Wattle Day is celebrated every year throughout Australia at wattle flowering time. This year Young District Landcare and Weddin Landcare are joining forces to celebrate Australia’s most iconic plant. Two Wattle Walks are being held and we invite you to join us.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The first walk is on Friday 22nd August from 10am to 3pm on Rosemont, a Grenfell property where over 25 different types (species) of wattle are wild-growing or have been planted. Most will be flowering on the day and we will identify each species, looking at the different plant forms, their leaves and flowers. We will talk about the importance of wattles in the landscape and there will be plenty of other native plants to see and identify along the way.
The second day will be held in Young on the following Tuesday, 26th August. The day will start at 9am with a bus trip to see some roadside wattles, followed by a walk on Mokhinui Vineyards, also with wild-growing and planted wattles. Many other species of trees, shrubs and wildflowers are found on this beautiful property of box gum woodland and we will explore these too. The day’s activities will finish at 3pm.
Wattles are an iconic but little-understood family of native Australian plants. Most wattles are pioneer plants and their role is to grow quickly and live for a relatively short period of time (although some wattles live for 250 years).
While they are growing they improve the soil and site conditions, making way for other plants in the community, such as eucalypts and grasses. But perhaps their most valuable role is to provide food and shelter for native wildlife.
It is thought that wattles have been on our continent since its break-up from Gondwanaland about 60 million years ago. They appear to be relatively common throughout the landscape because we notice them growing along roadsides, especially when in flower. In reality, wattles are uncommon in most grazed pastures, as emerging seedlings are readily eaten by stock.
As well as a book on native woodland plants, each participant will receive a free wattle plant, grown by local native plant nurseries. There will also be wattle-related literature for you to take home.
You are welcome to bring along wattle specimens for identification and we also invite you to bring along your favourite wattle poem or song to read, recite or sing.
Morning tea and lunch will be provided, including wattle seed biscuits and other bushtucker food.
There will also be free wine tasting, with the option to buy.
Residents of Young will be able to travel by free coach to and from Grenfell, returning to Young by 4pm. The coach will leave Young Railway station at 9am on both days. Grenfell residents wishing to attend the Wattle Day Walk in Young will need to travel by car, but lifts may be available.
There is no cost for either day but bookings are essential. To secure your place please contact Mikla Lewis on 6343 2804 or email: youngdistrictlandcare@gmail.com