Efforts to restore the diverse native vegetation of South-West Sydney have been realised with the flowering of thousands of plants in Narellan.
In 2015, Camden Council supported the efforts of Greening Australia to restore rare native wildflowers and grasses of the Cumberland Plain to one hectare of Parrott Farm Reserve.
Funded under the Caring for our Country program, the $50,000 Greening Australia program combined the latest science and horticultural techniques to conserve threatened woodlands and involved Western Sydney University, National Parks, Western Sydney and Greater Sydney Local Land Services.
Council has assisted with clearing the site and worked with Bushcare volunteers to provide ongoing care and maintenance.
“It is vital to the restoration of the woodlands endemic to this area that we learn how to successfully rehabilitate or reconstruct the highly diverse native ground layer because this is where the bulk of plant diversity resides,” said Greening Australia lead scientist Dr Paul Gibson-Roy.
“Parrott Farm Reserve now harbours wonderful populations of many of the spectacular native wildflowers and grasses that are necessary to supporting the natural habitat unique to the Cumberland Plains,” Dr Gibson-Roy said.
Prior to seeding, the site was cleared of the highly invasive African Olives and the ground levelled and prepared for direct-seeding of up to 100 native wildflower and grass species.
This also included one nationally endangered species and another that was locally extinct.
The wet weather experienced at the start of autumn combined with warm temperatures provided the perfect environment for the wildflowers to blossom and for the native grasses to flourish.
“The transformation of this site is a credit to the conservation experts, volunteers and Council staff who work together to nurture our natural environment,” said Mayor Lara Symkowiak.
“This reserve is now a sanctuary for native plants within an urban environment and offers residents an oasis to visit and reconnect with nature,” she said.