Author: friendkaren

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Events

Berowra Public School Fair

Friends of Berowra Valley were very kindly invited to attend the Berowra Public School Spring Fair.

The rock guessing competition was again very popular with Sophie winning the Bilby puppet with her guess of the number of hawkesbury sandstone in the jar.

The stall contained all sorts of items from our natural environment such as insects, birds nests and many more to entice the children to think about how these are all connected.

A big thanks to Tanya for masterminding the Bedrock Challenge, Bird Nests and Dark Sky exhibits. Also thanks to Mary and Robin for bringing the insect exhibits. Rae and Ken for managing the stall. Tom, Kon and Lucy for figuring out how to set up the stall and secure it from the wind. Also many thanks to Lucy for creating such professional graphics for our displays. Thanks for Karen for coordination skills, David for bird skills, and Benjamin and Christeen for helping set up and pack up and also for the lovely stall group photo.

Categories
Bush Regeneration

Loving learning about where we live

    Join us for the first ever session of the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service Bellamy Street Bush Regen group! Find out about what you can do to improve the condition of the bush at this southern gateway to Berowra Valley National Park.

    A new group of NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service volunteers is starting at the entrance to the park at the end of Bellamy Street, Pennant Hills with the first session on:

    Thursday 19th September, 10am to 12pm. 

    Refreshments will be provided.

    Learn new skills, have fun and get your hands dirty!

    If you are interested in coming along on 19th September, you can book online to give an indication of numbers for catering purposes or just turn up on the day

    https://www.trybooking.com/CVEET

    Ongoing sessions are planned for the 3rd Thursday of each month from 10am to 12pm.

    No experience required but enthusiasm for restoring our bushland is essential!

    On-site training will be available and tools supplied.

    If you are interested in joining on a regular basis contact us and we will show you how to sign up as a NPWS volunteer.

    For more information on the ecological restoration at the end of Bellamy Street go to www.friendsberowravalley.org.au/bellamy-st-bush-regen-group/

    Categories
    Advocacy

    Protect Local Parks

    We have been contacted by Still Creek Landcare about an area that is very special to the local community.

    “Johnson Rd in Galston is a quiet street, leading to four other local streets with no through traffic. 3 Johnson Rd is home to a lovely large green parkland, bordered by dozens of beautiful mature Scribbly Gums and the critically endangered Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest, it is also home to an abundance of birdlife. This beautiful space is council owned land but is used daily by locals – old and young – to walk, kick a ball, ride bikes, play tip, gather kindling and meet in the late afternoon with their dogs to talk with neighbours. This unofficial park sits above Colah Creek where platypus have been observed.

    3 Johnson Rd is the only green space within easy walking distance of the western side of Galston. It is accessible to a large number of homes without the need to cross a main road, which is extremely important to families in our area. Our kids enjoy this wide open space on a daily basis but importantly, the nature of this parkland and its proximity to so many residential streets mean it is also used by a large number of adults.  Lasting friendships have been born here, and it’s a truly special meeting place.

    The local community have been fighting for over a year against a, we believe, ill-conceived proposal by Clr Waddell to turn this much loved community green space into a home for industrial units, which based on the tenancy rates at nearby Dural, will likely sit vacant. “

    Please join those in Ward A to vote in Councillors who care for the environment and who will use their vote for development that benefits the community not developers.

    Categories
    Events

    Good Fun at the Woodchop

    Thanks for all of the ‘friends’ that helped out at the Woodchop on Saturday 7th Sept 2024.

    It was a great fun event for the entire family. We were happy to sell quite a few of our new publication ‘Wildflowers on the Ridgetops’ and ‘A Walking Guide Map to the Berowra Valley National Park.’

    There were plenty of entries to our ‘Guess the number of Hawkesbury Sandstone’ rocks in the glass jar. First prize of a gorgeous Ring Tail Possum toy went to Brad and second prize, Menagerie game, went to Char.

    Categories
    Environmental Education Events

    Wildflowers on the Ridgetops

    We are very proud to launch a new booklet on the Wildflowers on the Ridgetops. This is an introduction to the wildflowers of Berowra Valley. Each plant is placed in a colour coded section.

    Identifying the myriad of wildflowers is no easy task and this booklet will make the task easier for beginners and those who are already familiar with our beautiful bushland.

    We will be selling the new booklet for only $10 at the Woodchop this Saturday 7th September 10am to 4pm at the Warrina Street Oval in Berowra.

    Come along and enter our competition for Free to guess the number of Hawkesbury Sandstone in a jar and be in to win a beautiful, surprisingly realistic ringtail possum toy.

    Categories
    Dark Sky

    Dark Sky News

    Milky Way over Palm Beach Headlands - Credit: Ed Hurst

    Valuing Darkness Symposium

    The Australasian Dark Sky Alliance will be holding a symposium called Valuing Darkness in Melbourne 19 – 21 March 2025. The 3-day program will include a symposium, roundtable and workshops on sustainable lighting. 

    Check out their website for more information

    Palm Beach Headland has become Australia’s first Urban Night Sky Place

    In an Australian first Palm Beach Headland, located in the Northern Beaches of Sydney, has been designated as an Urban Night Sky Place (UNSP) by DarkSky International.

    The designation demonstrates how good-quality lighting and design can reduce the impacts of artificial light on the natural nighttime environment and open up opportunities for better viewing of the night sky.

    A UNSP aims to preserve a dark sky experience for visitors and educate people on the benefits of proper outdoor lighting that ensures public safety while protecting the night sky.

    https://darksky.org/news/palm-beach-headland-becomes-australias-first-urban-night-sky-place

    Categories
    Advocacy Campaigns Westleigh Park

    Westleigh Park – A Fresh Start

    Hornsby Shire Council has lost funding for this hugely contentious project. According to the ABC News Article “The state government has knocked back the council’s request for an extension of time to spend the money, because they were not able to demonstrate that the project was on track. 

    Continue reading “Westleigh Park – A Fresh Start”
    Categories
    Dark Sky

    Dark Sky

    “When we add light to the environment, that has the potential to disrupt habitat, just like running a bulldozer over the landscape can.“

    Chad Moore, formerly of the U.S. National Park Service.

    Reducing and removing unneeded artificial lighting is one of the easiest actions people can take to protect animals, plants, ecosystems and habitats and our future.

    How does wildlife use natural light?


    Animals and plants use natural light signals from the sun, moon and stars
    to time their behaviour and life processes such as:

    • patterns of rest and activity
    • growth, reproduction and migration
    • navigation over short and long distances.

    Light pollution harms wildlife and ecosystems

    Light pollution can mimic, mask or confuse natural light signals, causing:

    • mistimed activity, growth or breeding
    • disturbed sleep and circadian rhythms
    • disorientation and poor navigation
    • attraction to artificial lights
    • encounters with new predators
    • reduced survival and reproduction.

    Artificial lighting affects whole ecosystems by:

    • dividing and disconnecting suitable habitat
    • reducing pollination by nocturnal animals
    • disrupting food webs and nutrient webs
    • benefiting invasive species (cats, foxes and cane toads take advantage of artificial lights to feed).

    Reducing the Effects of Light Pollution on Wildlife

    Use the 6 Best Practice Lighting Design Principles to protect and restore natural darkness with good lighting design.

    Categories
    Dark Sky

    Wildlife

    Southern Brown Bandicoot Isoodon obesulus

    Terrestrial Mammals

    Most Australian terrestrial mammals are nocturnal and emerge from their refuge to begin foraging at or after dusk. 99% of terrestrial mammals that are listed as threatened under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in 2023 are nocturnal.

    Terrestrial mammals are ground-dwelling or arboreal across different habitats and the impacts of artificial light are species specific.

    Continue reading “Wildlife”
    Categories
    Dark Sky

    Impacts on Wildlife

    Effects of moon light and artificial light

    Natural light/dark cycles and moon phases are important cues for terrestrial mammals to determine time of day and time of month.

    Where there is significant artificial light at night, darker moon phases are masked, which may negatively impact important activities.

    Continue reading “Impacts on Wildlife”