By Senior Ranger, Fiona Marika
Wet season is the best time for planting native trees; the water helps them grow.
At the moment we are planting Casuarina (Mawurraki), Native Peanut (Balkpalk), Red Apple (Larrani) and Green plum (Dhurrpinda) trees round the IPA, especially at East Woody Beach and Wirrawuy.
These trees are all native and have been here forever, so we want to replace the dead ones that have fallen down.
In some places the tide has come right in and pulled the roots out, or a cyclone has knocked them over.
Also our beaches don’t have enough shade, new trees will make it better for people.
We use native trees for bush medicine and eating too. We put young Balkpalk bark in water for eye-drops, and green plums are good for eating at this time of year.
Balkpalk and Durrpindha are both Yirritja. Everything is connected to the Dhuwe and Yirritja moieties; the land, people, animals and the plants.
We haven’t managed to plant any Stringybark tree yet, and it is the most important tree in this area.
We use it for art, yidaki, special ceremonies, bush medicine and shelters long time ago.
It would be good to plant some of these trees but we haven’t managed to get the seedlings at the right time. I need to test it out to see if they grow in our nursery.
We collect the seeds from coastal and inland areas during the seedling season and this happens at different times for different trees. We then keep them in a special place in our nursery so they don’t get damaged or wet.
Then they get potted and soon it’s time for planting outside.
It depends on the tree how long it takes for them to grow. If the tree likes it and there’s enough oxygen and water, it can grow fast.
If it doesn’t like the soil, it will grow slowly. Like people in a place they don’t like - plants are the same. If it’s too tough or they don’t get enough support they won’t survive.
There are already quite a few of these native trees growing in our Recreation Areas. You can see them at Latram, Scout Camp, East Woody, Wirrwawuy and Little Bondi. The Rangers make tree-guards to go around the young ones to protect them.
If you see them, please leave them alone. In the past people have pulled them up or wrecked them.
During the dry season it would be good if people camping could help us look after them. Keep an eye on the young ones, and maybe give them your leftover water when you leave!