Category Archives: Uncategorized

Blue Mountains City Council has adopted a new Weed Management Strategy at its March 2026 meeting, setting a clear and coordinated direction to tackle one of the region’s most significant environmental challenges. Govetts Leap Catchment Group made a lengthy and detailed submission to the draft strategy during the 28 day public exhibition. “Weeds are oneContinue reading “BMCC Weed Management Strategy”

Some of you may have seen us at the October ConSoc Plant Stall at Blackheath Markets, arresting the queued plant buyers with a question, “How many balls do you think we have collected?”

There are lots of yellow flowers around at the moment. Daffodils, forsythia and many wattle species. But some of the yellow flowers are Weeds of National Significance: broom and gorse. You can see these in flower along the highway and railway. Both of these are prolific seeders and the seeds can still germinate after decades.Continue reading “Yellow Flowers”

This letter appeared in Letters to the Editor in the Blue Mountains Gazette Wednesday 14 February 2024. The title on the page was Agapanthus and airport flight paths. It is hard not to notice all the Agapanthus in bloom in the Mountains now. The striking blue, purple or white flowers seem to be everywhere. HoweverContinue reading “Striking Blue Invaders”

This year agapanthus started flowering early and it is going to seed early. It is an invasive weed which can take over bushland.  It is very common in gardens and the borders of natural areas in Blackheath and spreads readily from seed. To reduce its spread use secateurs to cut off the flower heads atContinue reading “It’s time to deadhead your Agapanthus!”

Did you know this is a weed? Buddleja is an invasive weed that can take over bushland.  It is increasingly common in gardens and the borders of natural areas in Blackheath, especially along the highway. It spreads readily from seed. It can also have white flowers. If you see it in your garden, please pullContinue reading “Weed: Buddleja”

Govetts Leap Catchment Group has had a successful first year. Highlights include:

Did you know this is a weed? Spanish Heath is a local priority weed which can take over bushland. It grows in poor soil and displaces native plants. In our Bushcare activities we are finding it on the creek-lines which flow into the Grose Valley. It spreads readily from seed dispersed by wind, water andContinue reading “Weed: Spanish/ Portuguese Heath”

I recently had the opportunity to join Alice and Will from the BMCC Healthy Waters Team at their annual water quality sampling of Govetts Leap Brook. This is one of over 70 sites across the Blue Mountains which the Healthy Waters staff sample annually. This provides the data for their annual Waterways Health Snapshot whichContinue reading “Water Monitoring”