Connecting friends and wildlife
A new environmental friends group in Knox is creating a wildlife habitat corridor and community connections along the way.
Friends of Blind Creek Llewellyn formed last year to improve the section of Blind Creek between Eastlink and High Street Road in Wantirna South.
Coinciding with National Tree Day, the group planted hundreds of indigenous trees with support from Knox Council and Melbourne Water. Council supports the group with specialist biodiversity advice, planning onsite activities and Minor Grants funding for tools and equipment. The group has also secured funding from Melbourne Water for weed control and plantings.
Founder Keven Urbancic started the Friends group for something meaningful to do in retirement.
“I started doing some voluntary work with Knox City Council on its Gardens for Wildlife program and also with Knox Environment Society, helping out at its indigenous nursery in Ferntree Gully,” he says.
“I also did some work with other established Friends groups around Knox before thinking, well, why not start up my own group.
“Blind Creek is an important tributary of Dandenong Creek from where it rises in the Dandenong Ranges National Park down to where it meets Dandenong Creek at Jells Park.
“It provides a habitat link throughout its length and can be greatly enhanced with appropriate care and management.
“A major milestone was achieved at our working bee coinciding with National Tree Day where the group planted over 600 indigenous plants. We supplement this work with regular monthly working bees, where we continue doing weed control works and smaller-sized plantings.”
The group’s work complements that of other more established environmental groups along the waterway:
- Friends of Blind Creek Billabong (between Dorset and Scoresby roads)
- Friends of the Gully (around Chatham Avenue, Ferntree Gully)
- Friends of Koolunga Native Reserve (foothills of Dandenong Ranges National Park)
Member Sandy Strickland says the work will benefit future generations.
“It’s about lessening our footprint and being aware of the environment we live and work in and making it sustainable for the future, for our children,” she says.
Linda Walshe says the working bees have made a significant difference.
“It is very relaxing and it’s great to see the difference that doing it makes,” she says. “It looks so much different after we’ve done a working bee.”
Everyone is welcome at the group’s working bees, from 9.30am-11.30am on the second Sunday of the month, meeting at the corner of Blind Creek Lane and Coppelia Street, Wantirna South.
Support local biodiversity and help Council with our goal of increasing the tree canopy in Knox to 30% by 2050.
Get involved by looking up one of Knox’s volunteer environmental groups, including Friends of Blind Creek Llewellyn, Friends of the Glenfern Green Wedge, Friends of Koolunga Native Reserve, Friends of Blind Creek Billabong, Friends of Old Joes Creek, Friends of the Gully, First Friends of Dandenong Creek, Friends of Bateman Street Bushland, Knox Environment Society and Gardens for Wildlife.
You can also get involved in National Tree Planting Day
When: Sunday 27 July, 10 am to 12 pm
Where: Koolamara Blvd, Ferntree Gully, VIC, 3156 (parking is available on Blackwood Park Rd and Koolamara Blvd, Ferntree Gully)
Registrations are essential via the link below
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