The Hillcrest Conservancy recently hosted a successful Environmental Training Course for Garden Workers.
The morning started in Springside Nature Reserve Kingfisher Centre, with the theoretical part of the course, such as problems associated with Invasive Alien Plants and why Indigenous species were preferable in our gardens, as well as some basics of good gardening such as shape, colour and design of a garden.
The group was then taken to see some alien invasive plants in the Reserve, their growth forms, habitat preference and eradication methods.
After a tea break at the Kingfisher Centre, Pat McKrill, local herpetologist, talked about snakes in the garden and the candidates each held a snake in their hands for the very first time (photo attached). Pat aims to dispel some of the myths surrounding snakes, such as the belief that snakes attack you and that all snakes kill humans.
The next part of the course was practical work on Invasive Alien Plants in the Reserve. The group was soon confident enough to undertake ring barking, frilling, cut stumping, foliar application, spraying (photo attached). This included the removal of Ardisia crenata, an invasive alien plant (photo attached) not seen previously in the Reserve, and a good opportunity to explain the problems associated with a Nature Reserve surrounded by residential property. The Ardisia plant seed undoubtedly had been eaten by a bird in a neighbouring garden, and then dispersed into the Reserve.
After returning to the Kingfisher Centre, the final module of the day concentrated on safety in the workplace and how to become the Best Gardener possible.
Finally, well-earned certificates were presented to the candidates (photo attached) and farewells bade to new friends.
Photos attached:
- Ardisia crenata
- Getting to grips with some alien plant eradication
- Holding a snake for the first time
- Candidates with their certificates
Click here for the next course details