2014 Introduction to the Almanda Project
The project will
restore native habitat along 8 headwater creeks of the Scott Creek
sub-catchment and reduce threats to 4 EPBC listed species and 26 AMLR
threatened species.
We will strategically remove
large infestations of serious environmental weeds such as Blackberry,
Tree heath, (Erica spp), and Willow to facilitate natural regeneration.
Targeted tube-stock revegetation will improve and expand native habitat
in this regionally important reserve in the Mount Lofty Ranges, a
national biodiversity 'hot-spot'.
We will track the effectiveness of implemented project actions with
appropriate monitoring techniques, adapt management to observed
ecosystem responses, and engage the local community, landholders, and
schools in the project.
The ABC broadcast a discussion about the project on the 8th July 2014 which you may like to listen to.
We publish reports annually documenting our progress, and run open days showcasing the project to the community. Links to each are here:-
2014
2017
Almanda Report here.
In May 2017 we again held an open day to showcase this year's achievmemts on restoring creeklines.
In April 2016 we invited people to an open day to see 15 months' progress with our Almanda Project. Response and feedback was good.
There were free
self-guided and guided walks to showcase nearly one hundred plants
including a number of rarely seen species. Creeklines are home to
nearly 60% of SA's rare and endangered species, but weeds suppress
these plants in most creeklines in the Mt Lofty Ranges.
The
Friends are grateful all those who generously gave some support to our
2014 crowd-funding appeal which began further successful fundraising
efforts for the project.
Contractors have been employed to
provide ecological baselines against which we can evaluate the project
while others have removed some blackberries to facilitate our weeding
efforts. Please come and see what you have helped us achieve, to
get some ideas -or to enjoy a pleasant wander.
* The walk was about one kilometre along Almanda Creek and around Almanda Swamp. It went through bushland so visitors were advised to wear suitable footwear and cover their legs.
* They were able to purchase our bird brochures, detailed park maps and the Almanda Project's 78pp first annual report. All profits support our volunteer efforts to conserve this significant SA conservation park.
PS. The park's beautiful biodiverse Greenhood Track which goes down
into a valley that's up behind Almanda Mine was once under a blackberry
'doona'. It demonstrates the regeneration that can be achieved with
careful persistent efforts. A lovely walk, but a bit challenging for
some due to the descent into it along the dirt road (about 2-3 kms
return).
The Friends of Scott Creek gratefully acknowledge sponsorship and support of the Almanda Project by local businesses.
Fund raising for this projected ended on the 10th October, 2014.
We sincerely thank our donors who together raised $8,429.
2015 Up-date on The Almanda Project
The total amount donated was $10,880.80, plus $2000 Adelaide Hills Council Grant, plus $5000 Natural Resource Management Board + $15,000 committed by NRM over the next 3 years. So a total of $17,880.80 raised this year from donations and grants and a further $15,000 over the next 3 years. This has been a magnificent effort from everyone. The Friends of Scott Creek Conservation Park thank you. It enables us to do what we do best – Look after this beautiful park in the manner that it deserves to be looked after.
We will be starting on Almanda Creek, Viminaria Creek and Bushrat Creek this year, (before Xmas). The botanical surveys and vegetation mapping for these systems have been completed and several rare species have been discovered in new sites, some have not been recorded in the park before. We will publish the details as and when they become available.
