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Mcleods Creek Nature Reserve

Woodland Restoration Program

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Background

• Gazetted in

August 2010 to

conserve

significant

vegetation in

poorly

conserved

region.

• 221 ha.

• Yass Valley LGA

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Values

White Box-Yellow Box- Blakelys Red Gum Woodland EEC

Natural Temperate Grassland EEC

Contains flora sp that is declining or intrinsically rare

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Values Threatened species – Brown Treecreeper,

Diamond Firetail, Scarlet Robin, Speckled Warbler,

Superb Parrot and Gang Gang Cockatoo

Golden Sun Moth is present at several sites within

the reserve.

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Restoration Program

June 2011 – Commenced planning

- Developed guidelines to direct restoration

in collaboration with ANBG, CSIRO,

Greening Australia, Friends of Grasslands

and local residents

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Objectives

Restore the woodland vegetation of Mcleods

Creek NR to:

maximise the native biodiversity values of

the reserve

retain areas of natural temperate grassland

enhance connectivity within the reserve,

particularly for small passerines

engage with the community in the Gundaroo

district

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Vegetation Zones The zones were

defined largely by

the following

attributes:

1) topographical

location;

2) groundlayer

condition;

3) groundlayer

species present;

4) tree species

present.

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Planting densities

Zone 1 2 3 4

Canopy 20m 20m NA 40m

Mid layer

tree

30x30m patch

every 100m

containing 5

trees

30x30m

patch every

75m

containing 5

trees

30x30m

patch every

75m

containing 5

trees

10x10m

patch every

200m

containing 3

trees

Shrub 10x10m patch

every 100m

containing 10

trees

10x10m

patch every

500m

containing 10

trees

10x10m

patch every

50m

containing

10 trees

10x10m

patch every

300m

containing 5

trees

+ 25% contingency

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Species composition

Zone 4

E.melliodora Overstorey 70%

E.mannifera Overstorey 15%

E.bridgesiana Overstorey 15%

A.dealbata Mid layer tree 50%

A.rubida Mid layer tree 50%

Bursaria spinosa Shrub 100%

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Exclusion Zones 1)Areas of

grassland

2)Areas of natural

recruitment

3)25m buffer for

drainage lines,

due to shading

of groundlayer.

4)5m buffer roads,

fences

Method Planting into

hand-dug or

machine-

augered holes.

Protect with tree

guard and

watering.

Direct seeding

Laying seed

bearing

branches at

sowing sites

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Planting program

• Cooperative

program with

Greening Australia

• National Tree Day

2014, over 100

participants and

1000+ trees and

shrubs planted.

• ANBG seed

collection and

propagation

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Planting program

• Program

continued in

Autumn 2015 with

Greening Australia

regular volunteer

teams.

• Planting

completed across

entire reserve,

approximately

2800 plants.

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Planting program - monitoring

• Zone 1 – 96%

• Zone 2 – 78 - 80%

• Zone 4 – 94%

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Direct Seeding

• 28 of 59 (47%)

plots germinated.

• Zone 3 - 60%

• Zone 2 – 26%

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Forb Reintroduction – Phase 1

• Establish additional

population Lepidium

hyssopifolium. 350 plants in

May 2012.

• 7 Senecio macrocarpus

planted in June 2013.

Seed broadcast of

common forb species –

Aceana ovina, Linum

marginale, Eryngium

ovinum, Plantago varia,

Xerochrysum viscosum

Critically analyse program.

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Forb Reintroduction – Phase 2

• Additional 40 Senecio

macrocarpus planted in Nov

2015.

• SOS project for Lepidium

hyssopifolium

• Forbs naturally germinating

within exclosures – austral

sunray, scaly buttons.

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Management Issues - Erosion Gullies

• Exposed B

horizons are

highly dispersive

from both

overland and

within profile

flow, resulting in

undercutting,

caving and

slumping.

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Erosion Stabilisation

• Excavation to

reshape slope

• Cover B horizon

with topsoil,

straw, jute

netting, thatch,

and logs.

• Swales and

drainage to divert

water and provide

soil collection

points

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Weeds

Tussock, Wort, Bathurst Burr treated.

Blackberry, Briar, Hawthorn now treated. Previously retained as provided resources to threatened birds prior to native shrub layer establishing.

Phalaris to be treated.

Thistles, annual pasture weeds – not treated

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Cassinia arcuata treatment

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Whats next ?

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Continue direct seeding program for another

year.

Implement SOS funded Lepidium planting, and

maintenance of Senecio plantings.

Remove tree guards.

Continue erosion stabilisation at priority sites,

if funding permits.

Continue Cassinia removal at priority sites and

map spread to south of reserve.

Ongoing weed control