News

Scouts, cubs and their leaders from the Mount Crosby area in Queensland have been hard a work protecting the rare Lloyd’s Native Olive. In a recently completed project at the Tyamolum Scout Campsite in Mount Crosby, funded under an Everyone’s Environment Grant provided by the QLD Government, scout groups worked tirelessly to remove invasive weeds, document the location of these rare plants, and plant native seedlings that will stop the weeds returning.

Ian Heath, the Tyamolum management committee chairman explained, “To protect this rare plant we needed to remove as many competing weeds as possible, like cat’s claw creeper (a Weed of National Significance), mothers of millions, lantana, ochna and corky passion vine. Fortunately, we have had the help and expertise of weeders from the Oxley Creek Catchment Association, ” Ian said.

“They treated the patch of cat’s claw occurring in a patch of dry rainforest and also led the removal of the weeds throughout the eucalypt forests on the property, supported by scouting volunteers who have done follow-up weeding.”

With the help of scouts and cubs from various groups, including Richlands, Riverview, Moggill, Taringa-Milton-Toowong and Kenmore, plus their leaders, over 1,000 native seedlings have been planted. These seedlings have started well with the good rains of spring and summer and will eventually help shade out the nasty weeds and prevent new weeds from invading.

The planting took place on three Community Environment Days which also saw the participation of members of other Landcare groups such as Moggill Creek Catchment Group, The Hut Environment and Community Association and OCCA who helped educate the scouting youth members on caring for the environment.

Plastic water pipes have been laid throughout the property, providing safe drinking water for the scouts and cubs camping on the property, water for newly planted seedlings, as well as a source of water for fighting fires.

“The scouting fraternity connected to Tyamolum is very grateful for the sponsorship of this project by the Queensland state government,” Ian said. “It has complemented the activities that have been going on under the auspices of the Land for Wildlife program and demonstrates the importance of Landcare and environment to the various levels of achievement in cubs, scouts and venturer sections.”

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