A dedicated group of volunteers is slowly but surely restoring indigenous flora to the shores of Swan Bay. JOHN VAN KLAVEREN wades in for a look.
Pictures: Greg Wane
The flora of Swan Bay has subtly changed over the past 17 years.
The spread of indigenous plants has gradually grown, replacing introduced species, due to the efforts of a small but energetic group of green thumbs.
Swan Bay Environment Association seeded Queenscliffe Community Indigenous Plant Nursery 25 years ago as part of an effort to reclaim the area for its original fauna.
But reversing the extinction of once-thriving plants of the area is a tough fight.
With the support of Borough of Queenscliffe, Corangamite Catchment Authority, Bellarine Catchment Network and Barwon Water, the nursery is a weekly hive of activity.
Well over 10,000 plants have been donated or sold through the nursery, with plants available to the public for just $1.
But, as coordinator Jill Warneke reveals, the nursery’s most important work, well-hidden in its comfortably rustic tea room, goes far beyond distributing indigenous plants.
“We’ve created a database of Swan Bay catchment’s indigenous plants for future reference,” Jill says, pointing out a set of six ring-binders on the shelf.
Painstakingly documented, the binders represent the fauna record of the area, with images, descriptions and locations all set out.
More than 100 plants are on the nursery’s indigenous plants list, all with common as well as scientific names according to species.
The nursery has also accumulated a list of places where indigenous plants still thrive as a seed source.
“There are only remnants of some plants left now, which is pretty sad, so we’re always excited to get access to get seeds and local plants,” Jill explains.
Read more in the Geelong Coast Magazine – in newsagents now.
