Bushcare - a "comforting natural rhythm"
Have you ever wondered what it might be like to spend a couple of hours with like-minded people, taking care of the precious few patches of bush in your Adelaide Park Lands?
One morning you might be planting seedlings in Lefevre Park / Nantu Wama (Park 6). Another morning you might be "halo weeding" in Carriageway Park / Tuthangga (Park 17).
Trees for Life runs a program called "Regenerate" which offers multiple opportunities every month to connect with others while supporting your Park Lands.
The program is "designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of participants through nature walks and assist local biodiversity through bushcare activities "
Trees for Life's Samantha Catford joined in two recent activities and discovered parts of your Park Lands she'd never seen before.
LEFT: Liz has been bushcaring for 40 years! RIGHT: Puneet with rare species seedlings at Nantu Warna (Park 6).
Samantha describes working alongside a small group of other volunteers:
"As we go about the rewarding task of freeing the rare plants from their plastic tubes, loosening their roots, and placing them in the earth, I’m aware of the different conversations taking place around me as people work together in small groups at their own pace.
"There appears to be a natural rhythm we fall into as we relax in our bushland surroundings, enjoying the simple pleasure of dappled sunshine and the gentle caress of a breeze now and again. It’s a relief to realise I feel very much at peace and to find I’m quite comfortable within my small group and environment."
Trees for Life “Regenerate” participants Janet, Kristie, Kaori, Yico, Pavithra, Vincy, Lesley, Miranda in native grassland at Carriageway Park/ Tuthangga (Park 17).
Later, Samantha describes sharing lunch with the other volunteers at the wetlands in Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi (Park 16).
“As we sit at the sheltered picnic tables, grateful for the shade and the excellent views of the water, whilst enjoying our lunch, we see a flock of very graceful birds flying in from the east. As they get closer and circle above before landing on the water, we realise it’s a family of white-faced herons.
“One participant shares in their feedback that the highlight of the day was the bird count and seeing how the wetlands 'have been colonised, including by reed warblers'.”
Bird survey at the wetland in Victoria Park /Pakapakanthi (Park 16). Pic: Samantha Catford /Trees for Life
Read Samantha's full account: "Regenerate in the Adelaide Park Lands" in the latest issue of the Trees for Life magazine "ReLeaf".
All pics above: Samantha Catford /Trees for Life
Main (banner) pic: Regenerate group “halo weeding” in Carriageway Park / Tuthangga (Park 17).