Exploring native plants at Cape Liptrap
If you would like more information about deer control in your area, or pests and weeds more generally, contact SGLN Facilitators Nick Stephens (nickstephens@sgln. net. au) or Andrea Clifford (andrea@sgln. net. au)
SOUTH Gippsland Landcare Network (SGLN) wrapped up its highly successful Bunurong Coast Community Onground Action on Pest Plants and Animals project, with a field day that explored Traditional Custodians’ use of indigenous flora.
Fifty people attended the event which was held at the property of SGLN vice chair, Richard Taylor.
Richard bought the property twenty years ago to protect its 1100 acres of remnant bush and has invested much time and effort in weed, pest and erosion control.
A highlight was the presentation by botanical ecologist, Alison Oates, who has worked closely with Victoria’s traditional custodians and the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) to learn about their many and varied uses for native plants.
Participants felt privileged to have been able to share in this knowledge and were amazed at the ingenuity involved in using plants for food, healing, weaponry, tools, eating utensils and even transport.
Alison’s notes were particularly informative and are available at www.sgln.net.au.
After morning tea, Richard led the group on a four-kilometre trek across part of the property. Alison and local naturalists Mary Ellis, Margaret Rowe and Lorraine Norden identified many of the plants discussed earlier along the way, as well as some interesting fungi.
An important outcome of this project has been the establishment of a community deer control group at Cape Liptrap to help reduce their impacts on biodiversity.
Richard was able to show participants evidence of deer activity, including damage to vegetation, reduced understorey growth and a wallow at the base of a gully.
Feral deer are a significant problem across South Gippsland.
As well as harming biodiversity and eating pasture, they pose a biosecurity threat to farming and are increasingly involved in car accidents.
SGLN is encouraging all residents in South Gippsland to report all deer sightings on the FeralScan app.
This will help build an accurate picture of deer numbers and movements in the region and inform future control programs.
This project was funded by the Victorian Government through the Community Action Volunteer Grants.
If you would like more information about deer control in your area, or pests and weeds more generally, contact SGLN Facilitators Nick Stephens (nickstephens@sgln.net.au) or Andrea Clifford (andrea@sgln.net.au).
