Join Nature Glenelg Trust (NGT) founder Mark Bachmann, as we meet
various NGT ecologists and special guests during a 'tag-along tour' of
some of our favourite restored places, where nature is being given a
second chance.
NGT are hosting a 6-day, multi-site, self-drive, Grand Tour across
southern SA and western Victoria. Each day is a separate event with a
different flavour, so you can register for a single event on any day, or
join us as we travel across the landscape and come to them all! Please see the FAQs and map in this PDF.
The Grand
Tour begins in Adelaide (Day 1) and visits the Eastern Mt Lofty Ranges
(Day 2), Upper South East (Day 3), Lower South East (Day 4), South West
Victoria (Day 5) and culminates with a catered event in the Southern
Grampians (Day 6), as we celebrate the expansion of NGT's spectacular
Walker Swamp Restoration Reserve, adjacent to the Grampians National
Park.
Each day needs to be booked separately on the Nature Festival website, and please be assured that we have allowed sufficient time for travel between sites during daylight hours if you are joining us for more than one day of the Grand Tour. Detailed travel instructions will be provided, as well as a suggested itinerary for those who register for multiple days of the tour, but please note that meals, accommodation and travel for the Grand Tour are to be self-managed by attendees, with the exception of a free catered BBQ lunch on Day 6.
DAY 1:
On Day 1, Nature Glenelg Trust (NGT) ecologists will guide participants through two significant nature restoration projects. You can attend one or both locations, just tick the relevant box when booking your ticket.
The first is the Oaklands Wetlands, located in an urban context within the City of Marion at Oaklands Park. These constructed wetlands improve the quality of stormwater and store it for use irrigating surrounding parks. They also provide habitat for an important insurance population of the southern purple spotted gudgeon, a threatened species of freshwater fish in SA. NGT Senior Aquatic Ecologist Sylvia Zukowski runs the fish monitoring program at the wetlands and will have the monitoring nets set for this event. This is a rare opportunity to see these threatened fish up close. Glynn Ricketts, Water Resource Coordinator at the City of Marion, will also be on hand to explain the overall design and function of the wetlands. This stage of the day will run from 9.00 am until 11.00 am.
The second stop is Stipiturus Conservation Park, located one hour's drive south of the Oakland Wetlands, on Beare Lane, west of Mt Compass. Stipiturus CP contains the largest and most intact example of the critically endangered Fleurieu Peninsula Swamps community. Since being protected as a Conservation Park in 2006, restoration efforts have included weed management, revegetation, prescribed burning and hydrological works. NGT Ecologists Ben Taylor and Tessa Roberts have been involved for several years and will explain the rationale and outcomes of restoration, particularly hydrological restoration, which is NGT's focus. This stage of the day will run from 1.00 pm until 4.00 pm.
This event is free but tickets are limited. To confirm your booking we simply ask that you make a donation (of any amount) to Nature Glenelg Trust to help cover the costs of the event(s) and support our work restoring nature. You only need to make one donation if you are attending multiple events. A donation can be made by following this link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/...
This is a self-driving and self-catering event. Oaklands Wetlands are accessible to people of all ages and abilities and have toilets. The visit to Stipiturus CP will involve approximately 2 km of walking through uneven terrain and there are no toilets. We recommend you bring:
- appropriate clothing for cold, wet weather and/or hot, sunny weather
- your lunch and plenty to drink
- a backpack
- study walking shoes
Detailed instructions on where to meet will be provided to registered participants prior to the event.