Fencing Update

The fencing installed in 2010 is still standing but has had to be repaired a number of times over the summer. Usually a few strands have been worked loose and sagging occuring due to being climbed over, however it was cut right through (top to bottom) in a couple of places and I would guess it has been breached by the beaters who are annoyed at the area being restricted. Most of the sex activity is now concentrated at the western end of the reserve next to the Webb Dock Fence.

Rabbits Return

Around March this year I noticed the signs of rabbits back in PWR. I spoke to Jenny Bygraves, PR for POMC, and was informed that the Port was going ahead with a rabbit control programme in PWR and surrounding lands during May-June this year. Michelle Ritchie at COPP was informed of this and she says that Fulton Hogan in going to be the likely contractor.

Cynadon Couch Grass in Zoysia Bed

The beginning of 2010 saw the Friends group tackle the the Cynadon invasion of the Zoysia Bed. The removal of this highly invasive weed will be our primary focus I hope for the forseeable future as we work to flank and hold back further incursions of this weed which spreads by runners and seeds.

We had noticed the presence of Cynadon a few years back but did little about it. It wasn't until we had a workshop with Biosis research consultant Jeff Yugovic in Nov 2010 that we turned our focus to the weed invasion. One of his main points was that we need to assist the vegetation that is already in situ rather trying to plant new veg of the top of it and around it.