Native Mouse Antechinus stuartii Photo Jill Dark

Last Saturday Peter Ridgeway shared his knowledge with ten Bushcare volunteers about retaining and accessing habitat on their Bushcare sites.

Some key points from the workshop include:

• Shale vegetation types have less structural habitat than sandstone, due to land management practices and the composition of the grass and shrub layer and the lack of sandstone caves and boulders.
• Lantana is good habitat for native bees and butterflies, so removal in stages whilst retaining the piles is best practice.
• Dense privet is habitat for ringtail possums and a food source for silvereyes and protection for many species. So when removing privet, rafted small piles placed close together are better single large heaps that are then removed.
• Hollows come in different sizes. The smallest ones can be mere slits in bark, used by any of the twenty plus species of microbats in the Mountains.
• The size of a hollow must be snug for the animal using it to make a snug, cosy home.
• Two thirds of all ground dwelling animals eat fungi so having cover on the ground that feeds fungi is very important.
• The design of artificial boxes for possums, bats and bees was discussed, along with the situations for which they are appropriate.

It was a very informative morning. If anyone else is interested in attending similar training, please contact Erin at the Bushcare office: 4780 5623.