Friends of Black Hill and Morialta Conservation Parks Incorporated
The parks:
Black Hill
- Animals - Black Hill
- Plant List - page 1
- Plant List - page 2
- Introduced Plant list
- Plant List - page 1
- Plant List - page 2
- Plant List - page 3
- Introduced Plant list
Morialta
- Animals - Morialta
- Plant List - page 1
- Plant List - page 2
- Plant List - page 3
- Introduced Plant list
Project Sites:
- Ambers Gully
- Fourth Creek
- Ghost Tree Gully
- Horsnell Gully
- Montacute Valley
- Olive Hill
- Pylon Track
- Third Falls
- Wildflower Garden
Common Bird List
Diary Dates
Track Maps
Contact the Friends
Join the Friends
20 years in the Parks
Links
Pylon Track Project Site
Project site history
September 1997 Pylon Track Project
Dealing with Muraltia and Broom
Early in the group's formant, monthly working bees were held in different sites across Morialta and Black Hill Conservation Parks. The then district ranger John Watkins suggested we concentrate our efforts on selected sites, and a project coordinator was selected for each site. This site is at the bottom of the Pylon Track Gully and is a beautiful area, with a large range of flora. It is also the site for a rare plant for Morialta, being Hymenanthera dentata or the native tree violet. There are a number of plants in this site and weed control is mainly handpulling broom, and the odd olive, blowfly bush, gorse, muraltia and spraying of blackberry in order to protect habitat. I would urge anyone who has not yet visited the site to attend one of our working bees, even if it is to enjoy the location.
The Park in this area in spring is truly something to see, with the wealth of flowers in bloom, including a number of orchids. Unfortunately a phytophthera outbreak in the area means extra care needs to be taken to ensure infected material is not spread.
2007 Project Report
Unfortunately, although working bees were planned for the Pylon Track, the 26 November 2006 was cancelled due to the very dry season and difficulty in evacuating this remote area should a bushfire break out; while the 29 April 2007 working bee was cancelled due to the wonderful break in the season on 26 April and the possibility of flooding!Ann - Project Co-ordinator
2006 Project Report
Hymenanthera dentata
Our first workng bee was held on 27 November 2005, when I was somewhat concerned about access to the bottom of the gully due to the deluge on 7/8 November 2005. I made a reconnaissance trip prior to the working bee to ensure that we could safely access the site. Some erosion had occurred to the track but fortunately it was still accessible with care.
We began by pulling Muraltia around the pylons on Central Track near the junction of the Pylon Track an outbreak of Phytophthora cinnamomi was also identified nearby and marked.
We then proceeded to the bottom of the gully by 4 wheel drive vehicles, where we hand pulled many broom, as well as the odd olive, boneseed and hawthorn on this occassion, on the other side of the creek. Ranger Eric also brought along a tree popper, which was a useful tool for removing the larger plants.
Sphaerolobium minus
Some of us continued walking eastwards up the gully, spot weeding as we went, and also cutting and swabbing a large olive. Not far from this spot, we discovered an enormous patch of maidenhair fern.
The area on the eastern side of the track between the track and the creek, which crosses the track and runs approximately east/west, is where we hae mainly worked in the past few years; this is now looking quite different, with most of the broom gone, thus apparently allowing the bracken to flourish.
Three of us were briefly lost in our search for a pair of loppers and gloves, which had been left near the large olove, which we had cut and swabbed earlier. Once we realised we were on the wrong side of a short tributary to the main creek, we were able to find out way back to the Pylon Track, where the cars were parked. A new plant was also discovered by John growing at the northern end of the Pylon Track, it has been itentified as Sphaerolobium minus or bitter leaf pea. This has been reported to the State Biodiversity Centre.
A second working bee was held on 26 February attended by Graham and myself. Graham sprayed blackberries around the pylons on the Central Track and on both sides of the Pylon Track along the creek, while I hand pulled mainly broom on the eastern side of the Pylon Track, and also removed, by cutting and swabbing with herbicide, young olive trees and hawthorns. I then noticed a young apple seedling, which happened to be growing in an inch ants nest! Graham quickly removed he seedling and we beat a hasty retreat from the site before they attacked.
My thanks to Graham, Lola, Bruce and Joy, John and Ranger Eric for attending the 2006 working bees.
Ann - Project Coordinator
2005 Project Report
Two working bees were held in the part twelve months - one on Sunday 28 November 2004, where we first stopped at the pylon on the Central Track near the northern junction of the Pylon Track, where Graham sprayed the blackberry regrowth under the pylon. On the other side of the Centreal Track a Styllidium graminifolium - grass trigger plant - was discovered; this plant is over 30cm tall; we cut and swabbed blackberry regrowth in the shallow gully at the northern end of the Pylon Track. After this wer proceeded to the main project site in the bottom of the Pylon Track gully, where Graham again sprayed blackberry along the creek line, while the rest of us mostly pulled Broom, Olive, Boneseed etc. Another two plants of the native tree violet, Hymenanthera dentata were discovered.
Stylidium graminifolium
The second working bee was held on 27 February 2005 with similar work being undertaken to the November working bee.
My thanks to all those who attended the working bees, namely Graham and Raelene, Bruce and Joy, Lola and John.
Ann - Project Coordinator
2004 Project Report
The first working bee for two years for this site was held on Sunday 30 November 2003. It was a very successful day, with a total of 8 people attending. To reach the Pylon Track, we walked along Moores Road, then the Central Track. There were plenty of wildflowers in bloom, such as woolly rice flower (Pimelea octophylla), Gompholobium, guinea flower (Hibbertia), Goodenia, Tetratheca pilosa, Billy Buttons (Craspedia) to name a few. Hand pulling of broom was undertaken at the bottom of the Pylon Track gully, with the odd Boneseed, Olive and Blackberry also being removed in the gully, as well as en route. The walk down the gullt fire track may be steep but I believe those attending thought it was all worthwhile to see an isolated part of the park, which is a beautiful tranquil area. Yellow-tail black cockatoos could also be heard calling.We returned by the Third Falls track, locating and removing the feral orchid Monadenia as well as Muraltia.
Having been inspired by seeing this area for the first time, Graham suggested an extra working bee, which took place on 22 February 2004, when we traveled by vehicle and thus were able to spend more time removing those pesky broom plants.
I would especially like to thank Graham, who also undertook some additional spraying of blackberry and others for their support. I was beginning to think that I might have to abandon this project, but scheduling this working bee in November and travelling in by vehicle has certainly made it easier for members to attend. This is a project that is achievable and it would be a pity for it to become degraded by not keeping the broom under control.
Ann
Project Co-ordinator.
2001 Project Report
Regretfully, the annual visit to the Pylon Track was not made during 2001 owing to the project area being within the boundaries of the closed area ofMorialta Conservation Park, the area being closed because of the outbreak of the root fungus disease Phytopthora cinnamomi.AnnTaylor - Project Coordinator
2000 Project Report
On Sunday, 24 th September the yearly visit was made to my poject area on the Pylon Track, Morialta Conservation Park. We began by undertaking a nature walk along the fire track parallel to Moores Road turning south along the Centre Track.The park is ablaze with Golden bush-pea (Pultenaea daphnoides) and white flowering (Hakea rostrata) which has a sweet perfume. We noticed a number of Donkey orchids and were fortunate to find an early flowering Fire orchid (Burnettia nigricans). Greenhood orchids were also seen (both Pterostylis pedunculata and P. nutans). I believe the orchid flowering season is a little late this year due to the long cold wet winter. Also seen in flower were:
- Grevillea (Grevillea lavandulacea)
- Tall sundew (Drosera auriculata)
- Pink-eyed Susan (Tetratheca pilosa)
- Candle flower (Stackhousia sp.)
- Rice flower (Pimelea sp.)
- Fringe myrtle (Calytrix tetragona)
- Leucopogon sp
- Hand flower (Cheiranthera alternifolia)
- Gorse Bitter- pea (Daviesia sp)
- Red parrot-pea (Dillwynia sp.)
- Ruiming postman (Kennedia prostrata)
- Native primrose (Goodenia sp)
- Billy Buttons (Craspedia glauca)
- Milkmaids (Burchardia umbellata)
- Blue Grass Lily (Caesia calliantha)
- Yacca (Xanthorrhoea semiplana)
On reaching the project area at the bottom of the Pylon Track gully, the area adjacent the track seemed to be quite clear of Broom and has been for some metres. As we neared the creek we found a fairly heavy infestation which was then hand pulled. There is also some regrowth of Blackberry which will require spraying.
I would like to thank Helen, Brian and Kathryn for their company and help. I am sure they enjoyed the day as much as I did.
Ann - Projed Cordinator.
1999 Project Report
On Sunday 26th September I was accompanied by new member, Arthur for the annual working bee on the Pylon Track. This year we concentrated on the area between the eastern side of the track and the creek. We pulled mainly broom plants, which were in bud or flowering, making it easier for Arthur to identify. The odd seedling olive, boneseed and African Daisy were also removed.It was a lovely sunny day and once again the wildflowers are blooming, truly nature's garden. I would like to extend my thanks to Arthur for his help.
Ann Taylor - Project Coordinator
1997 Project Report
September 1997 Pylon Track Project
Dealing with Muraltia and Broom
On Sunday, 28th September 1997 we made our yearly vist to my project area at the bottom of the gully on the Pylon Track, Morialta Conservation Park.
We have began with removing some seeding Muraltia adjacent to the pylon on the Central Track, together with some Blackberry. We then proceeded to the project area and tackled a large patch of young Broom and successfully removed it by hand pulling.
The park was wearing its spring finery, although it was noted that flowering is a little late this year. A number of Donkey orchids Diuris pardina were seen as we proceeded to the start of the Pylon Track, while a few Maroon hoods Pterostylis pedunculata were seen in the project area.
I would like to thank Bruce, Erica, Joy, Bruce, Lee and Zoe for their help.
Ann
Project Co-ordinator.
updated 8 January 2008
