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2002 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc

 

Time to value native vegetation

 

It's taken a long time since Europeans arrived in Australia for us to begin to learn about, value and appreciate the unique native vegetation here.

For instance, most Australian gardens still resemble English gardens.

The imposition of water restrictions gives us another opportunity to learn about native plants and the native animals and insects that depend on them.

These plants have adapted to Australian conditions.

On the Peninsula, we are privileged to have a wealth of native vegetation that's easy to access.

As well as being surrounded by National Parks, we also still have some areas of remnant vegetation in our midst.

We can easily see purple-flowering hardenbergia, yellow-blossomed acacias, red-tendrilled grevilleas, and white-petalled leptospermum, commonly known as tea-tree.

All are native to this area, and easy to grow in our gardens.

However as the pressure increases to use this land for housing, our ability to preserve these places depends on our appreciation of their environmental value.

There are many beautiful plants that are suitable for home gardens.

In providing a haven for native fauna such as blue-tongue lizards, king parrots, and sugar gliders, growing native plants provides us with a richness of wildlife to appreciate.

Gardens that support native fauna also help to preserve endangered species such as the swift parrot.

I am one of the lucky ones to have seen this bird recently on the Central Coast.

If we do not provide suitable food and habitat for such species, other people may never see them.

By sharing knowledge, skills, seeds, cuttings and friendship, people who grow and preserve native plants benefit from the contribution they make to the beauty and health of our environment.

On the Peninsula, several groups work together to preserve existing areas of native bushland. You are welcome to join us.

People can also assist by not allowing plants that are foreign to this area to escape into or be dumped in bush areas.

Gosford Council's provision of green organics bins and their quarterly collection service make it easy to properly dispose of this garden refuse.

Phone 4341 9301 to find out more from me, or contact Gosford Council's Bushcare Officers on 4325 8169 or 4325 8195.

Shirley Hotchkiss, Umina