Daly Reserve conservation

Wild Action's Chris Humfrey and Friends of Daly Reserve members Helen Radnedge, and sisters Lydia and Ellena Best are promoting the conservation of Daly Reserve. Photo: Chris Fleming

The Friends of Daly Nature Reserve group was formed at a community meeting in Gisborne last month.
Residents shared aspirations and ideas for conserving UL Daly Nature Reserve.
The group has already identified a number of objectives including weed removal, native flora and fauna protection, pest control, and, regeneration.
Removing weeds such as gorse, ivy, broom and radiata pines will enable the local vegetation to flourish.
Protecting the native flora, fauna and land will create a strong habitat for the many wildlife species in the area.
Chris Humfrey of Wild Action zoo in Mt Macedon was there to help launch the friends group.
"In the Macedon Ranges the koala population is dwindling. I was there with the koala just to show that all the trees in that reserve are koala food trees. So much of Gisborne and Macedon Ranges is carved up with development, it's so important to preserve any remaining viable areas of habitat," Chris said.
"Basically this is just trying to get public awareness of Daly Reserve and how important it is to save and keep it biodiverse.
"The whole idea is to connect up existing open land space for animals to move through and save the wildlife including microbats to bird and invertebrate species.
"All too often most people are oblivious to the smaller creatures. The message is all things biodiverse and small need to be saved to have a healthy environment."
At the launch, guests a walked through the reserve and admired some of the flora and fauna in the nature reserve.
A pair of eastern grey kangaroos watched on, and two new plant species were identified. The number of indigenous species recorded there has now moved to over 100.
The friends group will share knowledge about the local flora and fauna and compile the reserve's history.
Future goals include becoming incorporated to allow for grant applications and sponsorship.
Regular working bees will be hosted by the Friends of Daly Reserve to preserve and enhance the natural environment.The group thanks Macedon Ranges Councillor Sally Piper for her support, and also guest speakers, John Bradford (landcare coordinator), Michelle Patrick (council staff), Paul Gray (council staff) and Jason Jones (native plant grower), and Chris Humfrey for bringing a koala and lorikeet to the event.
The first committee meeting was held last week, where the office bearers were elected. They are: president Helen Radnedge, vice president Irene Perkin, treasurer John Phair, secretary Deb Dunn, with general committee members Rod Green, Tony Smith and John Clarke.