Bush Crew diaries August 2023

Published on 21 July 2023

Over the past 4 years the Plenty River crew have been undergoing a project to re-introduce an endangered species into Greensborough Escarpment. A patch of Dianella amoena (listed in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 ) was identified within the reserve in 2018, and was thereafter closely monitored.

In 2020 the crew collected seed from the remnant patch, which was then sown in 2021 and grown within the bushland nursery. In 2022, the plants were mature enough to transplant and were planted back into the reserve to booster the remnant population. Some of the plants were transplanted into larger pots and kept in the nursery as a source for future plantings. This was to ensure the population within Greensborough Escarpment remained as undisturbed as possible.

One of the sources of pollination for Dianella amoena is the indigenous blue-banded bee. These are buzz pollinator insects which vibrate their little bodies amongst the pollen of flowers, flying from plant to plant, pollinating species as they go. This year, the crew were lucky enough to spot these elusive bees within Greensborough Escarpment.

To help guide the bees towards the patches of dianellas, the crew have planted other buzz-pollenated species in the hope of attracting more bees into the reserve. With the gradual introduction of enrichment plantings along the Plenty River Reserve, the Bush Crew will conserve endangered species whilst simultaneously enhancing biodiversity.