Annandale on the Web

Custom Search

Community - Groups and Spaces

Beth Buchannen

Rozelle Bay Community Native Nursery & Bushcare Groups

Several community groups, including the Rozelle Bay and Callan Park Bushcare groups, use the Rozelle Bay Community Native Nursery to propagate plants to create Local Provenance Plant corridors. These corridors provide habitat for a wide variety of birds and other animals.

The nursery is located at the end of Chapman Rd, past the self storage. Enter Chapman Road from the roundabout at intersection of Nelson St and the Crescent). map

Get Involved - The Nursery is always looking for new volunteers!

No experience is necessary, but please wear closed sturdy shoes and a hat. Groups meet at the Nursery or at various sites around the Leichhardt Municipality.

Current Projects

View Larger Map

8.30am - 12.00pm on Wednesdays and Fridays
Meet and work in the Nursery:
9am-1pm Fridays
Meet at Nursery then go to Callan Park
9.30-12.00 First Sunday of Month
Elkington Park "Weeding with a view" (Morning Tea at Frog Pond)
9.30-12noon Third Sunday of Month
Balmain High end of Bayville St (Traditional Morning Tea served on a log!)
9.30-12noon First Sunday of Month
Callan Park, west of King George Park (Morning tea with renowned Chef!)
9.30-12 First Saturday of Month
Mort Bay Cnr Cameron/McKell Sts Birchgrove:
9.30-12.00 Third Saturday of the month
Whites Creek Bushcare Group, meet Cnr Railway Pde and Hutchinson St Annandale

To learn more: just turn up, phone Doug Anderson 9367-9326 or email: douga@lmc.nsw.gov.au.

Projects

Local Provenance Plant corridors and pockets have been established at 25 sites in the Leichhardt Municipality, in addition to plantings on the Rozelle Bay foreshore:

Piper St reserve, ready for revegetation

Piper St Reserve, July 2002

at the entrance to the Harold Park pedestrian underpass;
around the Pumphouse at the end of Rose St;
in Hogan Park along Nelson Lane, at the end of Taylor St;
around the Federal Park Wetlands;
in the White's Creek Wetlands and Parklands; and
around the lightrail station at the junction of the Crescent and Western Distributer.
Breillat St
Along Western side of Johnston St, towards the Crescent

Logo by Cara Smith

Eco-Annandale - Exhibition and History of Annandale's Ecosystem

Activities

Piper Street Reserve - Sydney Harbour Catchment grant to continue the indigenous plant corridor with turpentine and ironbark trees.
Plant Identification, Seed & Cutting Collection
Propagating and Planting
Operation of the nursery
Seeking Funding to undertake major projects such as the regeneration "the Hill" behind Harold Park and creating a site for the reintroduction of Turpentine trees.

David and Monique working near Breillat St May 2007 - Photo Marghanita

Monique and David working in Briellat St, May 2007

The nursery exists through the voluntary efforts of individuals, in particular the tireless leadership of Beth Buchannen. It also benefits from the support of Reg Richardson and his staff Betty and John, from Self Security Storage who have provided free water and electricity since 1997.

The nursery is also supported by The City of Sydney, Leichhardt Council, Landcare, Government grants, Volunteers from The Body Shop, Westpac, American Express,Starbucks,local schools and Green Reserve from Conservation Trust for Volunteers. Ramin Communications has provided the nursery with a web presence since 1998.

Bronwen Cambell Thinning out Sedge Seedlings, September 2007

A Finalist in Keep Australia Beautiful's 1999 Metro Pride Award, the Nursery has received a variety of grants. Including:-

A newbie gets an introduction to the Nursery Community

Newbie September 2007

the final grant made by the Port Jackson Catchment Management Committee. The grant will assistthe Nursery to erect interpretive signage and perimeter plantings for the Federal Park Wetland. The grant will be administered by the newly created Sydney Harbour Catchment Management Board, which is replacing a number of harbour catchment committees including The Port Jackson Catchment Management Committee.
a Federal Government Grant for small equipment which was matched by Leichhardt Council to construct new Nursery Benches
a 9/11 commemorative grant from the US Consulate.

The Federal Park Saltmarsh Wetland, close to Rozelle Bay, has great significance as a prototype for ecological restoration in an urban setting. It reinstates a simulated tidal estuary, lost when the Johnson's Creek estuary was landfilled.

Indigenous Planting by RBCNN Volunteers Thrive along Johnston St Annandale

Local Provenance Plants thriving along Johnston St Annandale

Local Provenance Plant Species List for Sydney's Inner West

Reintroduction of Local Provenance Vegetation to Annandale

Local Provenance Plants are those that have naturally evolved to suit the climatic, light and soil conditions of an area.

During the 18th and 19th Centuries, the Turpentine-Ironbark Forests which covered the Inner West, of Sydney, were cut down for their valuable timber. The remaining local provenance vegetation would have been eliminated by farming and subsequently by residential development. This reference list of Plant Species that would have been endemic in the area is based on a list compiled by Catherine Rowland.

The Rozelle Bay Community Native Nursery collects seeds and cuttings from the closest remaining bushland, to propagate and reintroduce Local Provenance Plants to the area. The reintroduction of Local Provenance Plants has been extremely sucessful. As you walk around Annandale's public spaces, you will notice a diverse range of plants thriving and providing habitat to butterflies, dragonflies, birds, lizards and frogs.

While the Rozelle Bay Nursery does not sell plants, you can buy local provenance species at from Cornucopia Nursery, Marrickville Community Nursery and Strathfield Council Native Nursery.

This page www.ramin.com.au/annandale/rbcnn.shtml last updated 16 May 2009