Crag Care Tasmania- what’s been happening?
Hi! It’s been a minute since our last post so here’s what’s been happening with Crag Care of late! It’s been a big 12 months with five working bees at six Tassie cliffs including Freycinet, Fingal, Launceston Gorge, Hobart City Crags, Ben Lomond and kunanyi (Mt Wellington). Here’s a bit about what’s been going on.
December 2022 kunanyi Columns Working Bee
Fifteen Crag Care volunteers braved a bit of snow and a lot of mud to work on kunanyi’s upper columns track. Volunteers worked with the Hobart City Council’s Bush Care trackwork team on a few spots along the track that were a bit eroded. Everyone learnt a lot from Lindsay, Peter and Jerome about stonework, it’s definitely something you want to get right to make it last. Ellen, queen of cake, delivered with a mega chocolate creation that kept the blood glucose flowing. Big thanks to the Bush Care team, who helped us herd the cats and provided the tools and wonderful expertise.
March 2023 Freuhauf Working Bee
A lovely morning was spent by volunteers weeding the revegetation at Freuhauf. These plants were planted in previous working bees. The team also attacked blackberry, broom and forget me not infestations, giving the natives more of a chance of establishment. It was great to see some of the plants had gotten too big for their boots (treeguards) and were given bigger guards. As always, thanks to the Hobart City Council Bushcare Team for providing the gear, expertise and tea!
kunanyi Trackwork Working Bee
We headed back up to the Organs pipes to do some more trackwork on the climbers’ tracks again supported by the Council’s Bushcare team. We got stonework in on a good section of track between After Midnight and Neon God on Flange Buttress, a really popular and much loved area. So good to see these tracks looking good!
July Bare Rock Working Bee
Bare Rock in Fingal is a huge 300m cliff that has become more popular with climbers in the last five years, with some of the state’s hardest sport climbing. Andy and Alannah own the property at the base and provide the climbing community with access to the cliff, and allow camping on their land. This working bee was a good opportunity to look after the place and help Andy and Alannah out. Many a thistle was banished to the afterlife, the composting toilet maintained with the composted poo pods emptied, and a new sun trap for the pods made to aid future composting. A lovely morning out for all, and great to have the opportunity to give back to that place. Thanks again Andy and Alannah for having us!
July Ben Lomond Emergency Hut Upkeep
The ‘Emergency Hut’ at the Ben has been well looked after, the roof painted and a heap of rubbish removed. Great to see it looking so good!
August Cataract Gorge Working Bee
Cataract Gorge is very much loved by climbers so it is great to be working with Launceston City Council to look after these cliffs. A dedicated team cleaned up the zig-zag track on the sunny side of Cataract Gorge on August 3rd. The volunteers made short work of both litter and weeds, cleaning out seven full bags of rubbish in just a few hours, plus removing blackberry, boneseed, gorse and passionfruit vine.
August Fruey working bee
Further work was done at Fruehauf to continue the revegetation that was started last year. Good times were had with a great crew and 50 plants were added to the surrounding slopes. The new cardboard protectors blend in nicely and wire cages were used for some larger native mint bushes. Great to see the plants getting bigger and the landscape returning to its natural state. And then there was morning tea, cake and a climb afterwards!
Keen to get involved? Visit our page on the Wildcare website to sign up for updates about future working bees and events, or visit our Facebook page. Note that you will need to become a Wildcare member to join the Crag Care branch. This is only $25 per year, and provides vital funding to ensure groups like us can continue. So thanks!