An environmental group established to care for the native bushland around Gudgenby in the ACT has marked its 20th year by reflecting on its successes and the support it has received from the ACT Parks and Conservation Service.
The Gudgenby Bush Regeneration Group (GBRG) said it had been one of the most successful projects of its type in the ACT.
“The work began in 1996, overseen by Ann Connolly as the Project Officer from ACT Parks and Conservation Service,” GBRG said.
“ACT Forests upgraded roads and then began felling pines.”
It said with advice from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), commercial-quality trees were removed and poor-quality trees plus slash or waste were burnt to create a seed bed for new plantings.
GBRG said that by July 1998, the group was formed, with the first working party taking place that month.
It said Alec Ellis was the first President and Eleanor Stodart (pictured) the first Secretary.
GBRG said Ms Stodart became President shortly after (a position she held until 2003), during which time she received an ACT Landcare Special Commendation.
Ms Stodart died in December 2004 and a regeneration grove at Gudgenby is named after her.
“Continuing work party tasks, apart from planting and seed-raising, have included work towards elimination of weeds like briar, blackberry and wilding pines, all of which will continue to demand lots of effort into the future, in some cases with ACT Parks and Conservation Service resources,” GBRG said.
It said Gudgenby has been in many respects a groundbreaking leader in this type of revegetation project.
“Namadgi National Park’s natural values have been enhanced by the work done by GBRG, and Namadgi’s place in the chain of Australian Alps National Parks has been heightened as a result,” GBRG said.
