Mt. Taylor Parkcare

Meet this week and next week, early am??

2009-11-12T18:06:00.001+11:00

Would anyone like to join me in an early morning work session for Saturday 14 November at 8.30 am?? I have been out today from 7 am to 10 a.m and then home retired as the temp rose towards 30C! However, there were 30 w/weeds and about 300 Verbs chopped in that time and watered our trees in the bench area! All trees alive, growing, except roos have eaten some top leaves..answer is to put branches over the trees to stop that! The Swainsona rectas have been flowering with the branch protection that we put in position during October. I could also do a work session on Sunday 15 Nov at 8.30 am and during the next week at the same time. We could have the work mornings at Mannheim towards the local park area, the dam near Waldock, and the C'houn street.

Let me know if anyone wants to join in, what day(s) you would like to work and where to start, then I can get the info together and then we can meet! The park is now drying out quickly, and I think the am meets are also slightly damp, with less pollen around for a couple of hours.

Take care Anne

A picture for you (one of the S. rectas!)

2009-10-29T11:16:00.003+11:00

Taking a chance on the weather! Meet at C'houn street park entrance (C'houn st is off Sulwood drive) Walk,weed and enjoy the flowers! 2 PM, Saturday 31 OCTOBER 2009.

A flower and weed chop walk: The flowers have been outstanding, and the weeds are not too bad, but growing well. We can walk towards the first dam (about an eighth full!), chopping weeds enroute, then go towards ACTEW line and go back towards Sulwood! Our hard work covering many Swainsona rectas with branches has really saved them from the roos, and about 50-100 appeared to have flowered, with seed capsules. Covering all the Brachychitons with dead branches have also helped keep roos away or actually stopped them eating the top leaves.There have been some good walks on Taylor and the Molonglo area; the Wed walkers on Taylor last week were great and identified some new plants, and up dated our list. If you want a new list of our botanical riches, I will e-mail the new list! Its quite remarkable.

Anyway, see you
Saturday 31 October
2 pm
C'houn street park entry (off Sulwood)
Cheers Anne

Meet on Saturday!

2009-09-07T13:47:00.001+10:00

Many thanks for some hard work on dragging logs, dead branches etc to protect the Swansonia rectas..we were delighted to find over 50 plants, very fragile but obviously will be flowering shortly; we tried to block some of the paths on and over the plants as the roos live in that area. By blocking the short cuts, the roos have slightly longer paths around the area..we may be lucky! After the tea we went up the hill, past the dam which is almost dry again, and weeding enroute; a wedge tailed eagle passed over head. I will be in contact for our flower walks, over the next weeks; the flowers are quite spectacular.

Cheers Anne

Next meet

2009-08-29T15:20:00.001+10:00

Catching up: firstly, has everyone got the Bird walk info, Sun 6 Sept. 8 am, starting at the C'houn/Sulwood park entrance? Matthew will lead the COG walk. I have checked all our recent plantings and the plaques and all are intact! I would like to have a meet on Saturday 5 September: I recently looked at the Swainsona recta (endangered pea) area and we need to protect the remaining plants (usually over 200, now about less than ?? 20 plus) from the trampling and roo grazing of these fragile plants. The idea is to cover the plants with some of the dead tree and acacia branches, and keep the roos out of the area. We can also do some weeding, and walk the local area near the ACTEW line. Later on in the month, we will need to have a couple of roo counts and we can discuss this too.

Meet: 5 September
Time 2 pm
Entrance to Taylor Park, off Colquhoun street, off Sulwood drive
I will bring tools, tea etc!

See you soon, armed with suitable clothing, footwear, etc.

Take care Anne

Thank you for a great celebration!

2009-08-14T00:02:00.001+10:00

Thank you all so much for celebrating the 20 years, the planting of the trees, the flowers and cupcakes..and the frog which we are trying to discover where it came from and could it be a spotted burrowing frog? If anyone has any memory of the frog being dug up, and where it was put back, that would be a good record as another frog sp.on Taylor. Given that we have lost so many animals through predication and removal from under stones, that it is great to find something that is safely buried. Thank you also to our 4 new members, and may we have another 20 years together.

Next month there will be Matthew's bird walk, a roo count if possible, and assessing the weed problems. Cheers Anne

MT Taylor 20 years celebration

2009-07-27T14:39:00.001+10:00

Hello folks, here we are..so, who ever would like to come along and it will be take place, rain , snow or sun! There will be a celebration cake, etc, but please bring your own hot water for what ever you want to drink!

Details:
What: Mt Taylor Parkcare 20 year celebration
Time/Date: 2pm, 8th August 2009
Where: Park Gate, Sullwood/Mannheim, Kambah

Cheers Anne

Saturday afternoon

2009-07-19T18:43:00.001+10:00

Great effort this afternoon, the rocks are in place, the fence removed by the team, and many thanks to Joe and Nina for some very hard work; thank you so much to our team of 13! The bench will be placed in position sometime next week, and Joe will let us know the time and date so we can get along and see the historical event! The planting of the trees and shrubs will take place on the 8th August, for everyone who wants to take part!

Take care,Anne

Weekend meet, Saturday 18 July, Mannheim Park entrance

2009-07-15T13:27:00.001+10:00

20 years celebration! Joe will be helping with getting the bench, the rocks, fence removal etc in place on Saturday..we will meet at 2 pm, but if Joe wants help earlier, or on Friday, then we are there..I will keep in touch with Joe and pass on the info to everyone so the loop is open !! So, come and have some fun and also bring extra clothing for cold conditions. Cheers Anne

August celebration update

2009-07-05T21:12:00.001+10:00

Keeping the loop; the bench and small panels have been given the go ahead. I have ordered and paid for the bench, and it will be ready this week. The 3 small plaques will be ready on the 17th July. The two rocks for the plantings of the 2000 Para Olympics and the school will be found near the Mannheim gate, and placed in position, thanks to our rangers' help. The Roll of Honour is about complete, and has about 240 names from the 20 years.

Cheers Anne

Keeping in the loop!

2009-07-01T17:48:00.001+10:00

Just to make sure everyone knows what is happening for our 20 years celebration on the 8 August! So far, the bench and the small brass panels have been costed, and we are awaiting our Parks management for the go ahead, as the land is Government owned. However, everyone is very enthusiastic, and hopefully we can go ahead this or next week. We have some $$ from an old award, and this will cover the costs. The bench site looks down the Tug. Valley, across to the mountains, and 10 local plants will be planted near by. I will keep in touch.

Take care, Anne

Last meet, Saturday

2009-06-21T12:13:00.001+10:00

Great meet, the bench position was decide on, the 10 holes dug, the rangers came in and looked at bringing in two large rocks for the garden plaques (just above Mannheim gate park entrance) which will show the 2000 Para Olympics site, and the closed School planting in 2007. The small plaques will be about 6 x 5 cms, with limited info. We have to have the final go ahead for the bench position and the fence removal near by. Over the 20 years of diaries I have all names of the rangers and members of the group, and the work that we have done. Its quite amazing!! The Role of Honour will have all those names, and we can put this history into the National Library, and also be available for any info required. So many folk have been involved over the 20 years, and very many have been over the one or two decades! There are 1000s photos and of course the birds, botanical and other history items are available too. Reading the diaries has again built up the enthusiasm that has kept us going for so long!!

Take care, Cheers Anne

ps a request to actually date the Glossy black Cockies that visited Mt Taylor were on the 30-9-95 to 2-12-95: there was a family of three, and on the 2-11.95 6 were present, then left. The allocasuarinas on the SW side had been well stripped of the cones!

Meet on Saturday 20 June, 2 pm at Mannheim park gate entrance

2009-06-17T20:46:00.001+10:00

Meeting above Mannheim Park entrance! To dig out the planting holes for the Brachychiton populneus for our 20 years celebrations in August! Also, as there were good ideas on a bench as part of the 20 years, I went to Bunnings and they helped with a very simple bench plan made of cut railway sleepers, that are screwed together and there are also blocks under the seating sleepers. This will be heavy, and vandalisation free (!) and should last about 50 years, even with fire. The cost is less than $90 and our funds have some award money from a few years ago. The other need is to sort out the position for the bench, and we need to talk about that on Saturday! So come and have a good time, and I will bring the usual tea etc. I also went to a Fire Plan for Canberra, and I have the map that includes Mt Taylor. The plan is very good. I will bring this along, and if anyone would like a copy, I will send it by post, too big for e-mail! See you on Saturday. Cheers Anne

Taylor meet tomorrow Sat 6 June

2009-06-05T19:46:00.001+10:00

Meet cancelled unfortunately due to my virus which has flattened me, I will hope that next week may be more useful! Cheers Anne

Meeting on Saturday 30 May 2009!

2009-05-27T16:02:00.001+10:00

A quick notice for our meeting this Saturday, 30 May, at the park entrance above Mannheim Street, 2 p.m.

We have two months to August, when we celebrate 20 years of work and changes to our mountain! August 8 is the famous date that was our first meeting, we started with one ranger and five members!!

On Saturday pm we can clean up weeds, replant a couple of vandalised trees, decide where we want to plant the commemorative knoll (the old agistment near the Commemoration area) reorganise the school planting, have tea and think about the celebration.

I would like to spend some money organising some informative boards showing the Olympics 2000 planting, the school garden and the park entrance; there may be some $$$ for this work. I will contact our rangers for assistance with my ideas!! I would like to contact as many rangers and members as possible, (luckily the diaries will assist) to the day of celebration. Please think about the plans, and let me know your ideas. I would like to have a memento of the day, perhaps a photograph or two?

Cake and tea/coffee will be served as usual: bring your usual working clothing, etc: tools will be supplied.

Cheers, and keep well, the virus has been very nasty! Cheers Anne

Meets for next two months!

2009-04-24T15:10:00.002+10:00

Hi! The marathon was achieved (!) and after recovery, school holidays, and other activities, I will be back for the 23 May meet, a bit late in the month.

Some news on MT Taylor:

The Brachychiton populneus groups are looking good, with about 5 to be replaced (one on the North, 4 on the South side) The replacements are ready to go out, and we can do that in late May. The watering of these trees definitely saved them during the heat and lack of rain, and thanks very much to everyone who carried water up the mountain.

Information on the roo population and water requirements on Taylor. Roos require drinking water when the grass is dry, dusty and in short supply. Green grass reduces the water requirements. With little water remaining on Taylor, many roos will be grazing near houses, and down towards the slipways between houses, usually towards Hindmarsh drive towards Woden. The only constant supply of water between Taylor and Farrer is on the agistment. Reports from the N side of Taylor show many roos are still there; the E/S side is populated with over 60-100 on the agistments.

The recent report in the Canberra Times showing continuing damage on the old Richmond track and the new zig zag track is very sad: the rangers have tried to stop the damage since the opening of the new track, but to no avail, as all notices etc destroyed immediately. The damage on the S side is also being exacerbated with the opening up of new "paths" and erosion.

The CT last week reported the stress and death of birds during the climate change and continuing drought: noting the lack of breeding and lack of insects for adult as well as young nestlings. On Taylor, the starlings have returned to nesting trees (early in April) and native birds are around in the suburbs seeking water. Only one couple of Kookaburras appear to be on Taylor now, and the lack of mice(?) also appear to be a problem.

In early August we will be celebrating 20 years on Mt Taylor, and it will be great to celebrate. Ideas please!

The rabbit survey is on the Web if anyone wants to record sightings and numbers; I have only seen a couple of active warrens on the E side of Taylor, in the old agistment.

I will be back mid May, and will be in contact. Take care, Anne

Last meet

2009-02-22T19:43:00.001+11:00

Many thanks folk for all the hard work from C'Houn street to the first dam and beyond. The dam was cleaned out and Joe did a great job removing tyres, pallet, wire and general junk. We took out squillions of rosettes and tall Verbascums; the small amount of water in the dam is polluted and although used by birds and many roos it is a very sorry sight. In 30 years we have never seen so little water, although the lower dam has more water.

I will contact you for the next meet shortly, and also some comments on the survival of the Brachychitons: on the South/East side so far only two have died, the rest growing slowly. John also noted he had removed 126 plus woody weeds last weekend! The new signs on the old Richmond track to stop usage have been all pulled down/vandalised as people will continue to use that track. On the Sulwood/Mannheim track, I saw well over 50-100 walkers every day last week..and I guess more at the w'ends (and evenings).

Take care
Cheers Anne

Meet this saturday

2009-02-12T20:05:00.001+11:00

Work get-together: please meet at the Park C'houn street entrance (off Sulwood drive): I have been around that area and we need to clear out the remains of the dam, it has tyres, pallet, and other rubbish: very little to drink, and highly polluted too. If we could chop weeds enroute, mainly cutting heads off and piling into heaps! I will ask the Parks rangers to help with removal! I also removed 2 large mattresses on the edge of Taylor this morning (Sulwood of course) and I dragged them almost into the main road I was so angry!! I have also watered all the Brachychitons above Sulwood and on the ACTEW line..was amazed at the growth and life! Only two have died, and we have replacements ready for autumn. How are the groups on the North side?

If you meet any roos with collars, looking a bit sheepish, they have been darted and given a collar to assess their movements around the mountain. I am very concerned that the dams are almost dry, and the only assess for water is in the agistment trough, on the E side. There are many old roos in the C'houn area and they will die if the dam dries up totally. Many other young roos will die or move away from Taylor, so there will be other problems ahead.

I will bring the usual tools, tea etc! As the day will be cooler, and may have a drop or too, have arranged the meet for the afternoon.

Take care, see you on Saturday 14 Feb, 2 p.m. C'houn street park entrance.

Cheers. Anne

Meet and change of location

2009-01-07T17:21:00.001+11:00

We thought we would meet at the ACTEW line near C'houn/Sulwood Drive. However, last week's storm has caused some erosion near Waldock car park, on the side track (we have worked on it over the years): the main work is removing the wash and improving the drainage. So, please could everyone who can come to the Waldock car park please come at 8 a.m so we can work before the temperature is over 30C! We will be working close to the car park, so we can have some tea there..probably need to work for about an hour or so. I will bring picks, gloves etc. and a few spades.

Other info: on the N side, to the left of the new Richmond track, one group of 5 and one out of 3 Brachychiton populneus are thriving. I checked the Verbascum/St J W areas above the N drain there and we have greatly reduced those pests, but we need to get in and strike again. The rangers are spraying ST J W on Taylor, and three of us have hit the St J W on the S side from Inkster to Mannheim and up the mountain. I also removed a hugh number of Verbascums on the right side of the concrete path towards the summit. Again, the native grasses are amazing, stipa, danthonia, cymbopogon, panicum etc are taking over from winter sp, yet another climate change. Anyway, lets meet:

Saturday 10 January 2009
TIME 8 a.m
Waldock Car Park, N side of Mt Taylor
Erosion control

See you soon Anne

Meet on 13 Dec and Christmas party at Parks Stromlo depot

2008-12-08T17:40:00.001+11:00

Meet on 13 December, 2 pm, at the entrance to the park near C'houn street, on Sulwood drive..just look for my Suzuki! Then we can progress up the ACTEW line, remove Verbascums enroute, then have our Christmas tea towards the view of Woden and Black Mountain.

Remember our Chrismas Parks party on Wed 10 Dec in the Stromlo depot, 4.30pm to 7pm, for all volunteers of all Parkcare groups! See you there.

Cheers Anne

Thanks

2008-12-03T15:44:00.001+11:00

Thanks for coming to the meet last Sat where I had to go else place..Clare held the fort for me, much appreciated. Good news, the rangers have sprayed ST J W on the N side, from Waldock car park to the summit, and will be hitting other areas; Welcome Joe! Great news for us! Several of us have killed ST J W above Sulwood drive, and have moved from Inkster to Mannheim with great energy and have to return for one smallish area.

So, the last meeting for 2008 will be on the 13th Dec, and hope to get at V's etc near the ACTEW line from Sulwood to the view to Woden! Christmas cake etc will be present, so I will meet you then!

Take care, Anne

Meet on Saturday 22 Nov

2008-11-23T13:47:00.001+11:00

That was great..rain, wind, snow flakes and some fabulous flowers on little rocky knolls near the first dam! Yes, we also knocked over about 9000 verbascums ( smallish and millions!) and we felt very proud of the results, as the native vegetation is quite dramatic when weeds are removed! On Friday I removed about 500 St J W and over 40 woody weeds above the service road above Sulwood drive. The regular mowing on street pavements around Kambah near the Mt Taylor boundaries are reducing or totally eliminating the St J W..I found information on regular mowing will control/eliminate St J W and over the last 5 years, this is correct. We have also followed up Parks spraying programs of St J W by later cutting back, chopping out or spot spraying, especially in significant botanical areas. There are now specific areas of Taylor that we can control invasion of St J W: C'houn street to the first dam, the ACTEW lines and around the W side, the Sulwood drive access and Mannheim/old agistment: the S/W side is good in some areas. There are some very bad infestations on the N side (near Waldock, the new track, etc) and control may be very difficult.

Next meetings: November 29 2 pm again at Waldock street area near the dam, to finish that job!

December Saturday 13, usual month meeting, to finish the Waldock/dam area and have the Christmas cake!

Another job on November 26 and 27 to finish the St J W above Sulwood between Inkster and Mannheim and up towards the concrete path. Tools have been sharpened. Take care, cheers Anne

Meets on Friday and Saturday

2008-11-20T18:39:00.001+11:00

Hi folks. Many comments on weeds, especially ST J W and others, so on Friday 21 for anyone who is free, Friday 9 am at Inkster above Sulwood: we can hit the St J W along the service road and a bit above into the park area: this work will go towards the park entrance at Mannheim. This area has been hit many times, and the ST J W is greatly reduced. I am not working on Friday so there is a chance to get onto the mountain!

Saturday 22 November: meet on the Waldock road near the dam: 2 pm. The Verbascums are massing, so if we have a good crowd we can knock them over! Suzuki will be parked at the entrance to the dam on Waldock street. Will have tools, gloves etc. All tools have been sharpened! Tea too.

So, times again: Friday 21 9 am Starting at Inkster/Sulwood park entrance. I will have tools in car.

Saturday: 22 at 2 pm, Waldock st, dam entrance, my car will be there!

See you soon, cheers Anne

Meet for Mt Taylor this weekend (15th)

2008-11-13T21:58:00.001+11:00

I will be helping look after my g'children this w'end, to I have to delay our meeting to next weekend, Saturday 22 November..my apologies! After this w'end we can continue with Taylor activities! Take care, cheers Anne

Roo totals from last week

2008-11-06T11:55:00.001+11:00

Thanks so much to the folks who walked,ran,biked and climbed the summit to find the aprox roo total: everyone was out on the mountain by 7.30 am and were finished by 8.30-9 am; we found that the animals moved fairly quickly in the big mobs, and this made final figures a bit difficult.

We have a realistic total of 211 adult animals, and a very interesting addition of about 50% of the adult population, with small joeys in pouches, which we did not count. The large mob on the agistment was severely reduced in numbers for the count, but today I saw the two mobs there with over 60-70adults.

When we started work on Taylor in 1989 we had 5 roos, and the increased number is now aprox 316 adults and small joeys living on a 5 km square mountain. We are observing damage to the environment with erosion, new tracks, sand baths, over grazing and shrub damage. The main grazing is both on the summit and the perimeters of the mountain, as much of the vegetation is sparely grassed on the high sides. There are many roos that have been killed on the surrounding Parkway and the roads this year, and eventually there will be some bad/fatal human accidents in the future. The latest roo total is very close to the Belconnen culling fiasco.

Other items of interest:

The Brachycritons are looking well: there are 17 on the W/S side and 12 on the N side: only two may be replaced in autumn. The trees have been watered several times, as the rain has been limited. Many thanks to the group minders!

The new weeds and some woody weeds require work: Our last work on the old agistment on the S side was very successful with many woody weeds cut and dabbed, and the commemorative site is growing well.

NEXT MEET: on the 15 Sat November, on N side. Will send details next month.

Cheers Anne

Mt Taylor meetings for this w'end, Friday and Saturday

2008-10-15T10:45:00.002+11:00

I am back on board after running round family, school holidays etc etc!! So, catching up: the rain has been marvellous for our tree plantings, and the flowers are quite spectacular.

Some meetings over the next two weeks:

We need to count roo numbers on Thursday or Friday 23/24 next week, and have the final count on the 31st October. Please let me know who would like to take part? We have about 5 sides of the mountain, and across to the summit, (so anyone who can run up and do the summits would be great!) I am guessing we have about 200 roos now (100 being on the agistment!) I will send out a map and we can try and follow last year's routes. Suggest an early start, after 7 am?
On Saturday 18 October, we need to get into the old agistment (meet at Mannhein/Sulwood entrance) to check the white marked trees for mynas (and hopefully some native sp) and remove woody weeds and soft sp. As all the small choppers have gone to Mitchell for sharpening, please bring your own, and I will bring the larger tools. Tea etc on order!
In late winter/ early spring we marked many of the old trees to observe nesting behaviour, both for exotic and native birds. Please let me know who would like to do the walks and check the trees: I will be free on this Friday, 17th Oct, all day. I walked Stromlo over the w'end, with 2000 bikers..and was amazing at the bird life again..the acacias are very lively and a group of common bronze wing pigeons were a bit blase!

Take care, see you 2pm Saturday 18 Oct, at the Sulwood/Mannheim park entrance.

Cheers Anne