Biodiversity
Australia's Hidden Treasures
09/09/09 14:07
While much of the media concentrates on the negative
side of the environment it’s reassuring to see
positive news stories emerge from time to time.
According to SMH and the World Wildlife Fund over 1300 new species of plants and animals have been discovered in Australia over the past 10 years.
This reinforces the need to protect our remaining habitats and to restore or create new ones. Not only to protect the species we know about but most importantly to protect the ones that remain undiscovered.
According to SMH and the World Wildlife Fund over 1300 new species of plants and animals have been discovered in Australia over the past 10 years.
This reinforces the need to protect our remaining habitats and to restore or create new ones. Not only to protect the species we know about but most importantly to protect the ones that remain undiscovered.
I wonder if the outdoor experiences you are providing
to your students will instil the passion and skills
needed to be the future investigators of
Australia’s biological heritage?
Possum Magic
04/09/09 14:50
What would you do if you found a sick Australian
animal in your neighbourhood???
Last week when i was taking a walk through a local street i came across a very cute furry Ring-Tail Possum.
I knew something was not right when i saw it limp along in the middle of the road, not reacting as much as it should have when i approached it.
When i looked closer i saw it had been injured. I knew i couldn't leave it laying in the middle of the road...i had to take POSSUM ACTION!
My first plan of action was to usher my little furry friend to the side of the road to make sure it would not be run over by a car. I then knocked on the door of the nearest house. No one home...but i did not give up! I rung the doorbell of the next door neighbours...SUCCESS! This friendly neighbour was able to give me a towel to wrap my friend in to carry home.
I'd heard about WIRES and Sydney Wildlife and knew they'd be able to help the ring-tail possum. Unfortunately it was too late at night, so i had to wait until morning to call them again.
Sadly, it was too late and the little guy died overnight )=
But this does not have to end sadly... YOU can look after nature in your neighbourhood to ensure we can go on living in a Beautiful Biodiversity hotspot, try the links below.
Last week when i was taking a walk through a local street i came across a very cute furry Ring-Tail Possum.
I knew something was not right when i saw it limp along in the middle of the road, not reacting as much as it should have when i approached it.
When i looked closer i saw it had been injured. I knew i couldn't leave it laying in the middle of the road...i had to take POSSUM ACTION!
My first plan of action was to usher my little furry friend to the side of the road to make sure it would not be run over by a car. I then knocked on the door of the nearest house. No one home...but i did not give up! I rung the doorbell of the next door neighbours...SUCCESS! This friendly neighbour was able to give me a towel to wrap my friend in to carry home.
I'd heard about WIRES and Sydney Wildlife and knew they'd be able to help the ring-tail possum. Unfortunately it was too late at night, so i had to wait until morning to call them again.
Sadly, it was too late and the little guy died overnight )=
But this does not have to end sadly... YOU can look after nature in your neighbourhood to ensure we can go on living in a Beautiful Biodiversity hotspot, try the links below.
Tree Shake Activity
28/08/09 15:34
Q:
What do a praying mantis, flower spider,
caterpillar, leaf hoppers, lady beetle, stick insect
and tiger moth have in
common?
A: They all prefer living in shrubs and trees!
A tree shake is a quick, easy and accurate way to find out what the invertebrate biodiversity is like in the bushes and trees of your playground, backyard or park.
Some things to remember:
A: They all prefer living in shrubs and trees!
A tree shake is a quick, easy and accurate way to find out what the invertebrate biodiversity is like in the bushes and trees of your playground, backyard or park.
Scientists use invertebrates as a bio-indicator (that
means they are an indicator of the biodiversity of an
area). This is because invertebrates are easy to
sample, have great variety and abundance, play an
important role in ecosystems and are sensitive to
environmental changes. When assessing the
biodiversity of an area, scientists make comparisons
in invertebrate samples collected from various sites
at the same time and also within the same area taken
at different times.
What
will you need?
An old white bedsheet - the bigger the better.
Invertebrate identification charts (like
this one).
A few finger sized paintbrushes.
A few old jars with lids that fit well.
Extra things that would be nice.
A magnifying glass.
A Camera that can take macro (up close) photos.
A pair of gloves.
Clipboard, paper, and pencil.
How does it work?
- Get your team to stretch the sheet out and place it flat on the ground under a branch or low tree. (Native plants have the most animals living in them...especially if they have lots of little leaves)
- Double check the sheet is nice and flat, and everyone is out of the way. Then grab the tree branch and give it a jiggly shake (You will have to shake pretty hard - these animals have lots of legs to hang on with!).
- Call everyone back in, get down low around the edge of the sheet and start gently brushing all your animals into the jars. Don’t shake the jar - you will hurt them or make them mad. Some of them may fight and eat each other - this natural - but if you think it is a bit mean then separate the spiders from all the others, especially the catepillars.
- Keep looking....some of the animals are VERY small, look for tiny red mites and other invertebrates “playing dead”.
- Compare your animals and find out their names from the charts. Write down how many you caught of each species. Take a photo of the spot and the best animals.
- Let them go, then try a different sort of plant.
Some things to remember:
- There are a few minor safety issues, use common sense, be careful of bigger spiders on trees with big flakes or strips of bark and NEVER pick up the animals with your fingers.
- The animals are being surveyed, which means we are “borrowing” them, identifying them and then letting them go in the right place.
- You will not catch as many animals in winter.
- It won’t work so well on a windy day.
Banksia Creatures
21/08/09 14:30
Students we have taken into the bush in recent weeks
have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and have been
amazed at how interesting it is. We always encourage
them to bring their parents for a visit in the
holidays or on a weekend. Spring is a great time to
visit as many of the wildflowers are out and the bush
is full of colour. This week ESL students from
Drummoyne PS learnt some of the names of wildflowers:
Old Man Banksia, Pink Spider Flower, Egg & Bacon,
Grass Tree and Old Man’s Beard. They enjoyed
making banksia creatures from found objects.
Building Biodiversity
14/08/09 16:53
Over the past few months we have rebuilt the garden
at the entrance to the centre. The purpose of this
was three fold. We wanted an impressive entrance to
the centre, we wanted to create a garden rich in
biodiversity and we wanted to create more learning
opportunities for visiting students.
Since we were already located in a bush setting we did not think it was necessary to create a bush type garden. Instead we went for a more formal look, where native plants are planted in rows or clusters of similar plants. We think the end product looks fantastic.
The garden contains about 2500 individual plants and over 25 species. Most of these plants are representative of the flora found in the Field of Mars Reserve. The species list is below.
Acacia myrtifolia
Acacia terminalis
Acacia falcata
Acacia stricta
Acacia suaveolens
Banksia robur
Breynia oblongifolia
Chrysocephalum ramosissima
Callistemon linearis
Dillwynia tenuifolia
Dichelachne crinata
Dichelachne micrantha
Danthonia tenior
Dicondra repens
Dillwynia retorta
Eragrostis brownii
Geranium homeanum
Lomandra filiformis sp. coriacea
Lomandra longifolia D'Arcy
Lomandra multiflora
Hardenbergia violacea
Isolepis nodosus
Juncus usitatus
Panicum simile
Poa affinus
Pultenaea villosa
We are excited to see how the garden flourishes heading into spring. Check the photos below and further blog entries in the months ahead.
Since we were already located in a bush setting we did not think it was necessary to create a bush type garden. Instead we went for a more formal look, where native plants are planted in rows or clusters of similar plants. We think the end product looks fantastic.
The garden contains about 2500 individual plants and over 25 species. Most of these plants are representative of the flora found in the Field of Mars Reserve. The species list is below.
Acacia myrtifolia
Acacia terminalis
Acacia falcata
Acacia stricta
Acacia suaveolens
Banksia robur
Breynia oblongifolia
Chrysocephalum ramosissima
Callistemon linearis
Dillwynia tenuifolia
Dichelachne crinata
Dichelachne micrantha
Danthonia tenior
Dicondra repens
Dillwynia retorta
Eragrostis brownii
Geranium homeanum
Lomandra filiformis sp. coriacea
Lomandra longifolia D'Arcy
Lomandra multiflora
Hardenbergia violacea
Isolepis nodosus
Juncus usitatus
Panicum simile
Poa affinus
Pultenaea villosa
We are excited to see how the garden flourishes heading into spring. Check the photos below and further blog entries in the months ahead.
The Wilderness of Childhood
14/08/09 15:03
The
Every Experience Matters
report
that was discussed in the previous blog entry
emphasised the need to provide students with quality
outdoor experiences. The article
The Wilderness of
Childhood
has another take on this and is an interesting read.
The American author describes the need to provide
students with the opportunities to explore and
discover without the constraints of adult
supervision.
Steve
Steve
Every Experience Matters
15/07/09 09:30
Learning Outside the Classroom.
Every day that students are at school they are exposed to new concepts and experiences through the amazing work of classroom teachers. Much of this exposure occurs indoors in classrooms, however there is a growing body of evidence that suggests the experiences students have outside, both in formal and informal settings also have a significant and positive effect on learning.
Working in the Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre I have the privilege of providing some of these outdoor experiences for students. These real life experiences range from investigating invertebrates to looking at catchments to conducting energy audits in schools. The key element of all these experiences is that they directly support your child’s classroom learning and will most likely lead to enhanced student understanding. All good quality excursions should do this! An added benefit of quality experiences in outdoor settings is that we are helping students to develop the the core values of sustainability including respect, responsibility, participation and care.
Dr Karen Malone has produced a research report called ‘Every Experience Matters’ that provides evidence to support the benefits of learning outside the classroom. In essence Karen states that students engaged in learning outside the classroom has a significant impact on learning. They achieve higher scores in tests, have greater levels of physical fitness and motor skill development, increased confidence and self esteem, show leadership qualities, are socially competent and are more environmentally responsible (Malone 2008 P4). These experiences form part of the blueprint for shaping a child's knowledge, confidence and identity.
In other words, to maximise your students learning potential they must be exposed to quality learning experiences outside the classroom. Excursions that support classroom learning are one way of doing this, however quality experiences delivered by classroom teachers in school grounds, in parks, on walks through the neighbourhood will all contribute to your child’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical development.
Of course school is only a part of a child’s development and it’s essential that parents provide a diverse range of experiences as well. You don’t have to go far to provide kids with quality outdoor experiences. For example, you can conduct an invertebrate safari in your backyard or local park. You will need a tarp or an old sheet. Place the tarp under a shrub or low hanging tree branch. Vigorously shake the branch and watch what happens. All the hidden invertebrates will fall onto the tarp and can be examined on the spot or collected into containers (for later release). This simple activity will expose children to the diversity of species in your area, it could lead to discussions on biodiversity, food chains, pollinators, predator and prey relationships, camouflage, science, entomology, invertebrate identification, etc. Done correctly these sort of activities will help students develop positive attitudes and values towards invertebrates and habitats they live in.
The main thing to remember is that learning is not limited to the classroom. To maximise the learning potential for your students they must be provided with as many quality experiences as possible. Every experience matters.
Steve Papp
Reference
Dr Karen Malone Every Experience Matters 2008
Every day that students are at school they are exposed to new concepts and experiences through the amazing work of classroom teachers. Much of this exposure occurs indoors in classrooms, however there is a growing body of evidence that suggests the experiences students have outside, both in formal and informal settings also have a significant and positive effect on learning.
Working in the Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre I have the privilege of providing some of these outdoor experiences for students. These real life experiences range from investigating invertebrates to looking at catchments to conducting energy audits in schools. The key element of all these experiences is that they directly support your child’s classroom learning and will most likely lead to enhanced student understanding. All good quality excursions should do this! An added benefit of quality experiences in outdoor settings is that we are helping students to develop the the core values of sustainability including respect, responsibility, participation and care.
Dr Karen Malone has produced a research report called ‘Every Experience Matters’ that provides evidence to support the benefits of learning outside the classroom. In essence Karen states that students engaged in learning outside the classroom has a significant impact on learning. They achieve higher scores in tests, have greater levels of physical fitness and motor skill development, increased confidence and self esteem, show leadership qualities, are socially competent and are more environmentally responsible (Malone 2008 P4). These experiences form part of the blueprint for shaping a child's knowledge, confidence and identity.
In other words, to maximise your students learning potential they must be exposed to quality learning experiences outside the classroom. Excursions that support classroom learning are one way of doing this, however quality experiences delivered by classroom teachers in school grounds, in parks, on walks through the neighbourhood will all contribute to your child’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical development.
Of course school is only a part of a child’s development and it’s essential that parents provide a diverse range of experiences as well. You don’t have to go far to provide kids with quality outdoor experiences. For example, you can conduct an invertebrate safari in your backyard or local park. You will need a tarp or an old sheet. Place the tarp under a shrub or low hanging tree branch. Vigorously shake the branch and watch what happens. All the hidden invertebrates will fall onto the tarp and can be examined on the spot or collected into containers (for later release). This simple activity will expose children to the diversity of species in your area, it could lead to discussions on biodiversity, food chains, pollinators, predator and prey relationships, camouflage, science, entomology, invertebrate identification, etc. Done correctly these sort of activities will help students develop positive attitudes and values towards invertebrates and habitats they live in.
The main thing to remember is that learning is not limited to the classroom. To maximise the learning potential for your students they must be provided with as many quality experiences as possible. Every experience matters.
Steve Papp
Reference
Dr Karen Malone Every Experience Matters 2008
New Arrival
08/07/09 08:15
On Monday 7th July we had our first sighting of
a
brush turkey
in the Field of Mars Reserve. In fact it was spotted
just outside the office window.
Brush turkeys are one of the animals that have been missing from the Field of Mars Reserve for a long time. We can only presume their appearance is due to control of feral animals like foxes over the past few years. Lets hope our neighbours are responsible pet owners and lock up their pets at night.
Brush turkeys are one of the animals that have been missing from the Field of Mars Reserve for a long time. We can only presume their appearance is due to control of feral animals like foxes over the past few years. Lets hope our neighbours are responsible pet owners and lock up their pets at night.
Aussie Animals Quiz
19/06/09 12:38
We’ve added an Aussie Animals Quiz in the style
of “Who Wants to be a Millionare?”. The
quiz is a fun way for students to revise their
knowledge of Australian animals and can be a
springboard to further studies and research on native
Australian animals. Suitable for primary - Years 2 -
6.
Download here
Download here
School Blog
28/01/09 13:41
Check out the following school
blog.
It really demonstrates how well environmental knowledge and stories can be retold in electronic form. The key elements are fantastic photos (never use blurry photos) and minimal text.
Steve
It really demonstrates how well environmental knowledge and stories can be retold in electronic form. The key elements are fantastic photos (never use blurry photos) and minimal text.
Steve
Worms
05/02/08 17:58
Worms
There are songs about them, for many they are the first invertebrates to touch but what else should we know about worms? When travelling to a foreign land and are struggling to find a common topic to discuss, you can talk about worms. Slimy and slippery worms are found all over the world.
Worms are invertebrates (creatures with no backbone). They have no brains but are sensitive to light. To touch they seem slimy and seem to pop out in the most unusual places. The worms I will speak of in this blog will be of the more commonly seen Earthworm rather than the parasites, freshwater or seawater worms.
If you bump into one worm and think it looked a bit different to the last worm you met well you’re probably not going crazy as there are at least 1 000 000 kinds of worms. There are 2700 types of Earthworms around the world and the world is lucky to have them.
Why are we lucky to have Earthworms? Well, Earthworms other than being very entertaining to children are also essential to the ecosystem of the world. Yes they get eaten and provide a rich source of nutrition to animals such as birds but worms eat too! Moving around in the soil and eating away at the plant litter or food scraps they provide ‘castings’ which is a very valuable source of fertilizer. Having the worms move around the soil allows the soil to aerate and allow water and air to penetrate the soil making the soil very healthy.
Here at the Field of Mars we have a worm farm. All our food scraps, newspapers and leaf litter go in to the worm farm where our worms happily feast away and provide us with healthy soil! If you would like to make your own worm farm see: http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/envirom/wormfarm.htm for further details. It is also important to note the things that worms can and can not eat:
Can eat
• vegetable scraps
• fruit scraps
• bread
• crushed egg shells
• grains
• pasta
• paper
• leaf litter
Cannot eat
• citrus peels
• onions
• dairy products
• fats and oils
• meat and fish
• animal droppings
For more information on worms and worm farms check out the following web sites:
http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/worms.htm
- Information on Earthworms, great for lower primary
http://www.naturewatch.ca/english/wormwatch/about/ecology.html
- detailed view of Earthworms, great for upper primary to high school.
http://www.zerowaste.sa.gov.au/pdf/fact_sheets/worms.pdf
- Information regarding worm farms.
There are songs about them, for many they are the first invertebrates to touch but what else should we know about worms? When travelling to a foreign land and are struggling to find a common topic to discuss, you can talk about worms. Slimy and slippery worms are found all over the world.
Worms are invertebrates (creatures with no backbone). They have no brains but are sensitive to light. To touch they seem slimy and seem to pop out in the most unusual places. The worms I will speak of in this blog will be of the more commonly seen Earthworm rather than the parasites, freshwater or seawater worms.
If you bump into one worm and think it looked a bit different to the last worm you met well you’re probably not going crazy as there are at least 1 000 000 kinds of worms. There are 2700 types of Earthworms around the world and the world is lucky to have them.
Why are we lucky to have Earthworms? Well, Earthworms other than being very entertaining to children are also essential to the ecosystem of the world. Yes they get eaten and provide a rich source of nutrition to animals such as birds but worms eat too! Moving around in the soil and eating away at the plant litter or food scraps they provide ‘castings’ which is a very valuable source of fertilizer. Having the worms move around the soil allows the soil to aerate and allow water and air to penetrate the soil making the soil very healthy.
Here at the Field of Mars we have a worm farm. All our food scraps, newspapers and leaf litter go in to the worm farm where our worms happily feast away and provide us with healthy soil! If you would like to make your own worm farm see: http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/envirom/wormfarm.htm for further details. It is also important to note the things that worms can and can not eat:
Can eat
• vegetable scraps
• fruit scraps
• bread
• crushed egg shells
• grains
• pasta
• paper
• leaf litter
Cannot eat
• citrus peels
• onions
• dairy products
• fats and oils
• meat and fish
• animal droppings
For more information on worms and worm farms check out the following web sites:
http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/worms.htm
- Information on Earthworms, great for lower primary
http://www.naturewatch.ca/english/wormwatch/about/ecology.html
- detailed view of Earthworms, great for upper primary to high school.
http://www.zerowaste.sa.gov.au/pdf/fact_sheets/worms.pdf
- Information regarding worm farms.
Spiders!
16/01/08 13:24
Spiders!
Spiders can be scary to some and fascinating to others. The Field of Mars staff have spotted a few of the eight legged Arachnida around the grounds. The most sighted species around the gardens was the St Andrew’s Cross spider. Within this blog there are also some interesting web addresses for you to follow your interest in spiders.
Spiders are feared by many perhaps because if provoked they can bite. Some spiders are also known to inject a poisonous venom that may seriously harm you. However, even though Australia has some of the most dangerous spiders in the world, such as the Redback Spider and the Funnel-web Spider, no one has died from a spider bite since antivenine was made available in 1981! (http://www.amonline.net.au/spiders/resources/general.htm#dangerous). It is still a very good idea to wear gloves when gardening and not provoke any spiders to harm you.
Something you might already know about spiders are that they have two main body parts, eight legs, eyes not like insects but fixed like ours, fangs and silk spinning organs. Something you might not know about spiders is that they were here long before the dinosaurs! Spiders have evolved over time to not only change their appearance but to also use their silk in different ways. For example 400 million years ago spiders used their silk, or so we believe, to protect her eggs. However, the ‘modern’ spiders use their silk for a variety of purposes such as moving from place to place, catch insects, wrap its pray AND protecting her eggs.
Working at the Field of Mars allows us to appreciate and identify many spiders in their natural environment. Today, Helen observed many St Andrew’s Cross spiders.
St Andrew’s Cross spiders can be easily identified by their zig zag silk webs (stabilimentum) that are usually in a form of a cross. The St Andrew’s cross spider is very smart, as the stabilimenta attracts insects as it reflects UV light that pollinating insects love. An interesting fact about the St Andrew’s Cross spider is that the shape of the stabilimentum changes shape as the spider ages.
We hope you find some interesting spiders but remember to always be safe and never aggravate spiders. If you have been bitten call your local emergency service. Below are some interesting web addresses that will help you with extending your knowledge about spiders.
Useful Spider websites:
For information on stabilimentum go to:
http://www.bugsinthenews.com
Spiders of Australia is a detailed website that highlights the beauty of Australian spiders. Through current information the website also aims to unveil some of the mystery surrounding spiders.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/australian/Spidaus.html
As the name suggests, Steve’s Australian Spider Pics provides viewers an array of interesting spider pictures. This website is fun for those who like to identify and learn more about spiders.
http://spiders.zacharoo.com/
Congratulations!
High school students from the Indigenous community of Maningrida have discovered 33 new species of spiders over the past two years!!!! Well done to the teachers and students of the Maningrida Community Education Centre. For more information see: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/01/22/1831652.htm
Spiders can be scary to some and fascinating to others. The Field of Mars staff have spotted a few of the eight legged Arachnida around the grounds. The most sighted species around the gardens was the St Andrew’s Cross spider. Within this blog there are also some interesting web addresses for you to follow your interest in spiders.
Spiders are feared by many perhaps because if provoked they can bite. Some spiders are also known to inject a poisonous venom that may seriously harm you. However, even though Australia has some of the most dangerous spiders in the world, such as the Redback Spider and the Funnel-web Spider, no one has died from a spider bite since antivenine was made available in 1981! (http://www.amonline.net.au/spiders/resources/general.htm#dangerous). It is still a very good idea to wear gloves when gardening and not provoke any spiders to harm you.
Something you might already know about spiders are that they have two main body parts, eight legs, eyes not like insects but fixed like ours, fangs and silk spinning organs. Something you might not know about spiders is that they were here long before the dinosaurs! Spiders have evolved over time to not only change their appearance but to also use their silk in different ways. For example 400 million years ago spiders used their silk, or so we believe, to protect her eggs. However, the ‘modern’ spiders use their silk for a variety of purposes such as moving from place to place, catch insects, wrap its pray AND protecting her eggs.
Working at the Field of Mars allows us to appreciate and identify many spiders in their natural environment. Today, Helen observed many St Andrew’s Cross spiders.
St Andrew’s Cross spiders can be easily identified by their zig zag silk webs (stabilimentum) that are usually in a form of a cross. The St Andrew’s cross spider is very smart, as the stabilimenta attracts insects as it reflects UV light that pollinating insects love. An interesting fact about the St Andrew’s Cross spider is that the shape of the stabilimentum changes shape as the spider ages.
We hope you find some interesting spiders but remember to always be safe and never aggravate spiders. If you have been bitten call your local emergency service. Below are some interesting web addresses that will help you with extending your knowledge about spiders.
Useful Spider websites:
For information on stabilimentum go to:
http://www.bugsinthenews.com
Spiders of Australia is a detailed website that highlights the beauty of Australian spiders. Through current information the website also aims to unveil some of the mystery surrounding spiders.
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/australian/Spidaus.html
As the name suggests, Steve’s Australian Spider Pics provides viewers an array of interesting spider pictures. This website is fun for those who like to identify and learn more about spiders.
http://spiders.zacharoo.com/
Congratulations!
High school students from the Indigenous community of Maningrida have discovered 33 new species of spiders over the past two years!!!! Well done to the teachers and students of the Maningrida Community Education Centre. For more information see: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/01/22/1831652.htm
Planting
05/12/07 15:36
Today Helen Bahlas, our general assistant (GA), visited Meadowbank Primary School to assist in the planting of some indigenous native plants. The weather held off enough for year 6 to plant their native plants and help in sustaining a healthy eco-friendly environment. All the plants planted are locally indigenous and are important for the habitat of invertebrates, lizards, birds, possums etc. Some of the plants planted will provide a rich food source for some native birds and animals such as the nectar from Banksias and the berries from the Dianellas.
Some indigenous native plants that can be edible include:
• Dianellas – bush tucker plant where you can eat the purple berries
• Coffee Bush – edible fruits
• Native Sarsparilla – can make tea using the leaves
For more information on bush tucker plants and how you might like to cook them see http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/bushtucker/
A small note on water crystals
Water Crystals are super absorbent polymers in the form of white granules. They sometimes are referred to as hydro gels, polymer crystals or water gels. Read the instructions on the pack before using and do not digest!
Water crystals are used to support plants by preventing stress in drought and in times of excess moisture. When planting, a small handful of water crystals at the base of your hole before you put your plant is sufficient. The water is locked inside the crystal for the plant to use. As the plants use up the water the crystal will shrink and dry out. When you have heavy rain the crystals will expand more than a hundred times its original size!
A special thank you goes out to Ryde Council for providing the plants and to Sandra Payne for her insights into indigenous plants.
Flora and Fauna in the Field of Mars Reserve
19/05/07 09:14
Last year Ryde Council commissioned a biodiversity
survey to determine base line biodiversity levels in
the Field of Mars Reserve. Click the text below to
download a PDF of the results.
One of the most exciting things to come out of the
survey was the discovery of sugar gliders, bandicoots
and echidnas in the reserve.
Wildlife of Sydney
10/04/06 09:11
Wildlife of Sydney is a fantastic website operated by
the Australian Museum. It contains lots of kid
friendly fact files on some of the animals and
habitats that are found in the Sydney basin. The
online activities are also lots of fun. Click the
picture below or go to
http://www.faunanet.gov.au/wos/index.cfm
http://www.faunanet.gov.au/wos/index.cfm
