Sandfly

Sandfly Recreation Reserve

This bushland is home to a threatened plant species (Epacris virgata) and Eucalyptus ovata, which is a food source for the swift parrot.

Epacris virgata (also known as "Kettering" or "Pretty Heath") is a small woody shrub, which has white flowers in spring. It is endemic to Tasmania and is only found in the south east of the state. According to the Threatened Species Management Guidelines, it is estimated that there are only 22 populations of this species remaining.

At the Sandfly Recreation Reserve, the Epacris virgata is competing with an introduced plant - Spanish Heath (Erica lusitanica).

Last October a group of local people, under the guidance of staff from the Threatened Species Unit (Department of Primary Industry Water and Environment) participated in a working bee at the reserve. The working bee was run as a "Weedbusters Event" (Weedbusters Week is in October each year) and focused on the removal of Spanish Heath and Radiata Pine saplings. The good news is that the removal of Spanish Heath from the Recreation Reserve is an achievable task.

Look out for the next working bee (in October 2003) and come along and "lend a hand".