Non-park FEP activities
1. Toowoomba Regional Council Bushcapades Program.
2. Community Nursery
3. Community Education Program
Bushland Parks
4. What role does FEP have in Toowoombas bushland parks?
5. Duggan Park
6. Neilsen Park
7. Echo Valley South
8. Hartmann's Reserve
9. Boyce Gardens Rainforest
Non-park FEP activities
1. Toowoomba Regional Council Bushcapades Program.
This program is o longer active. It was run by the Toowoomba Regional Council Bushcare Officers. Members of FEP with the necessary Blue Card were encouraged to help with this program.
The program used to be run for a number of days during school vacation periods excluding easter vacation. Activities targeted children ranging in age from 6 and over. All activities had an environmental theme.
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2. Community Nursery
Members of FEP have maintained a community nursery which focuses on suitable native vegetation which can be planted in our bushland parks. Most of these activities are now undertaken by the Crows Nest Community Nursery.
A small number of plants are still propagated by indivuals which form an ongoing planting program in our parks. The nursery is phasing out its holding of Pararistolochia praevenosa, the larval host plant for the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly.
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3. Community Education Program
In past years, FEP ran a number of community based education programs. These have included a Geology of Toowoomba Field Trip, Nesting Box construction and Making artificial bush rocks. These are no longer run.
Night spot lighting tours are conducted by members of FEP at Nielsen Park and Duggan Park, alternating monthly. FEP runs an open day each year, usually at Redwood Park. Other activities are conducted as requested.
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Bushland Parks
4. What role does FEP have in Toowoombas bushland parks?
Although small in size, Duggan Park at the corner of Leslie Street and …….. Street consists of four distinct areas. The lowest area below the cliffs is tall moist closed eucalypt forest with herb and shrub understory. It is prone to invasion by lantana. This area should never be burnt since it contains many ferns and vines. The area along the top of the cliffs and the steep slopes above the eastern and northern boundaries are tall dry more open eucalypt forest, less susceptible to lantana invasion but still needing care. There are native ground orchids in the lower part of this area at certain times of the year. The large area to the east of Leslie Street is tall dry open eucalypt forest susceptible to lantana, privet and other weed invasion. It suffered a very hot fire several years ago and is regenerating naturally into mixed eucalypt/wattle and softwood scrub. The southwestern part of Duggan Park used to be a shallow laterite quarry which was filed with hardcore and subsoil many year ago. In 1999 FEP replanted this area as mixed open forest, which has grown very well. Some weeding needs to be done in this area, especially around the edges.
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5. Duggan Park
Although small in size, Duggan Park at the corner of Leslie Street and Collier Street Street, consists of four distinct areas. The lowest area below the cliffs is tall moist closed eucalypt forest with herb and shrub understory. It is prone to invasion by lantana. This area should never be burnt since it contains many ferns and vines. The area along the top of the cliffs and the steep slopes above the eastern and northern boundaries are tall dry more open eucalypt forest, less susceptible to lantana invasion but still needing care. There are native ground orchids in the lower part of this area at certain times of the year. The large area to the east of Leslie Street is tall dry open eucalypt forest susceptible to lantana, privet and other weed invasion. It suffered a very hot fire several years ago and is regenerating naturally into mixed eucalypt/wattle and softwood scrub. The southwestern part of Duggan Park used to be a shallow laterite quarry which was filed with hardcore and subsoil many year ago. In 1999 FEP replanted this area as mixed open forest, which has grown very well. Some weeding needs to be done in this area, especially around the edges.
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6. Neilsen Park
Neilsen Park lies to the east of Tarlington Street and next to rapid urban development. The southern part is tall open dry eucalypt forest with a reasonable grassy and shrubby ground cover containing wattles and young eucalypts but many weeds, especially pavonia. It suffered from a really hot crown fire about twenty years ago but recovered well. The northern part is also tall dry open eucalypt forest but has a ground cover of softer native shrubs and many native vines. FEP cleared out heavy privet and lantana infestations several years ago, but of course they are returning and the area will need weeding again soon. There are several mature bunyas in this area and many seedlings, and in fifty or more years time parts are expected to become bunya forest. This area should never be burnt.
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7. Echo Valley South
We have been working on and off in Echo Valley South Park for about five years, and it is still our many area of activity. This park lies to the south of the Motocross Track beside the southern extension of Ramsay Street, over the edge of the escarpment. The eastern section of this large park slopes downwards from Ramsay Street and has a mixture of medium open dry eucalypt and wattle forest and woodland with some good native grassy areas. Most of this area has been rehabilitated by FEP. Running down the centre is a steep-sided gully which is overgrown with privet and where FEP is currently working. The steep western slopes have not yet been investigated, but also seem to be heavily invaded by privet.
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8. Hartmann's Reserve
Hartmann’s Reserve lies at the corner of Alderley and Rowbotham Streets. The northwestern section has been weeded by FEP twice in the last ten years. Hartmann’s Reserve used to be private gardens and is infested by several persistent garden escapees, notably Japanese honeysuckle.
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9. Boyce Gardens Rainforest
Boyce Gardens Rainforest lies at the corner of Range Street and McKenzie Street and is part of the Boyce Gardens estate. FEP has spent some time in the area over recent years managing cat’s-claw-creeper, a job which is being continued by member of FEP who lives nearby. Beware of giant stinging trees in this area.
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