_{Photos – top LHS Sugar Glider and Bottom LHS thanks to Mary Erian, Liverpool City Council. RHS Blue Box, photo by Greater Sydney Landcare.}

On Friday 29th January 2021, a small group of interested Landcarers went for a twilight walk in a small reserve near Liverpool, NSW. Previously known for Green and Golden Bell Frogs, the reserve is well connected to the Georges River and its natural corridors, but is little known or frequented.

The highlight of the walk was the numbers of Sugar Gliders spotted on and around the oldest tree on the site. It seemed the large Blue Box (Eucalyptus baeuriana) was home to a family who had a healthy litter this season. The sight was a lovely one, and almost coincidental considering the group had just been introduced to the importance of old growth trees for habitat on the Cumberland Plain, and elsewhere.

Saturday December 5th, International Day of the Volunteer, was host to a Forum on the Biodiversity of western Sydney (the Cumberland Plain). The Forum was held in Luddenham, and attracted over 60 people, which was a fantastic turn out for an environmental event in western Sydney.

Six presentations were given to the audience, including Peter Ridgeway from Greater Sydney Local Land Services, on the topic of Old Growth trees. Pete explained that 80% of Sydney’s old growth remains in a handful of trees in the west, and showed some amazing photos of examples.