Cranebrook

 Grey Gums Oval, Cranebrook

On Sunday 9 January we set out to explore a little bit more of our new neighbourhood.  We drove to Grey Gums Oval in Cranebrook, not far from our home and parked the car at the entrance to the Oval on Grey Gums Road.  We then walked past the grandstand, down the hill to an area set aside for the newly created wildflower meadow.  

Penrith local City Council was granted funds under the NSW Government's Greening the Great West Walk Programme and they have used these funds to create a temporary wildflower meadow called "Let it Bee".  The project has been designed to improve the inferior clay soil so that 78 new trees can ultimately be planted.  These trees will boost canopy cover and help in reducing temperatures along the Walk by creating some welcome shade. They will also provide shelter for local wildlife and help enhance biodiversity.  The Great West Walk is a 65 km walk from Parramatta to the base of the Blue Mountains.  

Here is the path inside the gate.  As the gate was locked we left the car on the grass beside the entrance to the Oval.  Maybe the gate is kept locked on days when there are no sporting events taking place, but it was a shame we couldn't drive in and park in the car park.

There were beautiful flowers growing in the wildflower meadow including Bulbine bulbosa, Calotis lappulacea, Pultenaea villosa and Wahlenbergia. These flower species have adapted to Penrith's soils, temperatures and climate over millions of years.   

One of the many bee "hotels" set up in the wildflower gardens.  We saw many butterflies and birds flying amongst the flowers whilst we were there.  These bee hotels provide fun for the children and are also an educational experience.

The flowers will be cultivated back into the soil next May 

This is the area set aside for the wildflower meadow.  In the middle there is the framework of a bee and flower seeds have been planted in it.  There were park benches placed along the pathways where you can sit and enjoy the gardens. 

Seeds from the flowers will be collected for propagation in Council's nursery.

There were many Ibis birds gathered on the Oval.  After the recent rain, the Oval was quite wet with lots of pools of water and this obviously was an attraction for these waterbirds.  From a distance it looked as though the Oval was covered with a flock of sheep!

We enjoyed our time spent in the wildflower meadow.  I was pleased that our local Council is environmentally conscious and involved in a programme to improve our local area and, at the same time, educate the population about climate change and what can be done about it.  Over the coming Summer weeks, we hope to explore a little bit more of our new neighbourhood.  I am especially keen to explore a little bit more of the Penrith Lakes area.

Acknowledgements

1.  Inside Local Government.

2.  Penrith City Council

3.  Australasian Leisure Management

4.  The Western Weekender.