Bush care group works at Phegans Bay

The Bays Bush Care Group, which covers Woy Woy Bay, Phegan's Bay and Horsfield Bay, has been meeting for about 18 months, and is currently working at the north end of Phegan's Bay.

John Lovatt leads a group of about 10 regular members who meet on the third Saturday of the month to donate a couple of hours of their time towards bush care.

The Bays area is surrounded by National Park and is one of the most picturesque spots on the Central Coast.

The vegetation covers a wide range of species with tall, deeply-furrowed turpentine trees, needle-leaved casuarinas and blueberry ash with its many white flowers, as well as a variety of flowers, climbers, vines, shrubs and native grasses.

By day, it is a birdwatcher's paradise, with everything from tiny finches to lyrebirds and king parrots and by night it is one of the best places on the Peninsula to see possums and sugar gliders.

The many trees and the proximity to water means that all sorts of birds and animals have made the Bays their home, but increasing development is putting pressure on the native vegetation upon which they depend.

The biggest problem faced by John and his fellow volunteers is that of garden clippings being dumped in the bush.

That innocent-looking heap of greenery from the garden will not decompose harmlessly, instead, some of it may sprout again, a lot of it will set seed and the rest looks plain unsightly.

Lantana, wandering jew, privet and coral trees are just some of the weeds the group has found on site.

These sorts of plants are not welcome in most gardens, usually because of their invasive nature and this is why they must not be allowed to take over in our National Parks.

A thicket of lantana, while providing a limited habitat and food source to some birds and animals, will never match the diversification of the native vegetation it has replaced, and so, many other bird and animal species will be forced to leave, according to John.

The safest place for garden clippings is in the new green-lidded organics bins provided by Council, says John.

Sadly, a lot of rubbish from Brisbane Water washes up on the Bays' shores too: things like plastic bags, bottles, cans and fishing line.

This sort of pollution is not just ugly, it can be deadly to native birds and animals that may ingest it or become entangled in it and die a slow and painful death.

The Bays Bush Care Group has already accomplished a lot in the short time that it has been operational, and John feels this couldn't have happened without the help of Gosford Council.

"We are very grateful for council's support and supply of such things as tools and information both on bush care and occupational health and safety," he said.

This is a small, hard-working group that gets a great deal of satisfaction and a sense of achievement from working towards a better environment for all.

At present, John Lovatt feels that the group is the ideal size for maintaining at an efficient level, but if you would like to volunteer as a bush carer there are at least six other groups on the Peninsula.

Gosford Council's Bush Care officer, Robyn Urquhart, can be contacted on 4325 8195 for further details.

Paula Perry, November 28