Mother's Day at Merri Park

The morning dawned clear and sunny for the annual Merri Park Mother’s Day planting event. This was the first component to get underway of the recently awarded state government Green Links Grants. Our project will see a network of fenced habitat refuges created along the Creek, between Coburg and Northcote, and the installation of over 17,000 plants. The Green Links grant program was designed to support improved water quality and protected habitat for the flora, fauna and aquatic species of urban waterways.  The Friends of Edwardes Lake and Merri-Bek Council - together with Friends of Edgars Creek – were also successful in this grant round. Their projects will deliver over 20,000 plants, 30 nest boxes and renewed and extended habitat to Edwardes Lake, Edgars Creek Wetlands and Edgars Creek in Reservoir, between Broadhurst and Glasgow Avenue. The projects will also remove several high-level weeds: Wandering Tradescantia, Blackberry, Pampas, Lily-of-the-Valley and Cape Ivy.

Wurundjeri woi-wurrung elders, Aunty Annette Xiberras, together with Uncle John Xibberas, and his wife, Veronica, welcomed us to their Country with a smoking ceremony and reminded us of the importance of both caring for and respecting Country.

  
Photo, FoMC: Wurundjeri woi-wurrung elders Aunty Annette Xibberas (right) and
Uncle John and Veronica Xibberas, welcoming the assembled throng to Country.

Members of the Merri Creek Management Committee Ecological Restoration Team were onsite to direct people to already prepared locations. The group of over 70 enthusiastic volunteers proceeded to install the plants throughout the area: to the west of the path, along the creek bank and up to the lagoon.  Species were placed according to their capacity to withstand the raised water levels experienced after periods of heavy rainfall. The wetland provides flood mitigation measures for adjoining residential areas.

We planted:

• Mat grass, Hermarthria uncinata – for spots closer to the water's edge;
• Kidney weed, Dichondra repens – likes some moisture; and
• Weeping grass, Microleana stipoides – will seed and spread in the dryer sections.

All these species could have a place in your home garden or nature strip.

The volunteers’ hard work was rewarded by a delicious barbecue lunch and a great sense of satisfaction.
Many thanks to our loyal band for contributing to the day - your efforts installed 2000 plants - 15,000 to go!

Keep a watch on our calendar, or sign up to Merri enews for more Green Link events.

More to explore:
Latest news – Friends of Merri Creek - Grant success
Merri flora - planting guides

             
Photos, FoMC: Protected Native Vegetation signage at Merri Park;
Dermot from MCMC, preparing lunch; Paul Prentice and Monica Williamson at the FoMC pop-up stall