands and waterways, ensuring that future generations can enjoy the beauty and benefits of these ecosystems.
Bushcare is a partnership between Lane Cove Council and community volunteers to protect and restore bushland areas. Lane Cove Council provides bush regeneration training and equipment, and community members volunteer their time and labour to restore the bush together. Over 200 residents currently support Lane Cove Bushcare and the Community Nursery.
In 2024, the Stringybark Creek Bushcare group officially turned thirty, a remarkable achievement. It was the first Bushcare group formed, and five original members are still actively involved.
To celebrate this milestone, the Lane Cove Council and the Stringybark Creek Residents’ Association are holding a free family event on Saturday, October 26th, 2024, between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m.
The event is at Mindarie Park with tree planting, guided tours and a morning tea. Book here (so they know the numbers for the morning tea!!).
Every year, a Bushcare day out is held, and last year, it was well attended by local families. This year’s event is more significant due to the 30th Birthday Celebrations!
Lane Cove Bushcare History
Former Councillor and Stringybark Creek Bushcare Group convenor Frances Vissel told ITC the following:
“The inspiration for starting the Stringybark Creek Bushcare Group began in 1993 after a resident purchased two adjacent properties on Johnston Crescent in Lane Cove North. The community was concerned that the development would adversely impact Batten Reserve, which was next door to the development.
Due to community concerns about the impact on the neighbouring bushland, Lane Cove Council refused the development application. The owners appealed the refusal, and to accommodate the development, Lane Cove Council engaged landscape architect Harry Howard to draw an innovative concept plan that allowed building but, more importantly, created a buffer area and environmental protection zone down to the creek line, resulting in the creation of Development Control Plan 1 (DCP1).
Lane Cove Council heard the community, and I thought if we care so much about our bushland, we should do something positive about it. I suggested that the newly formed Stringybark Creek Residents Association (SBCRA) approach the Council to ask if we could create a Bushcare group.
The aim would be two-fold:
- regenerate the bushland, and
- inspire the bush blocks’ owners on the creek’s opposite side to do the same.
Stringybark Creek Bushcare kicked off on 18 June 1994, with our first project to regenerate the Epping Road entrance. We were allocated an area that bounded Epping Road, Merinda Street across to Kullah Parade and down to Stringybark Creek.
Early on, we faced swathes of Privet, Lantana, Balloon Vine, Honeysuckle, Turkey Rhubarb, and Tradescantia covering sandstone outcrops.
Ehrharta was a menace, but we also discovered hidden natives, finding seedlings of Coachwood, Lillypilly and Callicoma along the creek line and other species as our Bushcare progressed.
The area has an abundance of native orchids, including rare discoveries we have made over the years.
The flora in this area is richly diverse, with 646 native plant species recorded by the Lane Cove Council Bushland staff.
A big challenge was working in degraded areas behind houses, dealing with dumped rubbish, building waste, and the dense forest of weeds that had evolved over many years.
Experienced council regenerators’ fantastic knowledge of local flora and fauna guided us. It was like an apprenticeship!
What we find rewarding about Bushcare are the challenges we meet and overcome, discovering rare plants, the return of native bushland in these areas and seeing an increase in fauna and birdlife, including the What we find rewarding about Bushcare are the challenges we meet and overcome, discovering rare plants, the return of native bushland in these areas and seeing an increase in fauna and birdlife, including the Powerful Owl, Echidna, Sugar Glider and the Peacock Spider.
Sharing this outcome with fellow volunteers and locals brings joy. Countless staff and volunteers have been involved over the years, too many to mention individually, but we are grateful for all their assistance. It is exciting to see what we have achieved, and our hope is that it continues for many years to come as a legacy for all to enjoy.”
How Can You Get Involved in Bushcare?
Click here to learn more about the Lane Cove Council’s Bushcare programme.
If you would like to be involved in the Stringybark Creek Bushcare Group, it meets twice a month on the second and fourth Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
To join:
- Any resident can turn up and be registered by our Council Supervisor and are welcome to do both sessions and only one, depending on their availability. The location details are here; or
- Contact Council’s Bushcare Co-ordinator, Jim Casimir. Email [email protected]
How Can You Join The Stringybark Creek Residents’ Association?
If you live in Lane Cove North, the SBCRA would love for you to join its association. Click here to join.
Cover Photo: Lane Cove Council
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