New video about our local woodlands

Please have a look at this wonderful video, published by PadburyMedia on Youtube.  It is an overview of why Perth's banksia woodlands are so important, and why they should be protected from the relentless clearing for urban development that has occurred over the last decade.  

Many of the plants and animals in the video are ones that we commonly see on our bushwalks around Ellenbrook.  See how many you recognise...

Did you get them all?  Here is a short list of some of those flora and fauna.
Click on the links for more information about each one.

Menzies Banksia (Banksia menziesii)
Candlestick Banksia (Banksia attenuata)
Holly-leafed Banksia (Banksia ilicifolia)
Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris)
Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii)
Red and Green Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos manglesii)
Bobtail (Tiliqua rugosa)
Western Bearded Dragon (Pogona minor)
Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)
Western Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus superciliosus)

exciting new projects

Yesterday I met with Denise, and her assistant Zoe, from The Greening Project, to talk about planting trees and shrubs in Ellenbrook.  The Greening Project aims to connect local community volunteers with schools to grow tree seedlings and plant them at selected landcare sites.  (View The Greening Project website here.)

We went for a drive around the suburb looking at some local parks and bushland areas. We saw a lot of beautiful native trees, Carnaby's Cockatoo habitat, and public open space used by local residents for exercise and recreation.  Many of the bushland places are intact and healthy.  But there are some patches that definitely need some baby plants to fill in gaps in the understorey.   

Moulton Wetland Park needs some understorey shrubs

Imagine groups of schoolchildren learning about their local environment and getting their hands dirty with some wholesome outdoor activities, under the guidance of their teachers and trained field officers.  Seniors and anyone else in our neighbourhood could get involved in growing seedlings for appropriate landcare sites in our area.  These activities could have ongoing positive effects in our young people; instilling of a sense of stewardship, an understanding of natural processes, creating an interest in our local flora and fauna, meeting kind and responsible people and being put in contact with good role models.   

I am really looking forward to being involved in this kind of project!  I will post more details as they come to hand.

Community Planting Day in June

Brookfield Vale are organising a Community Planting Day on Sunday, 12th June, at  the
corner of Torres Parade and Argent Street in Aveley.  The day will start at 10:00am, and finish up around 12:30pm with a free sausage sizzle for all volunteers.


The aim is to revegetate a small patch of bare ground adjacent to bushland.  Revegetation helps to conserve existing biodiversity.  This is a good chance to learn more about local bushland and the plant species that grow there, as well as get some experience in hands-on bushland stewardship.  Feel free to ask lots of questions.  It's also a great opportunity to meet your neighbours!

we can make a difference

As we will be working outside in the sun, around scratchy bushland plants, please wear protective clothing and footwear - long pants, long-sleeved shirt and sturdy closed shoes or boots with long socks.  Gardening gloves, a hat and sunscreen might be useful too.  Please bring a bottle of drinking water for yourself. 

All planting equipment and plants will be provided.

To RSVP please call Kellie Bennett 9428 6079  
or email kellie.bennett at au dot brookfield dot com