FRIENDS OF SOUTH SURREY PARK
OCTOBER NEWSLETTER 2017

            Helichrysum sp.                     A new fern near little bridge


Sunday Working Bee - 29th October, 10.00 a.m. until 12 noon
We will be weeding in the area below Delta Street so meet us near the end of Delta street wearing sturdy shoes and suitable clothes.   It is a fairly steep site but if this is an issue, there is space for you to work at the top near the road.
Contact person is Maggie - 9888 4479

---

Sunday Working Bee Report - 24th September
There was a good turnout of about fourteen people which included a family connected to Carey which was good to see.   We hope they enjoyed the day and will be back.
Adrian has a new method of working which was a wonderful aid to planting and work was finished early after more than a thousand seedlings were put in. He had made holes in rows with a space between which was filled in later.   It meant there was less chance of plants being stepped on.  Here is the layout.

The morning finished with morning tea provided by Peter Campbell who also took the photos.

 

---

Tuesday Toilers

After their many days of hard work in the park, Tuesday Toilers were rewarded with a trip to Cranbourne Botanic Gardens.   It was a beautiful day and they really enjoyed the trip.
I visited them the week before and they were weeding in the area behind Riversdale Road, where spring has brought a good crop of weeds. 

---

General News

Aussie Backyard Bird Count - From 23rd to 29th October, you can be involved in the annual Aussie Backyard Bird count. You download the app, spend just twenty minutes looking for birds, record your findings and help establish what birds live where and also go in the running for some great prizes. Your backyard can be anywhere you are!
For more details click here.
Greenlink Box Hill - is at 41 Wimmera Street, Box Hill North and their last Saturday opening morning for the year will be on 28th October from 9.00 a.m. to 12 noon.
New Project - Pam has been contacted by Victorian Indigenous Nursery Cooperative. regarding a new project.   VINC has received funding for a three year project to propagate plants which are in decline in Boroondara.  There will be more details in the next newsletter. 
Boroondara's Draft Tree Strategy - At Hawthorn Arts Centre on 25th October at 7.00 p.m. Dr. Dave Kendall, leading author, public speaker and researcher from Melbourne University will speak about the challenges facing Melbourne's urban forest. For more information and other ways in which you can be involved click here.
Native Bee Workshop - On Saturday, 11 November from 1.30 p.m. to 3.45 p.m. Katrina Forstner will hold a native bee workshop at VINC, Yarra Bend Road, Fairfield. For more details and how to book click here. 

---

In the Park this month  - Soil

Australian Plants Society tells us that east of Darebin Creek and north of Burwood Highway the Silurian-derived sedimentary soils have broken down into light grey loams over clay. That seems to include South Surrey Park.
 

The photograph shows the clay which lies under our soil at the edge of the path to the little bridge.   

Soil is brimming with microbes, fungi, nematodes, mites,  and worms. It is a complex ecosystem in microcosm.   In nature, plants absolutely depend on this for nutrients and sometimes water access, for breaking down organic matter, for disease protection and for building soil structure.
 

Soil structure is important.   Very sandy soil, such as beach sand, has particles which do not cling together and therefore has no structure.   Some clay soils cling together to form one solid mass and therefore also lack structure.

Well-structured soils break up easily into fragments of irregular shape and size.   These fragments do not completely fill the space they occupy, leaving a network of open spaces and passages through which plant roots can grow and allowing water and air to be taken in and excess water to drain away.   Most plants need air and water near their roots to grow well.

An interesting website for your garden is mysmartgarden.org.au.   Click here for instructions on how to see how much clay, sand and silt you have in your soil. I checked the soil from the Delta street hill and it is mostly sand.

FRIENDS OF SOUTH SURREY PARK INC ABN 71 979 859 196.
Registration Number A 0032389N.
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP TO 30th June, 2018.
NAME:............................................................................
ADDRESS: ...................................................................................POSTCODE:........
PHONE (HOME).................................................(MOBILE):........................................
EMAIL:...................................................................................................................
MEMBERSHIP $15/$30/$100: + $ DONATION:=                $...................TOTAL..............
A single subscription is $15, or $30 for a household, or $100 corporate/group. (This covers our insurance with VTF Landcare and some expenses). It is payable to Hon Treasurer, Lyn Read, 6/136  Through Road, Vic, 3127 telephone 0408 377 668 or direct deposit to our Bendigo Bank account, BSB 633 000, A/c No 1205 19285. Remember to put your name in the ‘reference’ box so we’ll know you’ve paid.