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autumn 2024 Snorkelling summer Saving the Pupfish Sandringham’s insectsFrom the Mayor Hello Bayside and welcome to the Autumn 2024 edition of Banksia Bulletin. The Highett Grassy Woodland, a very special part of Bayside, is now under the permanent care of Council. Since taking ownership of this parcel of land in April 2023, we have been carefully planning how to conserve and protect the Highett Grassy Woodland in collaboration with the dedicated Friends group that fought hard for many decades to bring it under Council’s management. We have now drafted a Conservation Management Plan and Masterplan for the site which will inform how Highett Grassy Woodland will be managed for future generations and are also preparing these documents for community consultation. Keep an eye on the Have your Say project page forupdates. Highett Grassy Woodland is a very important site for conserving and regenerating habitat for rare or threatened flora and fauna species inBayside. Within this reserve lies remnant indigenous species, including Yellow Box eucalypts that are considered rare in Bayside. Our plans are to enhance the Highett Grassy Woodland as a conservation reserve to protect and revegetate an endangered community of trees, shrubs, grasses and other plants. Council recently adopted a planning amendment to rezone Highett Grassy Woodland as Public Conservation and Resource Zone (PCRZ) and has submitted it to the Minister for Planning for approval. We recently shared our vision for the reserve with our neighbours, the City of Kingston. It was a highlight to host my peer, Kingston Mayor Cr Jenna Davey-Burns, who shares my interest in conservation and the natural environment, andsome of her colleagues on a tour ofthe conservation reserve. Highett Grassy Woodland is close to the boundaries of Bayside and Kingston, and opportunities exist for both councils to work together to enhance conservation efforts. One potential opportunity could bea wildlife habitat corridor between our neighbouring open spaces in thefuture. We welcome your thoughts on the draft Highett Grassy Woodland Masterplan as soon as it is available. Visit yoursay.bayside.vic.gov.au/ HighettGrassyWoodland for more information. Councillor Fiona Stitfold Mayor Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora). Photograph by Pauline Reynolds Emperor gum caterpillar. Photograph by Pauline Reynolds (L-R) Bayside City Council officers Amy Weir, Damian Carr and Paul Gibbs, Kingston Mayor Cr Jenna Davey-Burns, Bayside Mayor Cr Fiona Stitfold, Friends of Highett Grassy Woodland Michael Norris, Kingston officer Lee James, Friends of Highett Grassy Woodland Pauline Reynolds, Bayside Director Environment, Recreation, and Infrastructure Jill Colson and Kingston officer Emily Boucher.In this issue Special features 6 NURSERY GOES GLOBAL 10 COASTING INTO THE FUTURE 12 REGENERATION FROM 2022 LONG HOLLOW HEATHLAND ECOLOGICAL BURN 16 SNORKELLING SUMMER Other articles WEEDS OF BAYSIDE 4 VOLUNTEER EXPO 4 NOMINATE A SIGNIFICANT TREE 5 SANDRINGHAM INSECT SURVEYS 8 LARGE BINDWEED 15 SAVING THE PUPFISH 18 DO YOU HAVE A CHORUS OF CRICKETS IN YOUR BACKYARD? HERE’S WHY 20 VOLUNTEER GROUPS 22 Cover photo: Hedge bindweed (Calystegia) Photograph by Pauline ReynoldsWeeds of Bayside By Aaron Hurrell, Citywide Bushland Crew Madeira Vine (Anredera cordifolia) Anredera cordifolia is known by many names including Madeira Vine, Lamb’s Tail, Potato Vine, or Mignonette Vine. Originating from South America, this vine has succulent-like leaves and both aerial and subterranean tubers. Outside of its native range, Madeira Vine is a highly invasive species that is known to smother trees and break branches with its weight. It has been declared a noxious weed in Africa, Australia, New Zealand, North America, Hawaii, and southern Europe. Growing from subterranean tubers, this evergreen vine grows shiny leaves shaped like hearts growing 4-13cm long. Flowers are produced en masse as small cream-coloured flowers growing stalks that can reach up to 30cm high. The flowers have a scent described as cardamom-like and are produced from late summer to autumn. A key identifying feature of Madeira Vine are warty-looking tubers along its stem. Parts of the vine are edible, with the fleshy leaves being fried or used in soups, though it is known to give pigs and sheep temporary diarrhea. In its native habitat, beetles eat the foliage and trails have been created in Australia. Originally spread as a garden plant, Madeira Vine is no longer sold in many places, however it is still available in some countries. It will reproduce from seeds, damaged underground tubers, or by the transportation of aerial tubers. While the tubers can be dug out, care is needed to remove them intact as the vine can reshoot from the smallest remaining piece of tuber with a rate of 70 per cent germination; this control method is only advised for new or young plants. Tubers can also form from fallen leaves. Aerial tubers can persist from two to 15 years. This hardy vine can survive drought conditions, frost and snow and is partly salt tolerant. It is fast growing when there is plentiful light and has the ability to go dormant and wait for the optimal growing conditions to take advantage, and survive being composted. Herbicide control is possible but requires long and multiple applications to be effective. Due to its ability to go dormant and its multitude of ways of propagation, dealing with the removed material is troublesome. It is recommended to dispose and prevent re-infestation by burning the weed and placing it in closed lightproof bins with the waste completely submerged in water for an extended period, or placing it in weed bags, exposed to sunlight, for at least 12 months. Any completely decomposed waste should be sent to landfill and not green waste as a precaution. Source: Wikipedia, Andredera cordifolia Madeira Vine (Anredera cordifolia) Volunteer Expo When: Monday 20 May, 3pm–6pm Where: Brighton Town Hall Join us at the Volunteer Expo and meet volunteer coordinators from Council-run programs including Environmental Sustainability, Cooking Connections, Home Library Service, and Art Gallery. There will also be volunteers from organisations based in, or servicing, Bayside showcasing their wonderful opportunities. This expo is delivered in proud partnership between Bayside City Council and Community Bank Sandringham and Highett. Banksia Bulletin | Autumn 20244Nominate a significant tree Bayside is renowned and loved for its leafy outlook, tree-lined streets and lush private gardens. To acknowledge the value of single, or rows of, trees or hedges to preserve this neighbourhood character, residents can nominate a special example to beincluded on the Significant TreeRegister. Trees on private land that hold a special scientific, social, historic, or aesthetic value can be registered to recognise its importance to Bayside’s urban forest. Sandringham resident and retired architect Peter Doig has two significant trees located on his Park Street property. In 2019, he nominated a Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) onthe fence line of his property. At the arborist inspection, a second tree, a Willow Myrtle (Agonis flexuosa), was spotted twisted around a long- standing shed and is now officially significant also. “It was very important to me that this beautiful big old pine was protected,” said Peter. “We had even worked the redesign of our home, which included an extension, around preserving and observing this tree. “The Willow is from WA and could be anywhere between 70 and 120 years old. It has had a rough old life so I was absolutely delighted that Council recognised the significance of this tree and it will now be protected for future generations.” Significant trees play an integral role in providing natural beauty, a sustainable environment, health benefits and reducing climate change impacts by cooling our streets. An English Oak (Quercus robur) in Brighton East is another example of a tree that is included on the Significant Tree Register. Property owner Dr Maree McCutheon is delighted the English Oak will be preserved for years to come. “It is a very healthy tree, somewhere around 80 years old, that will probably live for another 100 years allowing birdlife to nest and doing its best at beingthe ‘lungs of the earth’,” DrMcCutheon said. Planting the right trees in the right places The Significant Tree Register is a great way to protect what already exists and enables the whole community to get involved in preserving Bayside’s urbanforest. The Urban Forest Strategy 2022- 2040 has a target to plant more than 1,400 trees each year on Council land to createa cooler, greener and more wildlife-friendly Bayside. Urban Forest Precinct Plans have been developed as part of this strategy to guide local tree planting and greening. The plans, developed in partnership with the local community, include actions that respond to the unique needs, challenges and characteristics of each suburb. Plantings on public land make up a small component of the strategy’s outcomes, with canopy cover mostly required on private property. Learn more about Urban Forest Strategy Precinct Plans at bayside.vic.gov.au/urbanforest Learn more about the Significant Tree Register at bayside.vic.gov.au/SignificantTreeRegister English Oak at 151 Union St, Brighton East Trees on private or public land that hold a special scientific, social, historic, or aesthetic value can be registered to recognise its importance to Bayside's urban forest. Banksia Bulletin | Autumn 20245Nursery goes global The Bayside Community Nursery had a special international volunteer visiting this summer. Photographs by Pauline Reynolds Steve Gater, who lives in Durham (United Kingdom), is a volunteer conservationist with a lifelong interest in wildlife, particularly plants, birds and butterflies. He has visited his daughter Jenny, who lives in Bayside, a number of times and was introduced to the nursery by his son-in-law Paul Gibbs, who is Council’s Open Space Coordinator. “This visit, I didn’t just want a holiday, I wanted to experience living in Bayside,” Steve said. “One way to do this was to get involved in the nursery, which is a very impressive set up, and volunteer like so many residents do. “The Friends groups are wonderful, and the openness and friendliness of the volunteers was inspirational. Thesense of community here is verystrong.” Steve established the Durham Wildlife Trust Botany Group, was the Hon. Gen. Secretary of the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland until he retired from this role last year and is the current President of the Darlington & Teesdale Naturalists’ FieldClub(DTNFC). “I love the indigenous plants and the flora in Bayside; it is so very different than the UK and Europe,” Stevesaid. “While some families are the same, and things like ferns are similar, we certainly have very different trees from Bayside’s gums, wattles, eucalypts and of course, the banksia, which has been a wonderful opportunity to see in situ. “The local trees have a lovely simplicity in their structural design and the way they have evolved so the bark and the tree can withstand heat and fire is remarkable. Banksia Bulletin | Autumn 202466“It was interesting to hear from the volunteers about the ecological controlled burns for regeneration, which in the UK is met with some controversybut a necessary part of the nature cycle of succession to allow different species to regenerate, which isfantastic.” In his role at DTNFC, Steve plans to talk to members about the work Bayside Council and volunteers are doing, along with his local Shire to encourage them to see how they might adopt some of our efforts to grow native plants and promote local fauna. “Sharing notes can help stimulate and develop ideas, new approaches and generate more energy,” he said. “I wish to thank you all. I have been so well received and supported by everyone Ihave met and am impressed by each of you. Ithas been a privilege to be a tiny part of such an inspirational team, to learn about what is happening and to learn a little about the people that make thosethings happen. The Bayside experience has topped off another wonderful visit toMelbourne.” In Spring 2023, the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland published the results from 20 years of botanical recordings by its members across Britain and Ireland. Atlas 2020 is an incredible compilation of data, analysis and commentary. View it at www.bsbi.org/plant-atlas-2020 Bayside Community Nursery OPENING Saturday 6 April Gala Day celebrations 9am-2pm Free BBQ all day Bayside Community Nursery will reopen for public sales on Saturday 6 April 2024 with a special Gala Day to celebrate the start of a new season. Visit the nursery and speak with our friendly knowledgeable staff and volunteers about indigenous planting and growing. Choose from a wide range of beautiful Bayside indigenous species to take home. A full plant list is available on the website. Location 315–317 Reserve Road, Cheltenham VIC 3192 Opening hours Thursdays and Saturdays, 10am-12pm For more information Visit www.bayside.vic.gov.au or call 9583 8408. Banksia Bulletin | Autumn 20247Sandringham insect surveys Story by Belinda Raymond and John Eichler The Friends of George Street Reserve have completed eight insect surveys since March 2023, mostly done during the warmer months. During each survey, participants identified between 60 and 80 different species that have either flown or crawled onto the light sheet or were spotted on walks around the reserve. In total, volunteers identified 300 invertebrates to Species level with many others identified to Genus level. These have been documented with photographs on the citizen science website, iNaturalist, with a special project called George St Reserve Fauna. View the 1,800 observations made at George Street Reserve over the past year at https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/ projects/george-st-reserve-fauna Banksia Bulletin | Autumn 20248Exciting insect sightings at George Street Reserve Walckenaers Studded Triangular Spider (Arkys walckenaeri) Photograph by Belinda Raymond This spider is small, red in colour and has a triangular shaped abdomen with a studded pattern on it. It waits in ambush with outstretched arms for prey to come within range. Out of the 651 observations on iNaturalist, this record is the only one in Bayside, with the nearest sightings being from Braeside Park, Jells Park, or Burwood. Snowy Footman Moth (Termessa nivosa) Photograph by John Eichler This was a very interesting record because it appears to be only the third for Bayside, with the most recent being at Beaumaris in 1897. Records from adjoining and nearby municipalities are over 70 years old. (Source: Atlas of Living Australia). As the image shows, the Snowy Footman is a conspicuous and attractive moth which is unlikely to be overlooked. Stagetomorphus beetle (Stagetomorphus lanigerus) Photograph by Belinda Raymond This tiny 1-2mm long beetle has amazing stag-like antennae. There are seven records of this beetle from the outskirts of metropolitan Melbourne with the nearest being from South Morang. There are no previous records from Bayside. The final insect survey at George Street Reserve will be held on Saturday 13 April from 7.30pm. All are welcome to come along, bring a torch or headlamp. Banksia Bulletin | Autumn 20249Next >