Moonah (Melaleuca lanceolata) Large shrub or small tree. This one at Isle of Bags Reserve. Featherheads (Ptilotus macrocephalus) Widespread and easy to identify Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa) Everywhere. Bush to small tree. Sweet smelling but spiny. Woolly Everlasting (Argentipallium blandowskianum) Widespread, there are plenty along the tracks west off North Nelson Rd. The leaves are... Continue Reading →
Yvonne Mace and Mary Styles, 26 January 2023 Mary’s role in Nelson Coastcare is nothing short of remarkable. Her tireless commitment aligns with the value and mission of supporting engagement events, and taking action to help conserve, protect and restore this unique ecosystem. She has an outstanding knowledge of the unique flora of the Nelson... Continue Reading →
The main picture is a sketch by Eugene von Guerard dated 1858.1 Von Guerard was an Austrian-born artist who came to Australia in 1852 to try his luck on the Victorian Goldfields. He failed there, but went on to produce a large body of very finely detailed works which are an important historical record. The... Continue Reading →
Here's a list of plants Nelson Coastcare have found on the short walk from the Ocean Beach Car Park to the beach. The list shows the plant's common name first, then its scientific name. If it has a * next to it, the plant is not native to the Nelson area and is probably a... Continue Reading →
The photo is of fungi in the genus Anthracobia. Could be Charcoal Eyelash (Anthracobia melaloma). They are really small - you can see by comparison with the grains of sand around them. The picture was taken with a very cheap and cheerful USB digital microscope that cost under $30. You can also use a loupe... Continue Reading →
We had left it a bit late in the season and the day was pretty warm, but we did find orchids and some other plants we faved as well. Lyn J: “Favourite flower? The slender blue orchid. It was lovely to see several of these and to see the blooms open due to the warm... Continue Reading →
There is currently one planned Windfarm project in close proximity to Nelson’s Lower Glenelg NP/Discovery Bay Ramsar site. Nelson Coastcare is concerned that many people who have an interest in our area’s environment are still unaware of this project. Nelson Coastcare will oppose windfarm projects that cannot show that they do no harm to the... Continue Reading →
Betty Temple Watts was a scientific illustrator who provided watercolour bird paintings for works published by CSIRO. In 1965 she designed three new postage stamps and five of her earlier designs were adapted for decimal currency (1). Some of her work is held by the National Library of Australia and is on display at the... Continue Reading →
Photo supplied by Kevin Stretton - Cyril and Maureen in the 1950s. This website is funded by the family and friends of Cyril and Maureen Stretton – In Memoriam. Cyril and Maureen were long time residents of Nelson who made a significant contribution to the community. They are fondly remembered.
Here’s an excerpt from an old walking map (1). It refers to the path between the Ocean Beach Car Park and the Ocean Beach. “In the vicinity of the beach access track, you will see an excellent example of dune stabilization. Unregulated traffic of walkers and vehicles across the dune over the years stripped away... Continue Reading →
Goodness, that's a big one. Fox, a large one or one who dined out excessively. If you are walking Nelson’s tracks you will come across many small life dramas played out on the sand. It’s interesting to try work out who was involved and what was going on. There is a book you might consider. ... Continue Reading →
What does it look like? Dense shrub to 3m plus high. Dark glossy green leaves 2-8cm long with serrated edges (a similar native, Sea Box, has smooth leaf edges). Smooth bark. Small yellow green flowers late Autumn to Spring produce small red berries in summer that ripen to black.(1) No thorns. Why is it a... Continue Reading →
Installing the Weir’s Ear September 2021 Mid-Covid Our job was to install and maintain a listening device at the Long Swamp. The Nobles Rocks Weir was a likely spot to deploy the device, so we named it the "Weir's Ear". We enjoyed the drive and beach walks in and were able to collect a lot... Continue Reading →
In 2015, we received a Victorian Landcare grant to build nesting boxes. With the help of the Nelson Mens' Shed, 52 were built and deployed around Nelson. Some of the boxes have become beehives but many of them are still hanging in there. The mighty Men's Shed rest from their labours. Photos and words by... Continue Reading →
You will run into these occasionally in Nelson. They are the larvae of the spitfire saw-fly. The larvae can be quite big and fat, say up to 8cm long and will eventually turn into a quite small wasp-like fly. The ones in this photo might be the steel blue sawfly (Perga dorsalis) which is fairly... Continue Reading →
An old walking map (1) of the Great South West Walk, is marked with a “McEachern Cave” on the river bank north of Nelson. I looked for it but gave up. Later, when I got to know Leila Huebner, I asked her about the cave. She told me that there were in fact three caves... Continue Reading →
On a still morning, fishing into the cliffs – and, if your fishing buddy would stop chatting, whistling and bumbling his great boots about – you can hear the Bream munching away on the Coral. Coral? No. It’s just what Nelson locals have always called it. Coral are colonies of identical individual polyps that secrete... Continue Reading →
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