Derwent Avenue Group for the Dave Burrows Walk

Where we work

The name of our WILDCARE Inc group is the Derwent Avenue Group. We are known as the DAGS! We are the caretakers of the Dave Burrows Walk which is located on the western side of North West Bay and is southeast of Margate, southern Tasmania. Our group works in partnership with the Parks and Wildlife Service and is allied to Landcare, the Kingborough Council and the Understorey Network. The Walk is named after the late Dave Burrows because of his great interest in bush flora and fauna. He was a bushman as well as an orchardist. We are planning to extend the Walk northward to Margate. Our Reserve on North West Bay has an interesting mix of coastal open woodland, small remnants of original bushland, a rocky foreshore, eroded sandstone cliffs and a saltmarsh. Our vegetation is dominated by various eucalypts, blackwoods, native cherries, banksias and a range of understorey plants including grasses such as saags, poas. Native animals include ringtail and brushtail possums, bandicoots, echidnas and potoroos. Reptiles include blue tongued lizards and skinks with some evidence of frogs from time to time.

What we do

Our goal is to improve the habitat for animals and plants and create a healthy bushland which can regenerate itself. We maintain the Dave Burrows Walk which is a narrow bush track, uneven in most places but is a relaxing walk in a very pretty area. North West Bay is a home for numerous migratory and sedentary birds and we do see seals, dolphins and skates. Afternoon teas complete with wines and good food is an important element in DAGS. They follow two hours of solid work on such tasks of grubbing blackberries, cutting and pasting poison on other “baddies’’, wheelbarrowing bush mulch and removal of rubbish. They ‘’busy bees’’ tend to be quarterly. The regular work is improving regeneration of native plants and we have begun a substantial program of planting of understorey shrubs in areas where exotic weeds and non-native grasses have been removed. Our planting is generally done with small groups after weeding has been done. We attend Parks & Wildlife Service workshops on risk management, first aid, use of poisons and use of equipment such as brushcutters, GPS and GIS. Members also keep in touch with Kingborough Council and governmental issues relating to the Reserve. Our group is busy and enthusiastic. It is making a difference.

Our Contacts

Alan Braddock - braddock-jones@bigpond.com Sue Brandon - suemail7@iinet.net.au