Bega River and Wetlands Landcare Group - BRAWL

June 2024 working bee
2024-06-03 09:30 - 12:30 (Australia/Sydney) | Bega River Reserve, Bega River Reserve, Bega, NSW, 2550, Australia

November 2023 working bee
2023-11-06 09:30 - 12:30
Details TBC.

October 2023 working bee
2023-10-09 09:30 - 12:30
The October working bee falls on the public holiday. We will postpone this working bee to the following Monday 9th October, 9.30-12.30pm.

We will be planting out the newly created erosion control area at the Bega River Junction Crossing with lomandras (see photos below). We installed bollards at this site on Thursday to restrict the movements of 4WD vehicles damaging the roots of ancient river oaks and causing deep incisions in the river banks. By following up with the lomandras, we will help to stabilise the banks and rehabilitate the area.
This was a huge job and required special excavated holes by vacuum suction instead of digging/augering due to the amount of underground utilities at this location. It was fascinating! Thanks also to Paddy and Premjody for a massive job installing the bollards. We are very lucky to have our contractors who help to turn BRAWL’s ambitious rehabilitation plans into reality.

When: Monday 9th October, 9.30-12.30pm
Where: Main river reserve picnic area, most western table (look for the BRAWL flag)
Bring: Water bottle, garden gloves, watering buckets and small trowel (some tools will be provided)
Morning tea is at 11am. Please bring something to share or to just enjoy yourself.

September 2023 working bee
2023-09-04 09:30 - 12:30
Our next working bee is upon us and we are spoilt for choice for activities to do!
The good news is that we are on track with our annual maintenance schedule. A targeted sweep for priority weeds was undertaken in late winter across all river sites. We also completed planting out 2.4 ha of the “new mulched” area between the Anabranch picnic area and the Racecourse last Saturday with students from the ANU and community members.
So we’ve decided to turn our minds to mitigating potential fire loads by reducing the growth of hemlock. This is particularly prevalent in the old bamboo site and can grow up to a couple meters in height. Hemlock tends to dry out over summer, creating a dense mid-story of dry vegetation. The aim will be to chip this down to ground level.
After morning tea, we have a special activity to remove a washed down large tree branch that has gotten lodged in the toe of the river bank, down from “AnnaBench”. The way the branch is lodged is causing a swirling vortex during times of higher flow, causing the river bank to erode. Some of us will get down in the water to move this branch and others will plant out the eroded slope to help stabilise the bank.
It will be a fun working bee with a bit of diversity to keep it interesting! The details are:
When: Monday 4th September, 9.30-12.30pm
Meet: Anabranch picnic area (mid-way along Jacksonia Gr at the causeway)
Bring: Garden gloves, weed chipper or mattock, water bottle and change of clothes if you plan to stand in the water to move the tree branch (mid-thigh deep) – some tools will be provided, so don’t worry if you don’t have anything to bring.
Wear: Sun safe clothes, hat and sturdy shoes or boots.
Morning tea is at 11. Please bring something to share or to enjoy for yourself.

Bega River Wildlife Walk
2023-08-13 11:00 - 13:30
Bega River Wildlife Walk – this Science week – with Botanist Jackie Miles & iNaturalist support

The Atlas of Life and the Bega River and Wetlands Landcare group (BRAWL) will run a botanist led “walk, record and ID” session at the Bega River Reserve. We will have the expert knowledge of Jackie Miles to guide us on plant ID and Patricia Daly and other Atlas members on hand to provide a beginner’s guide on how to use the iNaturalist app.
You will have the opportunity to practice your new learnt skills with help readily at hand.
Additional details
Bring: Smart phone with iNaturalist app downloaded or camera and drink bottle
Wear: Sturdy shoes, sun hat, warm jumper
Light lunch will be included.
Suitable for everyone
Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome.
This is a Bega River and Wetlands Landcare (BRAWL) and Atlas of Life partnership event.
Meet: Bega River Reserve picnic area (corner Auckland St and Jacksonia Gr)
