950 seedlings planted at Dharawal National Park

Media release: 15 April 2015

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) staff and the local community planted 950 seedlings in Dharwal National Park on the 11 and 12 April which will help to rehabilitate the previously cleared Old Archers field site.

NPWS Regional Manager Diane Garrood said 29 volunteers assisted including three generations of the Durman family.

”The 950 seedlings were sourced from local seed stock and will help to restore this degraded part of the park,” Ms Garrood said.

“In addition, Koori Discovery Rangers shared traditional knowledge about local food sources and medicines. They introduced the volunteers to edible bush currants, insect repellents, banksia hair brushes and snake whistles. Volunteers learnt to wash their hands using soap suds made from local wattle leaves.

”We would like to thank the local volunteer community, Tharawal Local Aboriginal Land Council, Koori presenters, Macarthur Branch of the National Parks Association of NSW, Greening Australia and the funding bodies for enabling this superb weekend to occur.” 

Community tree planting weekends originated due to grant funding from the Greater Sydney Local Land Service.

Dharawal National Park is located approximately 45km south west of Sydney and straddles the Wollondilly, Wollongong and Campbelltown local government areas. Dharawal National Park encompasses almost the entire catchment of O’Hares and Stokes Creeks.

Dharawal conserves exceptional upland swamps, which contain some of the highest species-richness values in the world. Dharawal National Park has great significance for the Dharawal Aboriginal people with a high density of Aboriginal sites including well preserved examples of drawings, stencils and paintings.

Contact: Roger Bell