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What a ‘weederful’ day! 🌿🌿🌱🌱🌾 U

What a ‘weederful’ day! 🌿🌿🌱🌱🌾
Up at Mt Tamborine this morning with Ute Harder de Sohnrey and Jens Sohnrey’s Landcare group weeding a section of planted bushland adjoining Manitzky Park.

I never thought weeding could be so much fun! When you are with like-minded people with a love for our natural environment, it becomes a pleasure to make short work of a job that would be too big for one person.

If you’d like to get some light exercise, fresh mountain air, learn about our unique flora, and meet an awesome bunch of people then you may want to join Tamborine Mountain Landcare Inc.

They meet the 3rd Saturday of each month from 8-10am followed by morning tea with the most delicious homemade treats by Ute.

On the way home I popped into the Koala Supermarket to check how the trees are going. While there I did a bit of light weeding and discovered some amazing fungi you can see in the pics. 🍄 🍄

After such an enjoyable day I’m thinking of organising a short weeding bee at the Koala Supermarket, 🐨🌳🌳 as many hands will make light work of the weeds and will be a wonderful opportunity for those who haven’t visited lately to see the growth of the trees.

I’ll keep you posted with the event.

#koalasonthegreen #tamborinemountainlandcare #tamborinemountain #fungi #koalafoodtrees #volunteers #landcareaustralia

Out at the Koala Supermarket this evening with Org

Out at the Koala Supermarket this evening with Organic Turf Solutions for the third and last application to inoculate the soil in the second stage planting.

Digging into the mulch after only a fortnight there is signs of the fungus beginning to establish itself.

Mycelial fungus plays important roles in the health of plants:

🍄 They help to break down organic matter like mulch and leaf litter so that the nutrients are readily available to plants.

🍄 The mycelium creates a network throughout the soil that helps plants to communicate with each other known as the ‘wood-wide web’.

🍄 Fungus forms symbiotic relationships with plants and can even ‘mine’ minerals in the earth that plants can’t reach.

🍄 The network of mycelium also helps suppress weed growth.

🍄 The sheer biomass of mycelium in the soil helps the soil to retain more moisture. This is particularly noticeable during dry weather events.

We are conducting an experiment with the second stage of the Koala Supermarket to see how not using any synthetic herbicides, fertilisers and insecticides and introducing soil micro biodiversity affects plant growth and health.

Will keep your posted.

Took the opportunity again to look at this first stage planting.

It makes my heart smile 💖 😊 as I look at the growth of the trees and all the amazing individuals and organisations that have come together to make this possible. You are truly incredible...

🙏💚💚🌳💚🌳🐨

🌳🐨🌳🐨🌿

#koalasupermarket #countryparadiseparklands #watergumcommunity #wildcareaustralia #landcareaustralia #soilinnoculation #soilhealth #mycelium #koalasonthegreen

Soil that is rich in microbiology is crucial for h

Soil that is rich in microbiology is crucial for healthy plant growth. This evening I had the privilege of helping out the guys at Organic Turf Solutions inoculate the second stage Koala Supermarket 🐨🌳 mulch beds at Country Paradise Parklands.

The first of three treatments was done in the evening as direct sunlight kills the microbiology contained in the treatment.

The second stage was planted a few months after the first stage of the Koala Supermarket. It has shown very slow growth compared to many koala food trees in the first stage. In fact, many of the trees in the first stage are more than 5 times as high as those in the second stage.

There are many factors that affect plant growth. The second stage plantings has a number of existing tall trees close by that compete for moisture, nutrients and sunlight.

We are conducting an experiment to see the effect of biodiverse soil microbiology on plant growth and hopefully we will start to see better growth.

Think of soil microbiology in the way you look at healthy gut flora. Studies have shown the crucial importance healthy gut flora plays for our health. Soil free from synthetic herbicides and fertilisers is vital as these chemicals kills the soil microbiology. Think about how antibiotic treatment wreaks havoc on our gut flora, health and vitality and you get to appreciate the importance of truly organic soil rich in microbiology. 🍄 🍄 🌸🌳🌿🌼

We’ll keep you updated on the experiment in the coming months.

Thanks again to all those involved in the creation of the Koala Supermarket, including all the amazing volunteers, my partner in crime Rosalinde Brinkman in this project, Country Paradise Parklands, Watergum, Wildcare Australia Inc. and Landcare Australia for their generous financial support.

#koalasupermarket #countryparadiseparklands #watergumcommunity #wildcareaustralia #landcareaustralia #soilbiology #soilmicrobiology #ilovekoalas #koalasonthegreen

Maverick the koala boy is one lucky koala. After b

Maverick the koala boy is one lucky koala.
After being struck by a car in Helensvale Lauren and her mum came to the rescue.

They called Wildcare Australia Inc. and Heidi Cuschieri went to the scene of the accident.
Maverick was taken to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital Foundation. His injuries were not life threatening, and after a week of observation and recovery he was ready to be released.

This is a video of Lauren releasing Maverick.
Thank you to the army of people who fight to save our wildlife including members of the public like Lauren and her mum, volunteers and paid professionals alike. It really does take a whole community to look after our wildlife. 🙏🐨💚

Thank you also Deborah Ballin for your help with the release.

If you see an sick or injiured koala or other native wildlife, please contact the Wildcare hotline on 07 5527 2444.

#goldcoastkoalas #wildcareaustralia #currumbinwildlifehospital #ilovekoalas #koalas #australianwildlife #koalasonthegreen #saveourkoalas

Some of the koala food trees at the Koala Supermar

Some of the koala food trees at the Koala Supermarket at Country Paradise Parklands are growing so tall! The tallest ones are taller than me!
The warm wet weather has really been kind for many of the trees. The winners go to the Blue Gums and Small-fruited Grey Gums.

We are learning so much about the many variables that affect and promote tree growth. For instance there is a marked difference in height and vigor from the trees in Stage 1 which are at the top of the hill and those at the mid point and bottom of the hill.

Those at the top of the hill where there is full sun and no trees present have shown the best growth. Those at the mid point and at the bottom of the hill are less than a third of the height of those at the top of the hill. No doubt in time many of the smaller trees will catch up!

There is in particular a large mature eucalypt mid way down the hill and this has had an inhibiting effect on plant growth as the young plants compete for light, water and resources.

This biological phenomenon is known as allelopathy. Through the release of allelochemicals, certain trees can greatly affect the growth of other plants reducing competition from those nearby plants.

Various parts of a tree may store allelopathic chemicals including the roots and leaves. Some trees release allelopathic toxins through their roots into the soil and fallen leaves decompose and also release these toxins. These are the tree’s defenses to protect it from competition and arming it with its own natural weed killer.

We look forward to the continuing journey this year and we’ll keep you updated on the progress of the Koala Supermarket.

#koalasupermarket #nerangcountryparadiseparklands #landcareaustralia #wildcareaustralia #watergumcommunity #koalasonthegreen #ilovekoalas #koalas #goldcoastkoalas

Congratulations to the amazing folks at Watergum,

Congratulations to the amazing folks at Watergum, all the incredible volunteer expert leaders, assistants, presenters, supporters, as well as those who participated in the events. Wow!
🙏🥰🌿🐨🌼🐹🦘🌸🌳🦆🦋🐞🦎🐍🐜🐝🦞🐛🦇🦅🐸🐟🦜🐾🍄🌺🐚🕷🦗🦟🐌🐞🦉

Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed it and meeting new people and those I haven’t seen for some time. I left smiling thinking about the incredible biodiversity on the Gold Coast and all those who share their passion for it.

#watergumcommunity #goldcoastbioblitz

I’m not a golfer, but planting and looking after

I’m not a golfer, but planting and looking after trees for wildlife at @Arundel Hills Country Club lets me and all the volunteers who have donated their time to get our wildlife fix.

I pinch myself sometimes thinking how lucky we are to have such incredibly unique wildlife living on our doorstep and what a privilege and honour we have to take care of our fellow residents.

Unlike koalas which are difficult to spot, the resident kangaroos 🦘🦘🦘 roam around the golf course. Seeing the big males metres away laying in the shade while we’re tending to our trees and the mums with their little joeys grazing always brings a big smile to our faces.

As a caring community we have a responsibility to look after all of our residents including those most vulnerable, our precious wildlife.

🦘🌳🌿🐨🌿🌸⛳️🌳🌼

#wildlifefix #koalasonthegreen #golfforwildlife #kangaroos #golfkangaroos #arundelhillscountryclub

Was out and about at Arundel Hills Country Club th

Was out and about at Arundel Hills Country Club this afternoon doing some maintenance on the koala food trees and I spotted what I thought was Charles the koala boy! 🐨 🐨

Well, I didn’t spot him at first, but actually heard him. While I was tending some trees close to where he was in the tree above he let out a deep bellow and I thought, hey, that’s a koala.

I saw him and I immediately was hoping it would be Charles. Charles was the koala that inspired Koalas On The Green. He was released over a year ago after, as Wildcare Australia Inc. volunteer rescuers we rescued him from a surrounding residential area. He could hardly see as he had clamydial conjunctivitis and was wandering the streets. After 2 months in treatment at Australia Zoo he was ready to be released. The amazing staff at AZ really took great care nursing him back to health and they had got attached to this relaxed old boy and were sad to see him go.

The dilemma at the time was where to release him close to his range as being an old boy he wouldn’t cope with change if moved far away. We released him at the golf course and that is what sparked the realisation of just how important golf courses are for our suburban wildlife.

The goal of the Koalas On The Green pilot project has been to increase food sources and habitat for resident koalas including Charles, and provide greater connectivity for wildlife to travel safely avoiding the complex and dangerous urban matrix of roads, cars, dogs and fences.

Though before he was released, he was tagged to identify him in the future. There didn’t appear to be any tag, so it must be Charles’ doppelgänger! Wonderful to see another male koala hanging out at the golf club.

#koalasonthegreen #arundelhillscountryclub #goldcoastkoalas #naturelovers #ilovekoalas

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