As most of Australia wearily re-enters lockdown, cowed by the vigorous, irrepressible Delta Strain, in Braidwood (alongside the reappearance of masks on the local populace) we’re starting to see very early signs of spring. This winter has been a lot colder than last year’s edition, so seeing the first few buds on the trees really does lift the old heart a bit.
Today, while out on my rounds, I saw a definite harbinger of things to come – a butterfly! True, it was only a bloody cabbage white, but we all know they’re the first to arrive and the last to leave, so here’s looking forward to the various shades of brown butterfly to come.
Now, one thing that’s different this year, which will make lurking about with a camera that much more rewarding – already has, truth be told – is that we have a new mini nature reserve on our doorstep, right here in Braidwood. It’s already become a staple leg of daily walkies with Archie, and has opened up a huge number of possibilities.
But first, let’s get the lay of the land, shall we? There already exists a public pathway that runs alongside Bombay Road from opposite the golf course back toward town. It crosses over Flood Creek and follows its course closely – although most of the water is thickly screened with trees, bush and brambles. Even so, it has been a happy hunting ground for both the dog and me – butterflies and small birds abound, so it’s always worth lugging the big rig when headed that way. And Archie finds as many smells and sounds as he could wish for, as well as a nice gravelled path to sprint along.
Anyway, to follow this well-trodden route you turn left when crossing the creek, but this new path meanders onward for another kilometre or so in the other direction, with the golf course to the right, and meets Gillamatong Creek near the fourth tee, forming a rather nice reedy pool.
Until recently, this stretch of water, comprising a chain of pools overhung with willows, was inaccessible behind barbed wire and a lack of information about who it belonged to and whether going there would be trespassing. With this in mind, Archie and I furtively assayed this route last summer, bashing through the bundu down to the the confluence pool and then making our way back to town along the banks of the Gillamatong – all very exciting, except for the bit where I tore my pants climbing over some barbed wire fencing. And then we ran into some curious alpacas.
Anyway, a couple of months ago a new gate appeared at the entrance of this forbidden land, and then a few signs. And that same day, I met Ben, the man responsible for these changes. Ben explained that the land was commonage but had fallen into disuse due to public liability issues. But by persistently contacting the local council and putting in a lot of hard work putting together a comprehensive plan for the area, he had secured access for the public.
We would have to become members of Commonwood Farm, which would ensure we had the required insurance cover. Dogs must be leashed. But most interesting, our stretch of stream will be part of an environmental study. In short, one of the many things settlers introduced to Australia were willow trees, which now comprehensively fringe streams throughout the land.
Willows are considered to be weeds in Aus: they self-seed promiscuously and their roots encroach into the watercourse itself, slowing down the stream and reducing its oxygen content. However, recent research shows that pulling them out wholesale is a bad idea too: it leaves too little shade and shelter for things like platypuses (platypi?). So this scheme aims to leave the willows in place, but re-plant lots of native florae which will encourage native species to come back and rebalance the ecology a bit. I’ve probably missed the finer points, but I think that covers it.
And it seems to be working already: so far I have seen wallabies, ducks, coots, little brown birds, various wrens, rabbits, a rat, kookaburras, bowerbirds, and even a platypus. By their poop, we know there’s an active population of wombats. Most thrilling to me – and I hope subject of a future post – was a kingfisher. Suffice to say, here’s the new-season obsession – another reason to skulk around with phallic camera equipment in pursuit of that elusive perfect picture. I have high hopes that it’ll also help to revitalise this blog — if we’re in for more lockdowns, a bit of a renaissance is definitely in order.
I haven’t done this project justice by the way – Ben and his group of volunteers have really thought this through – have a look at the website for the full monty. Here’s the link:
And of course, look out for further updates from this exciting new microcosm of Australia’s wild and wonderful wilderness.