Trip to Tavora Reserve (Bobby's Head), with Pat Mark

Trip to Tavora Reserve (Bobby's Head), with Pat Mark. Tavora Reserve is the site of a restoration project undertaken by the Yellow Eyed Penguin Trust, to return former grazing land, pine forest and patches of remnant vegetation back to native bush. This is both to provide nesting habitat for the Yellow Eyed Penguin, and to restore vegetation for its own sake. The Trust is keen that this is a working BSO field trip: they want us to test a trail guide that they have been developing for the Reserve, in addition to the normal compilation of species lists and any advice we can provide on restoration works. The Reserve provides a diverse array of botanical habitats, and can be divided into hillside, dune and wetland/riparian vegetation types. Of special interest are remnant Poa cita, Bulbinella augustifolia and a local speargrass Aciphylla glaucescens in the hillside zone; the cushion plant Scleranthus biflorus and sand convolvulus Calystegia soldanella associated with sand dunes; and stream edge plants including the salt tolerant Apium prostratum - native celery, Azolla filiculoides - red water fern, Cotula coronopifolia - bachelor's buttons, Leptinella dioica, Mimulus repens - saltmarsh musk, Shoenoplectus pungens - three square sedge, Sarcocornia quinqueflora - glasswort, Samolus repens - sea primrose, Selliera radicans and Puccinellia sp. - salt grass. The Trust has undertaken extensive plantings to try to reintroduce plants formally endemic to coastal hillsides, sand dunes and wetlands and welcomes feedback from the BSO on the restoration job they have done so far. Leave Botany car park at 9 AM Sunday and return mid to late afternoon. Pack lunch, water and protection from the sun, wind, rain and cold.