Hand weeding and mapping in Queens Park Reserves
Queens Park Regional Open Space includes Bush Forever sites 283 and 424, which contain threatened ecological communities, declared rare flora and priority flora. This bushland provides habitat to 100 recorded bird species, including the endangered Carnaby's black-cockatoo and migratory rainbow bee-eater as well as 14 reptile species.
While the bushlands are fragmented and disturbed by weed invasion, a recent report, Flora and Fauna Assessment for Queens Park Regional Open Space (Ecoscape Pty Ltd, 2010), identified the vegetation condition in many areas as very good to excellent.
With the help of State NRM Program funding, environmental weeds will be removed by hand from better vegetation condition areas in the threatened ecological communities. Hand weeding is best in areas with declared rare flora, priority flora and smaller herbs such as orchids, which are easily killed from overspray of poisons. Selective herbicide will be used in other areas to control grass.
Maps of the distribution of priority weeds will also be produced to enhance the efficiency of this and future weed control projects.
Investment: $ 30 400
In-kind contribution: $ 8 581
Other contribution: $ 20 895
Delivery organisation: City of Canning; Friends of Queens Park Bushland
Project duration: July 2011 - June 2012
Location: Queens Park Regional Open Space, 11 km south-east of Perth in Queens Park, East Cannington and Welshpool
Major project achievements
- Reserves are now almost free of Bridal creeper; are free of Geraldton carnation weed; and all Watsonia has been treated.
- Occurrence of Pink gladiolus has been greatly reduced by hand weeding and control of non-native grasses had improved.
- Six priority weeds were mapped to aid future management activities.
- Three public walks were held with a number of new people attending.