Pope's Glen Reserve is a beautiful and significant band of native bushland bounding Pope's Glen Creek and stretching from the World Heritage National Park to Memorial Park, almost in the centre of Blackheath township.
In the Beginning …
In 1989 a few local people noticed thickets of holly taking over the bush.  In a short time the weeds would dominate Pope's Glen and threaten the National Park - now the World Heritage National Park! - only 2 km downstream!

In 1992, the Pope's Glen Bushcare Group joined the Council's embryonic Bushcare Network - only the third or fourth volunteer group in the Blue Mountains.  Council provided the guidance of an expert and patient Bushcare Officer, a supply of tools, the removal of weeds collected and the distribution of the group's monthly newsletter.
The Pope's Glen Bushcare Group

Pope's Glen Reserve
Pope's Glen Reserve is a beautiful and significant band of native bushland bounding Pope's Glen Creek and stretching from the World Heritage National Park to Memorial Park, almost in the centre of Blackheath township.
Since 1992, the group has removed hundreds of holly trees, then broadened the scope to include other woody weeds (pittosporum, cotoneaster, cherry laurel and privet - many of them full-sized trees); pine trees, some up to 100 ft high; vines (English ivy as thick as an arm festooning the eucalypts; carpets of honeysuckle), gorse, broom, blackberry and montbretia in abundance everywhere …

The group's on-going work includes controlling weeds so the native bushland plants can regenerate naturally, and planting programs where needed to revegetate highly degraded areas. 
Pope's Glen transformed
Take the Pope's Glen walking track to Govett's Leap and experience the beauty of the bush - weed free!

Workdays
The Pope's Glen Bushcare Group works on the fourth Saturday of each month, excluding December, from 9.00 am - 1.00 pm (including a generous morning tea!).  It takes a lot to stop them!  In the first 12 years, they missed one work day because of weather - 50 mm of rain amid tropical lightning!  On average, they work about 35 person hours per day, about 385 person hours per year.  Volunteers are always welcome!
Bushcare activities
1.primary weed removal 
2.erosion matting, if necessary, to protect the soil
3.seedlings (grown from local seeds) are planted through the matting and seeds strewn to assist              natural revegetation.
4.regular secondary weeding until the native seedlings and self-sown plants become established.

Grants
The Pope's Glen Bushcare Group, in partnership with Blue Mountains City Council, has received support from:
  • Greening Australia
  • Conservation and Land Management (CaLM)
  • Save the Bush
  • National Landcare Program
  • Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority
  • Department of Land and Water Conservation (now Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources)
  • Urban Runoff Control Program
In March 1998, the Urban Run-off Control Program grant employed professional bush regenerators to extend the work of the volunteer group further down the catchment.

To join in, and to receive the monthly newsletter

Contact
  • Richard Lee, Blue Mountains City Council:
Ph:  4780 5623
Email: rlee@bmcc.nsw.gov.au

  • Alan Lane
Ph: 4787 7097
Email: alan.lane@zeta.org.au
Contact

Richard Lee,
Blue Mountains City Council:
Ph:  4780 5623
Email: rlee@bmcc.nsw.gov.au
Contact

Alan Lane

Ph:  4787 7097
Email: alan.lane@zeta.org.au
Pope's Glen Bushcare Group in action, replanting an extensive patch of willows with native reeds and rushes.
June 2002:  A badly degraded slope is stabilised with erosion matting and planted with a variety of local native plants:
June 2004:  Only two years later on the same slope  - a diverse and thriving community of native plants!
This web page is donated by the Highway West 'family' of websites
www.highwaywest.com
and Webthingys
- efficient, affordable websites that work for you
©Copyright 2002-2005