Wilderness returns to the old tip

VEGETATION is regenerating on the site of the former Bannockburn tip.

Friends of Bannockburn Bush led a community tree day late last month, where 27 volunteers, including First Bannockburn Scouts, planted indigenous species that will attract and support native wildlife.

“We are always looking for a way to increase habitat for threatened species,” FOBB convenor Stuart McCallum said.

“Each group of people could decide on what sort of habitat they would create, and which species would benefit.

“Manna gum for koalas, yellow gum for swift parrot and possums, she oaks for parrots, grasses for butterflies and moths, and sweet Bursaria for predatory insects and bees.

“We had just the right number of keen planters. They loved the idea of designing their own space and protection methods.”

Ballarat not-for-profit Fifteen Trees, which aims to boost habitat while offsetting emissions supplied many of the shrubs.

“Amy Gray, one of our young members, collected seed from the bush under permit, and raised 170 of the manna gums that were planted,” Mr McCallum said.

“We also experimented with different guards; milk cartons which will biodegrade but messily, corflute which can blow around and form microplastics if not removed, and prickly hedge wattle which biodegrades and deters browsing wallabies as well as being free and readily on hand.”

Mr McCallum said the community tree day could not have gone ahead without work by his fellow Friends of Bannockburn Bush members.

“It’s important to thank our preparation team of Malcolm, Greg, Pat and Andy for the work they put in from preparation to catering to make the day such a success,” he said.

The Bannockburn tip was decommissioned in the late-1980s, capped with clay, and has been weedy ever since.

In the weeks before the working bee, the Friends slashed, mowed, burned and spot-sprayed the land in preparation.