Drouin's Valuable Urban Bushland #1

The clearing of native vegetation poses a significant threat to the biodiversity of our natural environment and this can occur within our urban zones just as readily as in the rural areas.

Drouin is blessed with some wonderful remnant bush patches both within the town and very near to the boundaries of the urban area.

Click to enlarge

Fragmented they may be, due to development such as housing, industry, roads and powerlines, urbanization in general, they remain essential links to our magnificent West Gippsland natural bush containing towering trees and a dense understorey of a bewildering variety of sedges, grasses and shrubs.

 

Gahnia sp in McGlone Rd - a valuable 'butterfly bush'.

Some of these remnant bushland places provide a welcome buffer between industrial and residential areas. They help absorb noise and atmospheric pollutants, mitigate strong winds and flooding and are of course a valuable resource for urban wildlife.

 

The old Drouin Nature Reserve in Pryor Rd.

Drouin’s parks, gardens and backyards will often be visited by an astounding array of bird life. It is not difficult to see the connection of these beautiful creatures with the small tracts of natural bush we have in our midst and on our doorstep. 

 

The Brown Thornbill, a good bushland indicator, is often seen in Drouin's bush patches.

Many new housing developments are almost devoid of any indigenous vegetation and invariably they have negligible bird life for the residents to enjoy.

Alex Goudie Reserve - a good example of exotic species and natural bushland.

Drouin’s patches of remnant bush are definitely worth keeping and looking after. We residents will rue the day we let them disappear, degrade or fragment further.

Further reading …

Perth’s Urban Bushland Council – Bushlandvalues.

Willoughby City Council Urban Bushland Management Plan – Bushland management plan.

Office of Environment and Heritage NSW – The Western Sydney urban bushland survey.

Friends of Lane Cove National Park – The value of urban bushland.