Friends of The Pinnacle currently has a range of activities and issues,
consistent with our objectives, that members and other
interested people can help with or participate in.
| Activity |
Information |
|
| Weed Management - see the weeding overview page for more information |
Spraying weeds with herbicides |
When: from September to May when weather conditions permit |
Main contact: Warren Bond |
| Additional information: Volunteers Required. You need to be accredited through "Chemcert" training to spray herbicides on the Reserve. This requires attending a 1 day training course, the cost of which is paid for by Parks and Conservation. |
|
Hoeing, pulling and weed-wanding weeds |
When: Every Thursday morning throughout the year and most weekends on either Saturday or Sunday mornings. |
Main contact: Warren Bond |
Additional information: See Weeder information for general information. Bob [bob@fotpin.org.au] leads Thursday weeding teams, Len [len@fotpin.org.au] on Weekends.
|
|
Slashing with brushcutters |
When: as required |
Main contact: Warren Bond |
| Additional information: Volunteers need to receive training from Parks and Conservation (which we can organize for you at no cost), and to meet their OH&S requirements. |
|
| Revegetation |
Planting trees and shrubs |
When: As opportunities arise; usually once per year. |
Main contact: John Brannan |
Additional information: Strategic plantings of trees and shrubs to enhance existing tree cover understorey and to create vegetation islands to act as stepping stones across patches of grassland to improve wildlife habitat (especially for birds).
For more details, see the Revegetation web page. |
|
Ground cover restoration |
When: Various activities throughout the year |
Main contact: Len Taylor |
Additional information: We aim to speed the regeneration of native groundcover in the Reserve by reintroducing native species, starting in less weedy areas, and building up the native seedbank once again.
This involves a variety of activities from seed collection and propagation, through to planting and watering.
For more details, see the Ground cover restoration web page. |
|
| Guided Walks |
|
Themed seasonal walks |
When: Spring and Autumn or when there is something extra special to see on The Pinnacle |
Main contact: Convenor |
Additional information: Seasonal walks are usually guided by speakers with a specialised knowledge in a seasonal topic, such as birds, wildflowers, or native grasses.
See "What's On" for dates, times and meeting points.
|
|
| Kangaroo Monitoring |
|
Kangaroo numbers and impact monitoring |
When: ongoing |
Main contact: Convenor |
Additional information: On May 1, 2011, ACT Land Management and Planning carried out its first count of Eastern Grey Kangaroos on The Pinnacle Nature Reserve and the adjoining North Kama property, Bottom Pinnacle and rural lease (see location map). This was done with encouragement and organisational input from fotpin, and with considerable volunteer labour from members and friends (see news).
Counts were repeated annually with continued major input from fotpin until
such counts were formalised in the ACT Kangaroo Management plan in 2017 and the organisation of the counts was taken over by the Conservation Planning and Research unit.
The count had to be suspended in 2019 because of the disruption caused by the pipeline construction that divided the Reserve, but is expected to continue in 2020.
The numbers resulting from these annual sweep counts have been used by PCS to inform management decisions for The Pinnacle Nature Reserve. In particular they are used to determine the size of culls required to keep kangaroo numbers below levels at which they do not have an impact that adversely affects other components of the ecosystem. With that level reached in 2017 the effects on the Reserve have been obvious, particularly the strong recovery of native grasses.
See more information here where there are details of the count procedure, results of the counts and impacts of culls on them can be found.
|
| Rabbit Control |
| Mapping active rabbit warrens and reporting to Parks and Conservation for control
|
When: ongoing |
Main contact:
Warren Bond |
Additional information: Until 2011 rabbits were a serious problem on the Pinnacle Nature Reserve and other Reserves in the Belconnen Hills. An ACT Government initiative sought to reduce numbers by destroying large warrens and by fumigation. Fotpin contributed by carrying out systematic mapping of rabbit warrens across the Reserve and the neighbouring paddocks of North Kama and Bottom Pinnacle on several occasions.
The control campaign was largely successful by 2012 with the numbers of rabbit warrens and rabbits decreasing to about 10% of what they had been.
Fortunately funds are still made available through Parks and Conservation to continue fumigation of any remaining warrens twice a year, which continues to keep rabbit numbers at low levels.
Fotpin continues to
report the location of active rabbit warrens to Parks and Conservation for control, but rather than carrying out systematic surveys this is done as our members go about other activities during the year, particularly weeding which takes us to all corners of the Reserve at least once a year.
You can explore more information about our surveys, comparison with spotlight counts and documentation of the success of the fumigation campaign if you are interested. |
|
| Community Engagement and Outreach |
Publicising fotpin at community events |
When: ongoing |
Main contact: Convenor |
Additional information: Fotpin holds a stall at the Weetangera and Hawker Primary School fetes each year to raise awareness about The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, ParkCare and fotpin activities.
Fotpin participates each year in a 3-day display at Jamison Plaza with
neighbouring ParkCare groups (Friends of Aranda Bushland, Friends of Mt. Painter, Friends of Black Mountain) and related groups.
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|
Interaction with school groups |
When: as opportunities arise |
Main contact: Convenor |
| Additional information: Fotpin encourages approaches from the local schools. We have hosted many successful walks and participatory activities over the years. |
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