Blog
Reefcare Report: A Lucky Break in the Weather 🌿🌞
A sunny break in the rain gave our Reefcare volunteers the perfect window to get stuck into weeding, planting, and caring for the dunes at Long Reef. Another great morning of teamwork and restoration in action.
Early start, big impact. Our amazing Reefcare crew gearing up in the carpark before heading out to protect and restore Long Reef’s dunes and bushland.
After a week of rain, we were lucky to have a beautiful, sunny day with barely any wind — perfect conditions for our working bee. Denise, Misima, Kathy, and Lisa spent the morning in the eastern dune area, with Alex joining after doing some follow-up on Turkey Rhubarb and Asparagus Fern. We continued removing non-native Pigface from the small bowl-like area we began restoring three months ago and planted 20 tube stock in the space.
Volunteers got their hands dirty removing Pigface, tackling Asparagus Fern, and planting native tube stock to help restore the dunes.
Despite the spread of Hydrocotyle bonariensis due to recent rains, we’re confident our new plantings will thrive and outcompete, as it’s the growing season.
Julie focused her efforts at the top of the site, tirelessly working to remove Asparagus Fern — crowning, scraping, and poisoning where needed — and also cleared more Pigface from that area.
Merrilyn was on the move across the site on her own Asparagus Fern mission. It’s everywhere — about one every step or two — but thanks to her vigilance, we’re catching many of them early while they’re still small.
Gen and Brad worked down in the gully, cutting back Bitou where full removal isn’t possible due to the fragile cliffs, and continued clearing Pigface from our planting zones.
We were joined at morning tea by Michael Kneipp from Northern Beaches Council, who visited to discuss two key areas of concern. He was pleased with the progress in the eastern dunes but shared some reservations about sections in the far western part of the site. Lisa and Kathy assured him that Reefcare will take these concerns into account in planning and prioritising future work, particularly around the western gully.
Refuel and reconnect. Our Reefcare team pausing for morning tea after a solid few hours of conservation care at Long Reef.
A big thank you to everyone who came out — your dedication is making a real difference. 💚
Reefcare Day Report: Bushcare wildlife encounters
When the five of us arrived on site at the western slope with 20 plants and a goal to remove more of the non-native pigs face we were serenaded by a delightful singing juvenile magpie who seemed to enjoy having us all around her …
When our team of five arrived at the western slope armed with 20 plants and a mission to clear out more non-native pigs face, we were greeted by the melodious song of a juvenile magpie. Several other juveniles joined in, a heartening sight given the declining numbers of magpies along the east coast.
Magpies, known for their intelligence and complex social behaviors, often delight with their vocal prowess, echoing through the bushland as we began our conservation efforts.
Des and Alex immediately began tackling a patch of Bidens Pilosa, followed by the discovery of Turkey Rhubarb further east—recent invaders from the dunes behind Long Reef.
Meanwhile, Denise captured a colorful hairy caterpillar on camera, noting its vibrant hues and recognising it as a species known for its camouflage ability against local flora.
Lisa uncovered a puffball fungus previously unseen by others. She squeezed it gently, causing dust-like spores to spurt out—a fascinating sight captured on film by Denise, adding to our documentation of local biodiversity.
Julie focused on removing Asparagus Fern atop the slope, hoping to coordinate efforts with NBC's contractor to combat this persistent weed.
As we worked westward, pulling up non-native pigs face, Alex made a significant find: a large amount of Turkey Rhubarb entwined with Acacia roots, a species known for its rapid spread and ecological impact in coastal areas.
Lisa and Alex collaborated to collect seeds and bulbs before rain interrupted briefly at 10 am. Undeterred, we pressed on, uncovering unexpected grass beneath the pigs face, potentially native couch. Further back, Kikuyu grass posed a future challenge, noted for follow-up with Jock from NBC.
Morning tea on the slope provided a scenic break, although whale sightings were absent.
However, we were visited by a charming native rat with light grey fur, a species likely native to the area and indicative of the healthy biodiversity our conservation efforts support.
Kathy's subsequent discovery of signs suggesting native marsupials in the vicinity added to the excitement, highlighting the potential habitat richness of Long Reef.
Later, Lisa's find of live snails sparked intrigue, prompting detailed photos for identification, a step towards better understanding the diverse ecosystem thriving amidst our restoration efforts.
At day's end, Alex delighted a juvenile magpie with a worm, revealing their clever and curious nature.
Despite Kathy's encounter with a tick, treated promptly with Lyclear, the day concluded on a high note with remarkable wildlife encounters. Reflecting on our efforts, the transformation of this site—once dominated by invasive Bitou Bush—now supports thriving wildlife, a testament to Reefcare's impact.
Denise's ongoing work to update Reefcare's website promises to showcase our discoveries at Long Reef, underscoring the importance of our conservation efforts.