“Places like Sparrow Ground are the lungs of Ballarat. They’re our green wedges and when they’re gone you can’t get them back.” – Jeff Rootes Friends at work.
been to convince the local council that it does not have to mow the native grasses excessively. “The native grasses are coming back and the edges of the remnants are starting to expand,” says Jeff. “Just by letting the native grasses reseed themselves we are getting kangaroo grass and spear grass back on the block – it’s magic to watch.”
A growing urban environment More than 50 houses have been built on the edge of Sparrow Ground in the past six years, bringing more people to the area and new threats to the reserve. Even now, 10 years after the original battle to save the reserve from development, protection of the land’s intrinsic natural values is an ongoing job. While walking the grounds Jeff is quick to spot vehicle tracks running from the back of one of the new housing developments through the park and on to the main road. The tracks roll over regenerating grasses and shrubs, including spear grasses that have long been denied sunlight by pine trees only recently cut down. “That’s what destroys the remnant native bush in this park,” says Jeff. “People are still putting entry gates on the back of their houses and using the reserve to dump their old concrete mixer or park their car. It’s not on.” Jeff is optimistic about the future despite the damage still being done to the native vegetation. “We realised early on that this area was going to change pretty rapidly. What’s going to happen in the next ten years? All the little gaps of open, private
land will fill in with houses. That’s inevitable,” he says, putting a philosophical spin on the situation. “You can have the housing done to you or you can influence the housing.” The latest development in the area threatened six large, old habitat trees still surviving on the land. “They were large, mature old trees with lots of tree hollows in them,” says Jeff. “I got a road moved to save two of them, which are now on a nature strip and I hope they survive. Another two now form part of a water reserve.” Sadly, the remaining two trees were cut down by new owners moving in to the area. “The knowledge of how valuable this area is will come over time. Part of the spirit of this park is to show that it’s worth looking after and caring for the natural environment, especially when it’s in your back yard.” This year Jeff and his mates Peter Martin, Hedley Thomson and Glenn Strange celebrated the tenth anniversary of the battle to save Sparrow Ground. There were plenty of slaps on the back for these men and the local residents, who still get together every year on Clean Up Australia Day to make sure Sparrow Ground remains free of weeds and litter. “If other things in my life aren’t travelling well I come up here and have a chuckle. The alternative was there could have been houses here,” says Jeff, as he surveys the bushland in front of him. “Places like Sparrow Ground are the lungs of Ballarat. They’re our green wedges and when they’re gone you can’t get them back.”
Stories of everyday people caring for our natural environment
Photo: Leon Costermans
Victorian Environment Friends Network Hundreds of friends groups across Victoria help conserve indigenous flora and fauna, natural areas, reserves and other en��es of historic, scenic and scien�fic interest, o�en in support of Parks Victoria, Trust for Nature and local councils. Their ac�vi�es include surveys, research, seed collec�on, propaga�on, tree planting, publica�ons, li�er control, nature rambles, monitoring, track work, environmental weeding, revegeta�on, educa�on, fundraising, restora�on and guiding. The first friends group was the Friends of Organ Pipes, established in 1972 as a commi�ee of the Victorian Na�onal Parks Associa�on. The associa�on later obtained support from the Na�onal Parks Service to form a number of friends groups for na�onal parks. The concept spread to cover a wide range of reserves. Friends groups vary in size, ac�vi�es and structure but most have their own newsle�er.
What you can do To find out how to get involved with your local friends group or how to start one email friendsvic@hotmail.com.
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