Friends of Woodford Reserve
Local residents, Local Shire and Local Landcare linking people, plants and plans for the future.
This is a story of a successful collaboration that began in early 2022 at Woodford Reserve Korumburra. It began with three local residents, Lillian, Tony and Rosemary, new to the area, and not previously known to each other, expressing an interest to Korumburra Landcare Group (KLG) and the South Gippsland Shire Council (SGSC) in setting up a Friend’s group to assist with the upkeep and enhancement of the beautiful reserve on their doorstep.
Woodford Reserve is hidden away at the end of Woodford Place, Korumburra. It is planted out with indigenous plants in the headwaters and along the creek’s banks. A large planting day was organised by KLG in collaboration with SGSC. This initiative was sparked by a suggestion to KLG by Lillian from the Friends group and our then President, Melynda Dawson, swung into action. By the end of 2022, well over 2,000 additional plants sourced from KLG and SGSC, have enhanced the area. Streamside species will protect the banks of the creek that are prone to flash flooding and work has continued downstream broadening the corridor of local ground cover, under and mid story plant species.
Through the support of council and the KLG, the residents have set up an incorporated group, with a letter of Understanding signed in February 2023 with SGSC. The evolution of the Friends of Woodford Reserve Inc. (FOWR) was underpinned by the express intent of the residents to work WITH council, establishing plans and practices that worked for both parties.
For example, agreement on which areas to plant out, selection of indigenous plants, and ensuring we established a planting out process which is successful and manageable for council into the future. While many of the residents have become members of KLG, the FOWR is now in the process of becoming a group member of Landcare Vic Inc. and can therefore be covered by the member insurance package for working bees, allowing more volunteers to work in the reserve.
The FOWR have already made a significant contribution to the KLG and our activities in and around our local patch. All parties look forward to a continuing positive and productive working relationship which benefits the local natural environment as well as the local community. [Source: bassCoast Landcare News 13 February 2023].
