On Wednesday 17 July 2024, Greater Sydney Landcare hosted a second corporate volunteering day this year for Martin Brower. The team of 8 were keen to return and continue caring for this precious environment on the edge of a Blue Gum High Forest remnant.
Greater Sydney Landcare has been hosting corporate volunteering days for Martin Brower. 2024 is their 90th year in business and they are celebrating it across the globe by honouring nature, enjoying its benefits and giving back all at the same time.
Peter Canisius House is on 5 acres of beautiful bushland and gardens in Pymble on Sydneyβs North Shore, in the Ku-ring-gai Local Government Area. It is opposite the Dalrymple-Hay Nature Reserve which contains one of the largest remaining remnants of the Critically Endangered Blue Gum High Forest ecological community.
Blue Gum High Forest is tall open forest typically dominated by either Blackbutt or Sydney Blue Gum with a lower tree layer often including Sweet Pittosporum, Blueberry Ash and Forest Oak. It also features an open, low shrub layer with plants like Coffee Bush, Hairy Clerodendrum, Mock Olive and other natives. Its ground layer can contain Maidenhair Ferns and other native ferns, spiky strappy plants like Dianella caerulea and Spiny-headed Mat-rush, and other native vines, herbs and grasses.
During this visit, the Martin Brower team expanded on their past restoration work here by installing 200 plants. They planted sections of the perimeter with plants of local provenance sourced from Ku-ring-gai Nurseryβwho supplied a really diverse and interesting range of plants grown from locally collected seeds. This work aimed to enlarge the footprint of the Blue Gum High Forest ecological community and strengthen its edge.
The day was led by Greater Sydney Landcareβs Matt Keighery, who hopes that the future of this remnant will be held safely for generations to come. In the meantime, Matt hopes that a Landcare group will start, or volunteers from the area will also be attracted to caring for this precious Blue Gum High Forest.
Thank you to Martin Brower for celebrating your 90th year in business by caring for the land with Greater Sydney Landcare, and thank you Peter Canisius House for working with us all to restore and enhance this precious piece of our natural environment.
Volunteer for Bushcare in Ku-ring-gai
If youβd like to contribute to environmental efforts in the Ku-ring-gai LGA, you can become a Bushcare volunteer and regenerate bushland. No experience is necessary as training is provided.
Corporate Volunteering with Greater Sydney Landcare
Find out more about Corporate Volunteering with Greater Sydney Landcare here. Be sure to download our Corporate Volunteering Info Pack.
