Laurieton LandCare restores endangered bushland

On Friday mornings many locals walking along the Laurieton riverfront have stopped to admire and praise the efforts of the Laurieton United Services Club (LUSC) LandCare Group during their working bees.

With LUSC sponsorship and support from council and Hastings LandCare, the group formed three years ago with the goal of cleaning up and restoring bushland along and near the riverfront.

This area contains three endangered ecological communities: swamp oak floodplain forest, coastal saltmarsh and eucalypt foodplain forest, as well as a small patch of littoral rainforest.

During their three years hands-on, the dedication of the group has brought vast improvements. The most notable of these is the removal of the dense infestation of morning glory that was smothering native trees in the block near the Marine Rescue Base.

Apex Park with its magnificent paperbark and palm forest is also a focus site.

With a massive 72 non-native plant species identified along the riverfront, the group has dealt with everything from bamboo to freckle-face ornamental plant, a huge area of giant paspalum, plus major weeds such as lantana and asparagus fern.

The group has reached a stage where it is in great need of more volunteers.

The group works from 8:30am to 10:30 am, followed by morning tea compliments of LUSC.

The work can be as easy or hard as individuals choose.

“It is great to get out and do something constructive to make our beautiful local area even better,’ said volunteer  Adrian Guthrie.

“And the people doing it together are a lovely bunch – all different, but with a love of nature in common. It’s a great way to keep active, get a bit fitter and get to know other people.”

Steven Hausfeld added, “I value my LandCare volunteering because it allows me to contribute globally by acting very locally. It also gets me out of my house and interacting with others.”

Please contact Sue on 6559 7134 if you would like to participate in this project.

By Sue BAKER