Grassy Head Volunteer Nursery: PHOTOS

Big branch down in storm. Feb 20

Whale buried near the 4 wheel drive track mid September washed up on the beach.

Frogmouths resting

regrowth spinifex

Post February 2012 Flood Events- some photos
Below are some photos showing the loss of sand in the recent weather, usually a sight for the north Grassy beach. You can click on the photos for a closer look.

Coastal Ipomea

Some before and after- December ( before) when the regenerating incipient dune grasses and forbs were booming. February ( 1 week after the flood on 23/2) the huge loss of sand all the way along the southern beach. Roots and tips pf spinifex are left hanging out and should re-establish in time.

Below: The delicate dune front, dying bitou is almost all that is holding the sand in.

Below- some bitou dying off- Council had this area sprayed in September 12,and is now ready for some natives to take the space. Directly below- the access track where the vehicle drove through spraying bitou- bitou unsprayed remains obvious on the track

Monitoring photos- Grassy Head South
Why are we revegetating the dune? Coastal dunes are held together by vegetation that has developed growth habits to survive ocean swells, tides, salt and wind spray.

Grassy Head and Stuart Point was once greatly modified, and the loss of natural dune vegetation resulted. Replanting in the early 80's was with species that were quick growing and coastally tolerant but not always sourced locally and soon became weeds. Including Golden Wreath Wattle( Qld) and Bitou Bush.

Click link for history of grassy head

Grassy Head Reserve Trust have been working to reinstate natural dune systems, and at the same time constantly weeding and reducing spread of weeds such as Bitou Bush, Lantana, Coastal Morning Glory. By protecting our incipient and foredune areas, we are protecting hind dune vegetetation- which includes Critically Endangered Littoral Rainforest and threatened Swamp Sclerophyll forest. If you are more interested in some of our techniques- see the RESTORATION page.

Monitoring photos since 2010 are below. The area was burnt prior to this, a perfect opportunity to tip the balance from a bitou dominated weed infested dune system to a native ecosytem.

November 2012- Spinifex and Pigface runners extending across the sand holding in dunes. Spinifex(direct seeding) and Pigface was planted by GHRT, as was all Coastal Wattle( seed dispersal and tubestock), Prickly Couch ( from cuttings)