Margaret Bell has been a volunteer for our group for more than 20 years. She was one of our early weeders and with her husband, Dave, continues to turn up and help out at events.
We asked Margaret few questions:
What has been your involvement in the Bushland to date?
- We have lived in Kensington since 1979 and I became interested in the bushland after seeing a letter from the late Andrew Thompson in the Southern Gazette (another bit of history!) in September 2003. He called for people to help remove some of the invasive weeds. Elbia Sylwestrzak and I joined the Friends of Kensington Bushland, got our volunteer badges and became regular weeders of ‘our’ patch. In one weeding bee, we could get 400-600 gladioli and as well as many other weeds.
- Since then I have enjoyed many activities in the now Jirdarup Bushland: walks, morning teas with speakers on various topics, plantings, waterings, photography, weeding and just enjoying our patch.
What makes the Bushland special to you?
- We enjoy sharing the Bushland with our family – showing them the Fairy Orchid patch and the donkeys when they appear each year. Some entered photos in the “Images of Jirdarup” competition and two grandsons loved helping at an information table at a local shopping centre, where ‘The Friends’ introduced people to the gem on our doorstep.
- We’ve also met lots of people – local and from places as far as New Zealand who love helping in and enjoying our beautiful Bushland.
What are your favourite species of flora and fauna? Why?
- We’ve enjoyed finding familiar and new wildflowers. We’ve seen lots of different kinds of orchids: big clumps of donkey orchids on both sides of the path from the Etwell St entrance, bee orchids on the track near the old quarry, spider orchids, sun orchids and dozens of cowslips and the clumps of Kangaroo Paws. It’s so good to see them emerge again each year.
