Tura Beach Flora Reserve

In 1991, the felling of a magnificent bloodwood tree growing on a house block in Tura Beach was the stimulus for a group of residents to lobby Council for a Flora Reserve to be dedicated in the area to serve as a seed bank for local native plants. The rapid expansion of suburbia with the introduction of exotic garden species was seen as a threat to the existence of indigenous flora and to the birds and animals which are dependent on them for food and shelter.

An area of four and a half hectares bounded by High Crescent and Nolan Drive had been planned by A. V. Jennings as open space and it was this site which the residents requested Council to submit to the State Government for gazettal as the Tura Beach Flora Reserve. This was achieved and in April 1992 six residents was appointed by Council to act as a Management Committee. In July of that year the Committee decided to also apply for registration as a Landcare Group.

Over the ensuing 16 years, paths have been surveyed, laid with carpet and covered with wood chips, bracken has been slashed, undergrowth and fallen limbs cleared, controlled burning carried out, so members of the public can enjoy this small area of bush with ease and admire the flora and fauna. A catalogue of plants and their locations has been assembled and dried specimens mounted in herbarium books for reference and study. Guided tours have been organised for clubs and interested groups and efforts have been made to alert the public to this amenity and its educational potential.

The Committee meets quarterly and as necessary for working sessions during the year. Any interested member of the public is invited to make contact even if there is no commitment to regular participation in the activities necessary to maintain this valuable community asset.

Contacts: Olwen Morris 6495 0232 or Shirley Bazley 6495 9231

Events

Encouraged by last year’s success, we will hold another guided Flora Reserve walk on Sunday afternoon, 9 November 2008. The walk will feature both flora and fauna and will be guided by local expertise, including botanist Jacky Miles and ornithologist and wildlife manager Jim Shields.  

Recommended links

• The Local Native Plants and Weeds Database is a remarkable collection of pictures of native plants and weeds that can be found in the region. The database has been put together by Jackie Miles and Max Campbell.

• South Coast Weeds provides information about local weeds

• The Weed Identification Tool is a comprehensive and nationwide resource on weeds

• What's Flowering in Towamba Valley features a month by month guide to flowering native plants. This great website also has the downloadable local tour guides 'Trees of Towamba Valley' and '5 rainforests'

• The Far South Coast Birdwatchers' Bird Route brochures provide a "step-by-step" guide to some of the best birdwatching routes in the Bega Valley shire. The club will also be launching a new book in early December 2008: "Birdwatching on the Far South Coast of New South Wales"

• The Far South Coast Conservation Management Network (CMN) is a great local resource for those with an interest in native vegetation and native plant propagation