Clean-up call to preserve reserve

EVERYONE is invited to take part in a clean-up day this weekend as part of an annual initiative led by one of the region’s conservational groups.

On Sunday, 30 April, members of the Friends of the Inverleigh Nature Conservation Reserve are set to sweep the area around Teesdale-Inverleigh Road of any litter.

The group’s president Keith Windle said the site is a natural landmark worth preserving.

“It’s the closest bit of bushland to Inverleigh and a fairly rare type of environment,” he said.

“It’s the largest of its type that remains in a natural state in Victoria and a rare type called Grassy Woodlands.

“We’re mainly looking at rubbish along the roadsides because that’s where the bulk of the rubbish we find is, people throwing it out of their cars from Teesdale to Inverleigh.

“Sometimes people will dump a boot load or trailer load of rubbish into the reserve down one of the quiet tracks.”

At more than 1000 hectares, the reserve is home to at least 50 types of orchids and about half a dozen species of endangered wildflowers.

The group currently has about 30 paid members, and Mr Windle said the event offers attendees the opportunity to see what they do while meeting new people in the community.

“It’s an easy activity walking along and chatting and we find the new people that come along enjoy the conversation with our members more than anything,” he said.

“We always hope people who show up who aren’t members will enjoy the activity and get interested enough to join the group and enjoy our further activities in the reserve.”

Mr Windle said group members will aim to recycle whatever they can find from the event’s findings.

The clean-up day is set to take place from 1.30pm to 4.30pm, beginning at the Teesdale side of the reserve.