Black Mountain is an important element of the landscape from deep time to today. It may be one of the better-known mountains in Australia because of research and studies done by CSIRO scientists and others. Join Wally Bell, Ngunawal elder, and Mark Butz, environmental historian, as they talk about the Aboriginal, historic and natural heritage of Black Mountain.
This ramble includes some steep sections, rough, uneven ground and some steps.
A big thank you to the wonderful weeders for removing 275 woody weeds at the August weeding work party.
Our next weeding work party is planned for Saturday, 7 September 2019, 9am to 12 noon.
We shall focus on removing non-local weeds.
We shall break for morning tea at about 10:30am.
If you need further information, please contact me by email or phone 0437 298 711. We look forward to hearing from you, and seeing you at our next weeding work party.
The floral emblem for Australia is Acacia pycnantha (Golden Wattle). While it does not grow on the Black Mountain Reserve, several other acacia species make September a great wattle month for us.
Enjoy a ramble among the wattles on Black Mountain with local plant ecologist, Michael Doherty. Learn more about some of the common Acacias found on Black Mountain, including Acacia dealbata and Acacia buxifolia, and how they cope with fire and drought.
The walk will be mostly flat to undulating, but with a few steeper sections later in the walk.
The biggest event for FoBM was the Black Mountain Symposium 2018: the past 50 years informing the next 50 on 24-25 August 2018. Many people have said over the years that a lot was known about Black Mountain, and we were keen to bring together this accumulated knowledge.
Opening of the 2018 Symposium by Mick Gentleman (Photo: Murray Fagg)
Various experts prepared 19 papers on the natural and cultural values of Black Mountain.
The Symposium included a full day of presentations by 15 speakers to about 145 people on 24th August, after the official opening by Mick Gentleman, ACT Minister for Environment and Heritage, then the following morning themed walks for 77 people in Black Mountain nature reserve.
Several aims were achieved:
an up-to-date, detailed account of Black Mountain's natural features and its social and cultural history
a comprehensive synthesis of Black Mountain's plant and animal diversity, an assessment of changes that have occurred in them since the area was declared a nature reserve, and provision of a benchmark for better monitoring future biodiversity changes
identification of key management issues for maintaining Black Mountain's ecological integrity in coming decades
These were covered in more detail by Sarah Ryan at the end of the symposium (now a paper Black Mountain Symposium 2018: synthesis).
FoBM extends heartfelt thanks for the expertise and more than 3,300 volunteer hours contributed by authors, speakers, organisers and helpers, especially Dr Rosemary Purdie; and to the sponsors: CSIRO, CANBR, ANBG, Four Winds Vineyard, Nick O’Leary wines, Black Mountain coffee, ACT Government, Molonglo Conservation Group, and to Murray Fagg for photographs.
Regular activities continued, too. About 30 wonderful weeders gave 623 volunteer hours to remove 9410 weeds from Black Mountain, and over the fence in the Australian National Botanic Gardens in conjunction with the Friends ANBG.
Our guided rambles attracted 300 people this year, including our Heritage Festival walks and the annual Spring Wildflower Ramble. Our Winter Talk in June attracted about 30 people to hear Threatened and Nocturnal Birds of Black Mountain by Geoffrey Dabb.
FoBM participated in the ParkCare display at Jamison Plaza again, with several other ParkCare groups and PCS.
Frogwatch heard fewer frogs, probably because of the dry winter and spring; but did hear Eastern Banjo Frog (Limnodynastes dumerilli) in March; later than the usual September to January.
Bird Blitz revealed fewer birds busy at their nests and hollows this year, and Vegetation surveys of our 3 sites were done.
We warmly thank the Black Mountain Symposium 2018 volunteers and sponsors, along with our valuable botanic advisers, speakers and guides on rambles this year; Rosemary Purdie, David Albrecht, Wally Bell, Mark Butz, Suzi Bond, Isobel Crawford, Geoffrey Dabb, Michael Doherty, Jean Geue, Michael Mulvaney, Ajay Narendra.
Thank you to everyone in FoBM, MCG, PCS, ACT Conservation and Research, ACT Heritage, ANBG and Friends of ANBG, ANPS, CIMAG, FoAB, FoG, FoMP, FoTPin, FNAC, GCG, NPA, STEP, radio and print media, and other organisations for their part in this seminal and very enjoyable year.
Wecome to Country by Ngunnawal Elder Wally Bell (Photo: Murray Fagg)
Presentation by Rosemary Purdue (Photo: Murray Fagg)
Friends of Black Mountain
Friends of Black Mountain is an energetic local community group of volunteers who help conserve and promote Black Mountain's biodiversity and values now and for future generations.
To help celebrate the 50th anniversary of being declared a reserve for the purpose of nature conservation, the Friends of Black Mountain propose to publish a book on the reserve's natural history for release in July 2020. We are seeking financial sponsorship to support its preparation and publication.
It's no secret that we have outstanding woodlands in the bush capital.
The draft ACT Native Woodland Conservation Strategy will guide the protection, restoration and management of our woodlands for the next 10 years.
Have your say on how our precious woodlands will be managed and preserved over the next 10 years: www.yoursay.act.gov.au/woodlands
Walking on Black Mountain just got more interesting
ABC Canberra's Louise Maher spoke to Ngunawal elder, Wally Bell, and convenor of Friends of Black Mountain, Linda Beveridge, about Black Mountain's woodland walk and the new interpretative signage and track markers to encourage people to learn more about some of the nature reserve's 670 plant species.
