Volunteer weed warriors rescue the bush

They have battled the lantana, tackled the weeds and given hours of their own time and it’s not even for their own backyards!

In 2007, the dedicated volunteers of five local Bushcare Groups put in 1426 hours of voluntary labour valued at $28,120 at six sites – Shell Cove, Tullimbah, Oakey Creek, Mt Warrigal, Blackbutt and Horsley – and aim to beat that in 2008.

Landcare Illawarra secretary Tony Hepworth said many hands make light work and volunteers are always appreciated.

“Just one of the groups, the Blackbutt Bushcare Group, has planted over 230 native trees and logged 223 volunteer hours in 2007,” Mr Hepworth said.

“The reserve is about 100 hectares and about 70 hectares is given over to the forest, the rest is parkland.

“What we are trying to do in the long term is recover it – get rid of the lantana which is the major weed, but not the only weed, improve the biodiversity of the area and bring back some of the animals.”

The Blackbutt Forest Reserve is home to two endangered ecological communities – the Illawarra Lowlands Grassy Woodlands and the Illawarra Subtropical Rainforest. It is also home to seven mammal species, 69 species of birds, seven frog species and 10 reptile species.

In 2007, the Bushcare Group received a $14,000 grant from Envirofund. They intend to plant 1000 local native trees on National Tree Day, Sunday, July 27.

The Bushcare Group holds working bees one Sunday a month from 9am to noon. The next working bee is Sunday, April 27. To join in, telephone Tony on 4297 6490.