Caring for Gloucester’s rivers
Gloucester is fortunate to possess such beautiful parks, a fact remarked on by many tourists.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
How many towns of our size have such great open spaces?
However, the park staff are flat out just mowing the grass and maintaining the facilities.
The Gloucester Environment Group was concerned the local river banks were being damaged by weeds such as privet and balloon vine, and was determined it could help.
They formed a group called RiverCare.
After consultation with the council and others, the group has now completed more than five years’ hard work clearing exotic trees and weeds from the river banks and replanting native trees and shrubs.
Residents will have noticed council has been removing the camphor laurel trees in the district park.
You may have thought it was a shame as they are beautiful trees.
Yes, they are beautiful, and make marvellous shade trees, but they cause problems for native fish and other native fauna when their toxic berries and leaves fall into the water.
They also stop native plants from growing beneath them.
To replace the weeds the RiverCare team has now planted more than 600 native trees and shrubs.
This helps to control erosion and provide safe habitat for native mammals, birds and reptiles, especially the platypus.
Our work in King George V Memorial Park has seen a further 150 trees planted.
These have now survived two floods, a bad drought, and a stampede of escaped cattle.
There is a huge seed-bank of weeds which decreases as the new trees grow, so there is much weeding to be done as follow-up.
Already grasses are replacing the weeds but there will always be a weed that sneaks in and which will have to be exterminated.
The RiverCare team still has lots of planting and weeding to do but it’s exciting to see such great results with young trees already over three metres.
The team welcomes anyone who is interested to obtain details from the Gloucester Visitors Information Centre, or call 0468 355 236, or email penny@pennydb.org.
We meet on the fourth Friday of each month for two hours, followed by snacks and coffee in a local cafe.
The RiverCare team also encourages local landowners bordering Gloucester’s rivers to consider what they might be able to do to start regenerating their river banks to encourage native fauna and flora.
