Mt Gibraltar Landcare Bushcare celebrates 20 years
Whilst the towns of Moss Vale and Bowral may be commemorating their Sesquicentenary anniversaries with lavish celebrations this year, one local conservation group will be quietly observing 20 years of community service this week with cake and tea.
Thursday 4 of July 2013 marks two decades since the Mt Gibraltar Landcare Bushcare group was formed to help protect our unique environment by helping to eradicate destructive and invasive weeds and promote natural regeneration.
Every Thursday morning, except for rain affected days, this band of determined volunteers can be found working on the slopes of Mt Gibraltar freeing the trees and the emerging native seedlings from the effects of environmental weeds such as Ivy.
Comprised mostly of retirees, the group has made great strides in rehabilitating a significant area of the Mt Gibraltar forest, which is now recognised by both State and Federal Governments as an endangered ecological community in need of protection.
The Mt Gibraltar Landcare Bushcare group works in partnership with Wingecarribee Shire Council who engages contractors to work on the steeper and more dangerous slopes. Council’s own Bushcare Team also work with the group, spraying emerging weeds and helping coordinate group activities.
Amongst their many wins over the last 20 years is the publication in 2007 of the award-winning coffee table book ‘The Gib’, which is sold in all good book stores, with the proceeds helping to fund their activities. The group has also been successful in attracting funds from the Federal Government’s Caring For Our Country Initiative, the NSW Environmental Trust and the Sydney Catchment Authority.
For more information contact Council’s Natural Resource Officer – Community Support on phone 4868 0772.