Environment

Weeds - Plants out of place

Plants play such an important role in nature, by providing food and shelter, producing oxygen and regulating our climate.

Native plants support more wildlife than non-native species. We call non-natives or introduced plants ‘weeds’.

Invasive weed species can take over when an environment is disturbed. This might be as a result of urban development or by introducing excess nutrients.

Weeds can be managed through the process of bush regeneration, by removing introduced plants and replacing them with suitable natives.

Removing weeds at Warriewood Wetlands is challenging as it is a sensitive and complex site to manage.

We can all help reduce the spread of these invasive species by removing them from our gardens, road reserves and local reserves.

Management

Bushcare - Caring for our bushland

The Northern Beaches is fortunate to have many areas of natural beauty. Council partners with residents to preserve and maintain these areas through our Bushcare program.

Bushcare is all about community volunteers working with Council to conserve and rehabilitate publicly-owned natural bushland. There are over 250 volunteers who work at over 50 different sites throughout the Northern Beaches.

Most Bushcare groups work at set times throughout the year, for two or three hours each month.

No experience is needed. We have activities to suit all levels of participation, with tools training and guidance in bush regeneration techniques provided.

Learn more about our Bushcare program.

Flora

Swamp sclerophyll forest and woodland - adapt and survive

You may have noticed a change in the environment around you. With more of an enclosed canopy it means less light reaching the ground.

The plants here have special adaptations to help them survive. Some have large leaves, some climb towards the light, others take their time, growing slowly towards the light.

The plant community you see around you is part of an Endangered Ecological Community.

Can you see the slow growing straw tree ferns Cyathea cooperi or Sydney’s only native palm species, the cabbage palm Livistona australis?