Rogers
Reserve berry pretty
by Gary Alcorn
Concerned local citizens learnt more about
the unique qualities of the “Heart of Highfields” during a two-hour guided tour
of the Charles and Motee Rogers Bushland Reserve in O’Brien Rd on April 6.
Tour leader and regional native plant book
author Trish Gardner explained how this endangered dry rain forest with vine
understory remnant was a priceless example of a four-layer natural structure.
“In 2011 it was mapped by the Department of
Environment and Heritage Protection as part of a regional ecosystem reduced to
less than 10,000ha across our state,” Ms Gardner said.
She explained the top layer was an open
forest canopy comprising large Sydney blue gum and grey gum trees, supported by
a lower layer of branches and younger trees. The third layer comprised berry-laden
shrubs located over a ground level layer of small plants.
“The ecology of this scrub can be described
as a complex set of interactions which include a subsurface layer of
microorganisms,” she said.
In contrast to the adjoining land which has
been totally cleared of native vegetation for the Highfields High School,
Rogers Reserve is home to many native fauna species including gliders, possums,
parrots and koalas.
“The Sydney blue gum does not develop
hollows for fauna shelter until they are at least 70 years old and we know 65
per cent of our native birds nest in these structures,” she said.
Among the highlighted indigenous flora
species were celery wood, sweet pittosporum, hedge orange bark, red olive tree,
breynia, leopard ash, crows ash, and saltbush.
Many of the native plants discovered in
this reserve have been propagated from seed or cuttings and were available from
Crows Nest Community Nursery and Peacehaven Park nursery, Ms Gardner said.
She advised keen naturalists to discover
more about the bird and butterfly attracting features of many of these plants
by visiting toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com
Weeding working bees, revised printed walk
guides and more tours are scheduled for May following talks with Toowoomba
Regional Council staff. Watch this space as the Friends of Rogers Reserve plan
to enhance this Heart of Highfields.
For further information visit www.rogersreserve.blogspot.com
