August 2023 Weeding Ecotour

During this trip, the Friends removed native creepers from saplings being smothered in clearings created by trees fallen over following the 2019 drought.

Fourteen people were in this tour, staying at Oceanview. We had just two who people who had previously been on a weeding trip – Mal and Danina Anderson who have participated many times over the past 20 years.

The group were straight into the work the first day:
“This morning I’d never “regened” a thing. It’s now 8 pm and I’m so thrilled at what I achieved today – I liberated three trees trying to get a start in life. They were totally covered in creepers and I can’t believe how invested in freeing them up I became!…. after lunch we walked up Malabar Hill, we saw orchid flowers, yellow lichens, shearwater rafts. There is just so much to this island and it was only day one; so, I am a little overwhelmed.”

This group took to the weeding tasks with enthusiasm. – removing native creepers from saplings being smothered in clearings created by trees fallen over following the 2019 drought; both behind Middle Beach and Neds Beach. People find this very satisfying, in helping the native forest canopy to regenerate. On the day at Neds beach, we had a lunch on the beach, then the tide was perfect for a reef walk searching for the wonderful marine life the Island has; and were lucky to see three colourful nudibranchs!

The group also tackled Sea Spurge on a number of beaches; continuing the work that the Friends groups have been doing for some 15 years now.

A surprise on Saturday – the weather was too windy for flights to come in to the Island, so everyone had an extra day. Some of the group took part in a workshop at the museum, sorting the beach plastic into categories for logging onto the National Beach plastic database. A great resource for lobbyists trying to get changes with plastic use.” we did three bags and found 5 thongs (but no pairs) (and no bongs!).

You can read the full report in the Friends newsletter, available to members.

In other news …

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