Hollows as Homes is a wonderful new initiative sponsored by The Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney.  The project aims to conduct the first landscape scale assessment of tree/nest box/cut-in hollow distribution, type and wildlife use with the help of community scientists and enthusiasts.

The project works with the community and land managers to assess tree hollow availability, as hollows are an important but limited resource for wildlife in urban and agricultural areas.

There are 4 key objectives of the project:

• Assist in providing the first landscape scale assessment of hollow resources
• Discover what animals are using your own neighbourhood
• Provide valuable information to land managers that will aid in conversation
• Understand the importance of different hollows to wildlife

The long-nosed bandicoot, Perameles nasuta, is a beautiful and environmentally friendly little nocturnal marsupial. Yes, they have a pouch! Bandicoots are an eco super-power in Pittwater gardens, hoovering up pesky leaf curl grubs, tick larvae and even funnel web spiders. They aerate the lawn and spread mycorrhizal fungi, which helps plants absorb soil nutrients.

Although shy, bandicoots leave clues to their presence: listen out for squeaks in the night (if you didn’t just tread on a child’s toy then, congratulations, you have a bandicoot family)! In the daytime, look for small “snout pokes” in the ground.  If you’re harbouring these fabulous natives help them thrive by providing shelter from foxes, dogs and cats.  Plant lots of grasses such as lomandra and dianella as well as grass trees and add a hollow log or two.  If you’d like to encourage them to your garden try planting out a habitat area.  Grasses are fast growers and look great en masse and under trees.   Do not use rodenticide bait which is inhumane and dangerous to both pets and wildlife.

Bandicoots are one of many reasons why Pittwater is so special. We can still boast a natural urban environment that supports this marsupial, but their numbers are in decline.  50% of bandicoot populations have been wiped out across Australia with red foxes and feral and domestic cats a real problem for them. Let’s give the Long-nosed bandicoot a chance. Read more about beautiful bandicoots at:

Council’s website www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/environment/species/long-nosed-bandicoot

WIRES www.wires.org.au/wildlife-information/bandicoots

NSW Department of Environment www.environment.nsw.gov.au/Topics/Animals-and-plants/Native-animals/Native-animal-facts/Bandicoots

Image Credit – Northern Beaches Council

We’re excited to share that Canopy Keepers committee member Leigh McGaghey has been appointed to NBC’s Environment Strategic Reference Group to represent both Canopy Keepers and Pittwater Natural Heritage Association [PNHA]. Leigh has a wealth of environmental knowledge from a career spent working with environmental management, trees and councils specifically and will be a powerful asset for this group.

The SRG-Environment is comprised of 12 Northern Beaches community representatives with expertise and/or experience in a range of environmental issues. The group meets bi-monthly with NBC’s Councillors, Executive and staff to discuss and provide feedback on strategies within Council’s Protection of the Environment and Environment Sustainability plans. These are often pre-emptive discussions, with Group members having input into the early stages of Council’s project plans. On behalf of Canopy Keepers and PNHA, Leigh’s voice will bring our passion, hopes and concerns for our precious and unique environment to Council. Thank you so much Leigh. We are grateful to have you there and advocating for the trees of Northern Beaches.

See more here: https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/council/committees-and-panels/strategic-reference-groups

We all learn from experience. I’ve discovered over time that the best way to choose plants for the garden is to think outside the garden bed and into the future; not just how big and high the plant will grow, but also whether it might impact the surroundings, the neighbours and also could it harm the environment?

By Jane, Pittwater resident, bush care volunteer and Canopy Keeper

Fifteen years ago I bought a sweet little potted palm and planted it in my newly created outdoor shower area. It grew fast, forming three tall trunks and a natural tropical palm canopy over my shower. Perfect! But over time, my tiny corner of paradise crumbled, literally, as the tree morphed into a monstrous size with multiple trunks that gradually tore up the crazy paving. Not long after we sold the house the neighbour’s 2 metre high stucco brick wall split clean in two – the guilt lives on.

Tree Strelizia, Strelizia nicolai, also known as Giant Bird of Paradise is a long-lived palm from South Africa and I’ve discovered how detrimental it can be to our local bushland environment. They spread quickly, assisted by cockatoos dropping the seed. These palms grow up to 8 metres tall and expand massively in width, particularly after pruning. Once established they swamp out other plants, are impossible to maintain and the devil to remove. In our case, in Clareville, we’ve spent a decade taking out the previous owner’s giant strelizia mistakes, using ladders, machetes, chain saws, ropes, winches, skip bins and a ready supply of backpackers, giving some of them the truly Aussie experience of extreme gardening and snake fright.

In the end it was worth it. Our bushland garden is regenerating nicely and attracting smaller birds to vie with the cockatoos, including topknot pigeons, scaly-breasted lorikeets, rosellas and yet to be identified little brown wrens.

We’ve been keeping close to council these last few months as they progress their Conservation Zones Review for the Northern Beaches LGA . Canopy Keepers have attended multiple council meetings to listen and question council’s plans and proposals. We remain concerned about the potential for reduced environmental protections in Pittwater as a result of the proposed zoning amendments.

Update on the Tree Canopy Plan

At Council’s May 23rd meeting the Tree Canopy Plan is at last on the agenda and the motion is passed unanimously for the Plan to move into public exhibition very soon. We encourage all residents to read the plan and make comments within the time allowed. One grave omission is this Tree Canopy Plan does not cover private land. Ongoing pressure to include canopy protection on private land remains a focus for Canopy Keepers.