A beautiful endangered shrub will now have a much greater chance of flourishing as a result of a joint effort by volunteers who worked in bushland areas in the Baha’i Temple property in Ingleside, Sydney.
Those involved included Baha’is and local Pittwater residents. The project was a joint initiative involving the Australian Baha’i Community, the Pittwater Natural Heritage Association, the Pittwater Council, the NSW State Government’s Office of Environment and Heritage and the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management authority.
On 21 October 2013 the volunteers carried out weeding and other conservation work in the habitat of Grevillea caleyi in the bushland near the Temple.
Grevillea caleyi, sometimes called the “Terrey Hills grevillea”, is an open, spreading shrub, up to four metres tall and four metres across the branches with attractive flowers ranging in colour from crimson to dark burgundy.
The work was part of a restoration project to more firmly establish the healthy and ongoing presence of the shrub in the Duffys Forest area, including the Baha’i site and other properties. Funding for the restoration project is being provided by the New South Wales State Government.
The Temple grounds are one of only three localities in Sydney still home to this species.
In fact, the shrub is restricted to an 8 kilometre square area across government and privately owned land.
Baha’i spokesperson and Landscape and grounds supervisor, Shervin Ali, said there had been previous conservation projects in the area but this project was a fresh impetus in the bid to look after the bushland.
“With the spiritual atmosphere of the Temple, the flora and fauna provide opportunities for contemplation about the wonders of creation,” Mr Ali said.
“As well as the special plants in the area, there are wallabies, possums, echidnas, and bilbies and many species of birds,” he said.
To read more about the project, visit: https://www.pittwateronlinenews.com/saving-grevillea-caleyi-at-ingleside.php