Tura Beach Flora Reserve

The Tura Beach Flora Reserve is four and a half hectares of native forest bounded by High Crescent and Noland Drive managed by a local Landcare Group. The Reserve was established in 1992 after a group of concerned citizens lobbied the Council for a Flora Reserve to be dedicated in the area to serve as a seed bank for local native plants. The rapid expansion of suburbia with the introduction of exotic garden species was seen as a threat to the existence of indigenous flora and to the birds and animals which are dependent on them for food and shelter.

Since its establishment, paths have been surveyed, laid with carpet and covered with wood chips, bracken has been slashed, undergrowth and fallen limbs cleared, controlled burning carried out, so members of the public can enjoy this small area of bush with ease and admire the flora and fauna. A catalogue of plants and their locations has been assembled and dried specimens mounted in herbarium books for reference and study. Guided tours have been organised for clubs and interested groups and efforts have been made to alert the public to this amenity and its educational potential.

The management committee meets quarterly and as necessary for working sessions during the year. Any interested member of the public is invited to make contact even if there is no commitment to regular participation in the activities necessary to maintain this valuable community asset.

Contacts: Olwen Morris 6495 0232 or Shirley Bazley 6495 9231

Plants in the Flora Reserve

Click here to see a list of the native plants that can be found in the Tura Beach Flora Reserve. The list was assembled by botanist Chris Warner in 2008.

Birds in the Flora Reserve

Click here for a list of the birds that have been observed in the Tura Beach Flora Reserve during recent visits by the Far South Coast Birdwatchers.

Events

May 2009: Firewood for sale. Dry, mixed wood. All proceeds to the Tura Beach Flora reserve. Please contact Elisabeth Larsen, ph. 6495 0165, mobile 04177 731 071

November 2009: Guided Flora Reserve walks are held in spring every year. The walk features both flora and fauna and are guided by local expertise, including ornithologist and wildlife manager Jim Shields. Details for 2009 will be advised.

Recommended links

• The Local Native Plants and Weeds Database is a remarkable collection of pictures of native plants and weeds that can be found in the region. The database has been put together by Jackie Miles and Max Campbell.

• South Coast Weeds provides information about local weeds

• The Weed Identification Tool is a comprehensive and nationwide resource on weeds

• What's Flowering in Towamba Valley features a month by month guide to flowering native plants. This great website also has the downloadable local tour guides 'Trees of Towamba Valley' and '5 rainforests'

• The Far South Coast Birdwatchers' Bird Route brochures provide a "step-by-step" guide to some of the best birdwatching routes in the Bega Valley shire. The club will also be launching a new book in early December 2008: "Birdwatching on the Far South Coast of New South Wales"

• The Far South Coast Conservation Management Network (CMN) is a great local resource for those with an interest in native vegetation and native plant propagation