Kyabram Urban Landcare Group manages three reserves in Kyabram.
GREY BOX RESERVE
Hidden at the back of Parkland Golf Club, tucked between the golf club and horse paddocks, is the 4.5 hectares of Grey Box Reserve.
Once endemic to the area, the reserve has three predominant woodland types.
Damp Grey Box areas have grassy ground covers such as wallaby grass, broughton pea, and slender gardenia.
The Dry Grey Box Buloke Woodland produces predominantly grey box trees with an understory of gold dust wattle, waterbush and spreading eutaxia.
The third type of woodland has white Cypress pine and yellow box on sandy rises with Buloke trees and an understory of sweet bursaria and gold dust wattle.
Most of these plants can be found within the Grey Box Reserve, with the remnant portion having not been farmed due to poor soil and low-lying periodic floods.
The resilient grey box tree, nardoo grass, purple swainsona pea, and yellow goodenia all tolerate getting “wet feet”.
Flooding events also trigger breeding cycles for fish and frogs, attracting water birds such as ducks and egrets.
The Kyabram Urban Landcare Group has established a level gravel walking track around the reserve.
You may hear three types of frogs following the walking track clockwise: the ‘pobblebonk’, the spotted marsh frog’s ‘kuk-kuk-kuk’ or the Perron’s tree frog’s ‘jack-hammering’.
You will come across a wide range of Indigenous plants, many recently planted, including 10 types of wattle.
Several older trees, many of which are thought to exceed 200 years old, provide nesting sites for the numerous parrots in the area.
As you turn back south, you will see a small dam on your left with a seat inviting you to sit and listen to the calls of pardalotes, kingfishers and rosellas.
RACECOURSE RESERVE
The Racecourse Reserve is adjacent to the Kyabram Trotting Track and opposite the Kyabram Scout Hall in Racecourse Rd.
A gravel walking track winds through old-growth trees interplanted with young seedlings, providing undergrowth coverage for small birds and wildlife.
ERN MILES RESERVE
The Ern Miles Reserve is rehabilitated farmland at 148 S Boundary Rd, Kyabram.
The whole paddock has been planted with native vegetation for 20 years, and now many birds consider this reserve home.
For more information, visit Kyabram Urban Landcare Group’s Facebook page.