Kensington Bushland is typical jarrah-banksia woodland on Bassendean soil with the canopy dominated by just a few species, particularly Eucalyptus marginata, E. todtiana, Banksia attenuata, B. ilicifolia, B. menziesii, Nuytsia floribunda and Allocasuarina fraseriana.
The most recent Management Plan was prepared in 2018.
In listing the Kensington Bushland as a Bush Forever site, two significant flora species were noted: Dodonaea hackettiana (Hop bush) and Conostylis aculeata subsp. cygnorum (Prickly conostylis or cottonhead). Furthermore, it was identified as one of two sites south of the Swan River where the white-spotted ground gecko, Diplodactylus alboguttatus (also called Lucasium alboguttatum) is found.
The brochure prepared by the Friends group in 2002 shows where some of the plants and animals are located.
See further details of the listing in Vol 2 of the 2000 WA Government Bush Forever report P240. Note this is a large pdf report.
The area and some of its wildlife have protection under both State and Commonwealth legislation.
- Banksia Woodlands of the Swan Coastal Plain which are included in the Jirdarup Bushland are included as a Threatened Ecological Community (TEC) as defined under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) in 2016. Read more about this.
- The Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo is listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act and the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (WC Act), the Forest Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo is listed as Vulnerable under both Acts.
- As a Bush Forever site, Kensington Bushland is also covered by the State Environmental Protection Act 1986 Section 51C which makes it an offence to clear native vegetation unless it is undertaken in accordance with a clearing permit, or an exemption applies.
The area is fenced to protect it from excess traffic. Fences were installed following serious fires first in 2003 and more recently in 2016.
Watch how the bushland recovered from the 2016 fire.
