Above: A Nodding Greenhood orchid colony and Short-stem Flax Lily under a Coast Tea-tree canopy in Latrobe reserve in July
Manna Gum regrowth and fallen old Sheoak for reptile and invertebrate habitat
Latrobe Reserve is a 13.5 hectare linear crown land reserve south west of the township of Dromana on the Mornington Peninsula
Encompassing the very steep coastal escarpment and it's short gullies, it runs parallel to the Port Philip Bay coast between Point Nepean Road and LaTrobe Parade
The area is a rare and regionally significant example of the original coastal woodland comprising of coastal cliffs, Gully Woodland, Grassy Woodland, Coast Banksia Woodland, Swamp Scrub and fern gullies (now severely degraded due to road drainage water diversion away from the natural drainage ines) all under pressure from nearby urbanisation
This reserve is managed for DSE by the community-based Dromana Foreshore Committee of Management
What's happening in the reserve
Once full of informal camping sites, weeds and rubbish dumps, this site has in the past been generally neglected, but through recent committee and volunteer efforts focused on strategic weed removal, natural regeneration, provision of information to residents and control of previously informal access tracks, a gradual recovery of the natural ecosystems is evident
Several species of orchid and chocolate and grass lilies abound in the reserve and some areas are now practically weed-free
Removal of the once numerous access tracks and the ongoing removal of invasive flammable woody weed species such as Sweet Pittosporum and Boneseed has significantly lowered the wildfire risk, although persistent soil-stored woody weed seed will be germinating for many years to come
The levels of subsequent natural regeneration in these areas has been proof of the concept that remnant bushland rehabilitation is usually simply a matter of eliminating the weeds and waiting a while and the bush comes back by itself.....
Continuation of this work, as well as following up on the work already done, is vital to increase habitat for the remaining plants and animals (a Black Wallaby frequents the reserve) and is strongly supported by the Committee
Encompassing the very steep coastal escarpment and it's short gullies, it runs parallel to the Port Philip Bay coast between Point Nepean Road and LaTrobe Parade
The area is a rare and regionally significant example of the original coastal woodland comprising of coastal cliffs, Gully Woodland, Grassy Woodland, Coast Banksia Woodland, Swamp Scrub and fern gullies (now severely degraded due to road drainage water diversion away from the natural drainage ines) all under pressure from nearby urbanisation
This reserve is managed for DSE by the community-based Dromana Foreshore Committee of Management
What's happening in the reserve
Once full of informal camping sites, weeds and rubbish dumps, this site has in the past been generally neglected, but through recent committee and volunteer efforts focused on strategic weed removal, natural regeneration, provision of information to residents and control of previously informal access tracks, a gradual recovery of the natural ecosystems is evident
Several species of orchid and chocolate and grass lilies abound in the reserve and some areas are now practically weed-free
Removal of the once numerous access tracks and the ongoing removal of invasive flammable woody weed species such as Sweet Pittosporum and Boneseed has significantly lowered the wildfire risk, although persistent soil-stored woody weed seed will be germinating for many years to come
The levels of subsequent natural regeneration in these areas has been proof of the concept that remnant bushland rehabilitation is usually simply a matter of eliminating the weeds and waiting a while and the bush comes back by itself.....
Continuation of this work, as well as following up on the work already done, is vital to increase habitat for the remaining plants and animals (a Black Wallaby frequents the reserve) and is strongly supported by the Committee
Volunteering at Latrobe
New Drooping Sheoak, Cherry Ballart and Wallaby Grasses under a Black Wattle
Friends group field activities take place on the third Saturday of the Month (ex. December and January) between 10am and 1pm with a light lunch/nibbles provided.
Volunteers participating in LaTrobe reserve field activities will be rewarded with:
The reserve's varied environments are home to a suite of regionally significant plants and animals. Eutaxia microphylla shrubs provide nutrients to Pale Ballarts under which a White's Skink forages amongst the Weeping and Wallaby Grasses... Don't believe it? You'll have to come along....
News
Recently a volunteer member discovered a newly emerged Bats Wing Fern whose nearest known neighbors are in wet gullies around Red Hill. This fern sprang up in the root mass hole of a fallen Drooping Sheoak, the most common tree species in the reserve, a reminder that much of the peninsula was once covered in these trees
Please phone Dromana Foreshore Ranger Michael Everitt for details on 0417381233
A great day is always had by all
Volunteers participating in LaTrobe reserve field activities will be rewarded with:
- an opportunity to connect with active community members
- acquiring knowledge and having the opportunity to share their skills and knowledge
- the rewarding sense of achievement a sustained group effort achieves
- being involved in LaTrobe reserve friends group gives the participant first hand experience in the restoration and recovery of local ecological systems
- we practice the low impact, Bradley method of bushland rehabilitation
- the committee provides 2 rangers and local coastal ecologist Gidja Walker to steward the group
The reserve's varied environments are home to a suite of regionally significant plants and animals. Eutaxia microphylla shrubs provide nutrients to Pale Ballarts under which a White's Skink forages amongst the Weeping and Wallaby Grasses... Don't believe it? You'll have to come along....
News
Recently a volunteer member discovered a newly emerged Bats Wing Fern whose nearest known neighbors are in wet gullies around Red Hill. This fern sprang up in the root mass hole of a fallen Drooping Sheoak, the most common tree species in the reserve, a reminder that much of the peninsula was once covered in these trees
Please phone Dromana Foreshore Ranger Michael Everitt for details on 0417381233
A great day is always had by all