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Friends of South Surrey Park  

Sunday working bee cancelled
 

FRIENDS OF SOUTH SURREY PARK

AUGUST 2020 NEWSLETTER


Sunday Working Bee - 30th August cancelled due to Covid-19 stage four restrictions.  

To cheer you up, here is acacia melanoxylon flowering in the park this week.


Tuesday Toilers - No regular working bees at present.
Some Toilers are still visiting the park individually as part of their allowed exercise times but are meeting on Zoom on Tuesday mornings.   Among other things, this week we spoke about our plans for the rest of this year.   We were joined by Adrian from his office for a while and we discussed how to deal with the seedlings currently on hold at VINC.   If restrictions ease it may be possible to plant them in small groups on Tuesdays and monthly Sundays. 
Our AGM date is 8th October and it is looking like being a Zoom meeting but we cannot finalise that at this point.
We aren't able to weed as much but rainfall has continued and  the park is looking very lush.   Here is a photograph of the Delta Street plantation.


Greenlink Box Hill
Although Greenlink is closed while we are in Stage Four of restrictions you can still purchase seedlings.   Go to their website here to find out how to choose, order, collect and pay for your plants.
Some History
This piece appeared in the Surrey Hills Neighbourhood News in 1995.

"This group was initiated by two residents, Julie Begg and John Fraser, who were concerned by the uncontrolled spread of weeds, and the silting up of the creek.   Both felt that potential existed to restore the ecological health of the creek-line through landscaping and indigenous planting.   Accordingly, they decided to gauge local attitudes by holding a public meeting.   This was advertised by a letter-drop to all residents abutting the park.    Residents east of Union Road who had formed the  Friends of Back Creek were also notified.

About ten residents attended this first public meeting, held in March this year.  An interim committee was elected, which collected further information about the creek and established contacts with Melbourne Water, Melbourne Parks and Waterways and local Friends Groups.   At the second public meeting, held in June, Roger Lord from Melbourne Water and Kay Johnston from the Friends of Gardiners Creek Valley gave talks.   On Kay's advice it was decided to have the group incorporated.   This should limit its liability, make it eligible for direct funding from other authorities, and give it more clout with the council.

In addition to arranging incorporation, the committee has met with representatives from Council and Melbourne Water to begin preparation of a concept plan.  Melbourne Water has responsibility for the creek-line itself, and so will be a major player in preparing and carrying out future landscaping works

Some clues remain as to which plant species were present along the creek before European settlement.   Remnant vegetation includes isolated stands of Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora), Narrow-leaf Peppermint (Eucalyptus radiata), Lightwood (Acacia implexa), and Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa).   Nearby Wattle Park contains local grass and herb species, whilst the Tree Fens (Cyathea australis) still found there suggest that fheir fronds also once shaded Back Creek.

In the Park this month -  Birds
As you walk around the park it is really noticeable how many birds live there now.  They really appreciate the type of vegetation we have reintroduced., tall trees, bushy shrubs and clumpy grass - all ideal for different species of birds.
Maggie has given these examples - Eastern rosellas, Crimson rosellas, flocks of Rainbow lorikeets, Magpies and Ravens nesting and many more.   She has been fascinated by watching groups of Noisy mynahs attacking Ravens.   She has also seen Ravens sitting off, watching a  Magpie on a nest. 
Lyn and Maggie  have  seen a pair of Pacific Black ducks with ducklings playing in the creek near the big bridge. Here is one Maggie found on the Net.   



Lyn reminded me that we have Currawongs too.   Their distinctive call add so much to the special feeling of being in the park.
Julie posted photos to our Facebook page and told how she that she had watched a pair of pardalotes making a nest in a hole in the bank. Here is one of her pictures.


On my first trip into the park after my  hip replacement I was delighted to see a Butcher bird fossicking about in the sunlit mulch below. 

It flew away before I could take its picture so here is a link to Birdlife.org.au

Membership of Friends of South Surrey Park
You can join in the work of the group and contribute to running expenses by becoming a member.     If you would like to become a Friend of South Surrey Park you can find the application for membership form at the end of this newsletter.


Facebook and South Surrey Park website
You can see some of what is happening in the park on Facebook and South Surrey Park website.    


Work in South Surrey Park is brought to you through the efforts of the Friends of South Surrey Park, a voluntary group working with the local community, City of Boroondara and Melbourne Water.  For information about your local Park, contact any committee member below.
 
Pam Welsford (President) - 9830 5178  - pamwelsford@gmail.com
Ursula Povey (Vice President) - 9836 6149 -  ursulapovey@gmail.com
Maggie White (Secretary) - 9888 4479 - john_maggie@hotmail.com
Lyn Read (Treasurer) - 0408377668 - lynmread@gmail.com
Jenine Fleming - 9830 7767 - fleming.jenine@gmail.com
Peter Hannay - 9830 5493 - phhannay@bigpond.com
 
MEMBERSHIP FORM

FRIENDS OF SOUTH SURREY PARK INC ABN 71 979 859 196.
Registration Number A 0032389N.
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP TO 30th June, 2021.
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 Victorian 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.



 

Friends of South Surrey Park is supported by Boroondara Council and Melbourne Water

 







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Friends of South Surrey Park · 26 Albion Street · Surrey Hills, Victoria 3127 · Australia

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