Group Name
Ashburton Creek Biodiversity Crew
Our Purpose and Mission
Welcoming, revegetating, bird-loving
Our goal is to increase the biodiversity of the corridor we maintain along the former Ashburton Creek (now underground), from Summerhill Park to Ferndale Road. We are achieving this by these short-term and long-term goals:
- Maintaining the areas of our responsibility by removing weeds, spreading mulch to maintain soil moisture and reduce weed re-growth, and watering seedlings.
- Planting indigenous understory plants including grasses and shrubs to attract locally native small birds and the insects they feed on.
- Work with our local Council Biodiversity Officer and staff to facilitate our work and meet Council requirements for Friends groups.
- Provide opportunities for local community members to join us for regular social and physical activities.
- Engage with community members to recruit new members and provide information about our goals.
- Be an active participant in the KooyongKoot Alliance in improving the biodiversity of the KooyongKoot catchment.
- Longer term goals include increasing the number of small areas for biodiversity along our corridor to facilitate small birds moving along the corridor, protecting them from potential predators.
- Success will be measured in sightings of small native birds along our corridor.
Primary Contact
Postal Address
Secondary Contact
Activities
Type of Group
Member Benefits
Members who enjoy working outdoors with others of similar interests get to know their neighbors, learn about native plants and local weeds, and observe birds as they pass through the area or nest in mature trees. There is always interesting conversation and opportunities to learn more.
If you are interested in joining our local group, please contact Graham at kooyongkootalliance@gmail.com.
Activities and Events
Our focus is to create a biodiversity corridor for native insects, birds and other fauna indigenous to this area of Melbourne. The area is classified as “creek line grassy woodland” although the creek was put into a barrel drain approximately 70 years ago. We aim to re-create the original habitat of grasses, shrubs and trees.
The team meets weekly for approximately 1.5 hours for weeding, mulching, watering or planting. We are generously supported by our Boroondara Council Biodiversity Technical Officer who provides mulch, plants and occasionally water. We contact members with the plan for the day via WhatsApp messaging. A cuppa and a chat is always offered after work has finished.
We also support a local indigenous garden project with weeding twice/year. A kindergarten next to our corridor has built a nature play area in the biodiversity area; we hope to do an education program with them about the work we do.
Another nearby Friends group has similar goals, but the two areas are not yet connected. Our mutual aim is to connect the two areas with appropriate habitat so native birds and other fauna have a secure corridor throughout.
Achievements
Starting with one or two areas, our group now attends to approximately 16 areas of varying size, agreed with our Council Biodiversity liaison, to be developed as biodiversity areas in the corridor of approximately 1km in length.
Our relationship with Boroondara Council has improved significantly. We believe this is due to our sustained commitment. Each week we report activities, achievements and our volunteer record to our liaison Council Biodiversity Technical Officer (Lyle). We include requests for further support in terms of plants, mulch, etc. to progress our longer-term goals. Lyle meets with us every few weeks when bringing plants or mulch, providing information about plants, discussing our progress, and meeting members of the group. In 2024, we planted approximately 6000 plants and moved approximately 10 ute-loads of mulch provided by Council.
We enjoy the impact we have made on our local environment and the wonderful sense of community that exists among the volunteers. We are all learning more about indigenous vegetation, from each other and from Lyle. Anecdotally, we have noticed more birds (primarily parrots, fewer noisy miners) in the area where we work since the group starting.
Formation Reason
The person who started the group has a passion for biodiversity and is well connected with other Friends groups. He arranged with the local Council for permission to begin work improving the area by removing weeds and revegetating with indigenous plants, which he started doing on his own. He then recruited neighbors and friends to join his efforts and lobbied Council for practical support, i.e. mulch and plants.
As the weeds are removed and plants become established, some people who have lived in the area a long time and use the park trail stop to tell us about their memories of the creek, the park and the plants, trees, insects and birds that were here. Many people tell us how much they appreciate the work we are doing and look forward to seeing the result of our ambition with small native birds becoming regular inhabitants.
Why Join Us
Join our friendly ACBC team and help bring small native birds back to Glen Iris and Ashburton.
Unique Features
ACBC is a safe place for outdoor work with generous people, accepting of all. We provide a sense of community for our volunteers. It is an opportunity to meet others in the area, engage in a social activity and enjoy some fresh air and physical exercise.
We are dedicated to returning our local creek line to its original environmental biodiversity. Come when you can, we will always be happy to see you.
Geography/History/Culture
The former Ashburton Creek, now channeled underground, is part of the Kooyongkoot (Gardiners Creek) catchment. The creek ran through Ashburton and Glen Iris, flowing into Back Creek at Ferndale Park.
The park and track which follows the former creek line is known as the Ferndale Trail in Boroondara Council in Wurundjeri Country. The park has one of the highest densities of tree canopy in Boroondara, which is a Wurundjeri word meaning ‘place of shade’.
Group/Sites Accessibility
While accessible, the areas we work in are on uneven ground. Recruitment via our webpage is open to all.
Our Location
Group Members
Group Formed
