For the past 25 years, ParkCare and Landcare groups have been working across the ACT’s reserves and urban open space network to improve the state of the environment. These groups provide an opportunity for enthusiastic volunteers of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to become involved in planting trees, controlling weeds, repairing tracks, monitoring the environment, protecting natural and cultural heritage values, controlling erosion and much more. They take pride in ensuring that their ‘local patch’ is properly managed and appreciated.
Friends of Aranda Bushland is one of more than 60 ParkCare and Landcare groups within the ACT. This group of about 60 members has been progressively rehabilitating the Aranda Bushland since the 1990s. A core group of 20 active members regularly carries out weeding and restoration works using planting, woody weeds, logs and ‘geofabric’ to reduce erosion and stop gullies from forming. Seed is also collected from the area, and used for propagation and planting. The group is working towards short-, medium- and long-term goals, and strives to educate the public through guided walks, interpretive signs and publishing Our patch – a photographic field guide to the flora of the ACT, now in its second edition. For the past 25 years, this group has achieved an almost complete reduction in weed infestation and, by planting locally indigenous Snow Gums, contributed to the restoration of Snow Gums in the Frost Hollow community.
The ACT Government and local community groups play an important role in supporting these volunteer groups by providing materials, training and on-ground support; introducing new volunteers; and networking and information sharing. This support comes through the ACT Government ParkCare Coordinator and Support Officer (ACT Parks and Conservation Service); the Regional Landcare Facilitator (Environment and Planning Directorate); the Southern ACT, Molonglo and Ginninderra catchment groups (through catchment and Waterwatch coordinators); and Greening Australia. Landcare ACT, the recently formed peak body, provides a voice for community Landcare and provides a connection to the national Landcare movement.
Friends of Aranda Bushland volunteers and Radford College students installing geofabric and pine logs to block off erosion at the head of a gully, June 2013. Photo: Professor Ian Falconer