The Friends of Jirdarup Bushland
The Friends of Jirdarup Bushland is a community group based around Victoria Park. We are dedicated to the preservation of Jirdarup Bushland Precinct which includes Kensington Bushland, George St Reserve and Kent St Sandpit. We organize community events as well as planting and weeding days each year.
Our aim is to help the community connect with nature through protecting, regenerating and revegetating the Jirdarup Bushland Precinct.
Follow us on Facebook or Instagram to get the latest news and get involved in our activities!
The Bushland
Jirdarup Bushland Precinct, with ‘Bush Forever’ site Kensington Bushland at its heart, is a rare slice of remnant banksia-jarrah woodlands tucked away in Victoria Park. A hidden natural treasure and biodiversity hot spot, Jirdarup means ‘Place of Birds’ in the Nyoongar language. It is home to 62 species of birds, as well as 14 species of reptiles and over 200 plant species. Get creative and immerse yourself in photographing the wealth of Jirdarup’s flora, fauna, and landscapes.
The Bushland entry points are from Etwell Street, George Street and Baron Hay Court. There is free parking, wide pathways, and dog walking is permitted. Disabled access is via Baron-Hay Court entrance. You can take photos from the public access areas in Jirdarup Bushland, but please don’t jump the fences.
The Jirdarup hand weeding project continues apace! Twice a week we are out there removing bucket loads of nasty weeds so that the bushland can breathe. The bonus is watching the wildflowers blossom! Like these delicate milk maids and illusive purple sun orchids.
To get up closer to these wonders, please feel free to join our weeding group 'behind the fence'! New recruits are welcome.
Photos by Clare and Vicki
#jirdarupbushland #WAwildflowers #WAorchids
FUNGI FROLICS
Fungi proliferate in Kensington Bushland during the wet months. The only scientific report on the topic was done in 2005, and was rediscovered recently on the WA Naturalists Club website https://www.wanaturalists.org.au/files/2017/09/6-Kensington-Bushland-2005.pdf?gid=6
No less than THIRTY species of fungi (and slime mould) were found. Check it out!
Some Friends recently met with Karina Knight (formerly of the WA Herbarium) - shown here - to go fossicking for fungi... we also found some slime mould!
#jirdarupbushland
#fungi
#bushland
#naturelovers
#WANaturalistsClub
HAPPY NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY MONTH (September)
Did you know that Western Australia has eight of the 15 biodiversity hotspots in Australia? And five of them are in the South-West! This is unparalleled anywhere else in the world.
The Town of Victoria Park's Green Futures Program recently featured Professor Kingsley Dixon speaking on this topic. Watch and learn!!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cchlxwS99dU
Our flora evolved on very poor ancient soils and it’s the evolutionary partnerships that have contributed to such great adaptation and diversity. In the 9.1 hectares of the Kensington Bush Forever Site #48, we have more than 207 different Flora identified to date. In some places there are >11 species per m2. How special is that?
But what's flowering in Kensington Bushland NOW? Lots of milkmaids, cowslips, and many many more! There's also a large number of sun orchids ready to bloom any day now.
Photos by Vicki and Clare.
#jirdarup #wawildflowers #nationalbiodiversitymonth #bushlandrestoration
ORCHIDS GALORE
Last week John Warren from the WA Orchid Society visited Jirdarup to check out the variety of lovely orchids. Many donkey orchids can be seen from the pathways as well as sun orchid spikes that should soon be in flower. John was also delighted to find jug orchids, snail orchids, and bunny orchids. Please let us know if you see anything special!
Over 20 species of orchids have been recorded in this area since surveys began in 1980, making our Kensington Bushland worth preserving and protecting.
#jirdarup #WAorchidsociety
#wildflowers
Celebrate Mental Health Week at Jirdarup Bushland for a FREE community Walk and Talk and learn about the healing power of nature. Book at https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/952988
#jirdarupbushland #mentalhealthweekwa
Nice to see a couple of family groups of Forest Red-tail Black Cockatoos around the Jirdarup bird waterer yesterday. Late afternoon seems to be the best time to spot them. Thanks to Georgina Wilson for the photo.
#jirdarupbushland #blackcockatoos
Two months into the Jirdarup Weeding project, the team got together yesterday to take stock and plan for the next stage. We've reduced the weed load in our patch, and discovered many treasures along the way - like these two dainty orchids! There's plenty of weeding still to do, and new weeders are always welcome.
Photos by Elbia Sylwestrzak, Paula Harkins and Vicki
#jirdarup #westernaustralianwildflowers
Jirdarup Bushland is loving this Djilba rain and the wildflowers are blooming! Here are some of our recent finds, many of which can be seen from the pathways.
Photos by Georgina Wilson, Clare and Vicki
#jirdarupbushland
#florabase #westernaustralianwildflowers
Containers for Change
