Woodcroft College visit Rupanyup Reserve
Over the first weekend in November, Rupanyup Landcare group hosted students from Woodcroft College (Adeliade) on their annual Year 9 camp. Two groups of 8 students were welcomed to the Rupanyup Reservoir over the two days to contribute to on-grounds work as part of their community service activities. They had been tee-d up for a tree plant in Minyip the week before, which unfortunately had to be cancelled due to the weather, but the weekend in Rupanyup boasted blue skies to invigorate the small working party.
Adrian Tyler, chairperson of the Rupanyup group, has been building the Rup-Res revegetation project, walking tracks and public space for 5 years. His contribution to the project has been hundeds of volunteer hours and expenses each year, with the results now showing for all of this hard work.
The reservoir site is abundant with native species after years of good rain and dutiful care.
Check out more about the reservoir here.
Adrian and students hard at work
On hands and knees the students pulled from the soft soil the developing weeds of the last rain. Adrian informed the group that due to budding sprouts of native seeds in the area that he spread in the winter, and those that have germinated off species around the res site, chemical application for weed control is no longer viable and invasive species have to now be removed by hand.
The students were taught which plants to remove, and which to be careful to keep, whilst combatting relentless flies, ant nests, and wolf spiders of every size in the process.
But a sizeable dent was achieved by the students in helping mediate invasive weeds at the 7ha reservoir site. We were grateful for their work ethic, their humour and their community spirit. The students enjoyed lunch and a tour through the Rupanyup Museum for their on-ground natural resource management efforts.
Landcare is facilitating great projects like the Rup-Res across the Yarriambiack Shire. We’re always appreciative of new members and help, so please get in touch to join us.