Baldivis Children's Forest bushland grazed
In the 1920’s the land in the Baldivis area was subdivided into small
farms for the post World War II Soldier Settlement Scheme. Baldivis
Children’s Forest (BCF) was used for dairy activities and next to Outridge
Swamp was used for market gardens. In 1970 the land (now BCF) was later
gazetted as a reserve and enjoyed by local residents for picnics, walking
and horse riding.
Revegetation commences
In 2000, children from Baldivis Primary School began planting at BCF to
save and create a bushland area in Baldivis that was otherwise disappearing
for houses and roads. But much of what the children planted each year died
or was eaten by kangaroos. In 2004, surveys were carried out as to what
plants and animals were at BCF, and our experiments showed us what needed to
be done to improve seedling survival rates.
Deciding what to plant
Soils and vegetation are closely correlated – the type of soil
determines the types of plants found in an area. The BCF occurs on Tamala
Limestone (Spearwood Dunes) made up of three geomorphological units –
Cottesloe (eastern slope at BCF), Karrakatta (ridge and western slope at BCF)
and Herdsman Complexes (Outridge Swamp at BCF).
Down in the swale at the eastern
boundary of the reserve is Outridge Swamp which contains paperbarks, flooded
gums and sedges (See ‘Wetlands’ in this website). These plants grow in the
black, organic peaty soil (Herdsman Complex) of the swamp.
A steep 400 metre walk from the
wetland climbs up 31 metres, past marri (Corymbia callophylla) and
tuart trees (Eucalyptus gomphocephala). The brown sands have exposed
limestone rocks scattered along the way (Cottesloe Complex).
At the top of the limestone ridge
are wonderful views of the hills (Darling Scarp) and the Indian Ocean. Large
tuart trees, wattles (Acacia spp.), jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata),
sheoak (Allocasuarina fraseriana) and banksia species grow here. The
sands are more yellow in colour with limestone deep down (Karrakatta
Complex).
Our survey work in 2004 indicated
the Floristic Community Types (FCT) that may have originally grown in the
drier areas of BCF could have been FCT 25 ‘Tuart–Peppermint woodlands’;
and/or FCT 25 ‘Jarrah–Banksia woodlands with scattered tuarts’. Knowing this
and comparing it to other bushland areas with the same FCT gave us clues as
to what to plant at BCF to replace what had been cleared and grazed.
Keeping our plants alive
We worked hard to ensure the newly planted seedlings survived. Older
children helped younger children plant, making sure they took the seedlings
carefully out of the pots, weeded and dug holes deep enough for the roots.
We fenced the seedlings so the western grey kangaroos couldn’t eat them. We
installed a water tank and began watering our seedlings. We also applied for
grant money so that we could hire contractors to spray the weeds and mow the
long weedy veldt grass.
The eastern slope of
the forest planted in 2007 (left) was transformed from weeds into green bush
within 18 months. (right).
Each year more
schools join to help replant the Baldivis Children's Forest and sponsors
such as BHP Billiton Nickel West and Synergy provide funding for plants,
equipment, weed control and a project officer to coordinate all the school
and community helpers. Seedling survival has improved from 10% surviving to
90% surviving after one year’s growth (Table 1). The forest is looking more
beautiful each year and more animals come to live amongst the new bushland.
We are very happy and proud of our achievements!
Figure 1: Seedling survival rate (%) and school
involvement increases each year at Baldivis Children's Forest.
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