fotpin News 2022

27 Oct 2023:    Weeding Effort summary for the 2023-24 season, to September 30

The weeding effort for the 2023-24 season to the end of September was 193 hours, 94% within the Reserve. This was 13% less than last season but 66% more than the average for the previous 13 seasons of monitoring.

Most effort (108 h; 56%) was spent in this period on the group of uncategorised low to medium risk broadleaf weeds largely in Weetangera paddock. This was followed at a distance by Paterson's curse (33 h, 17%), Verbascum (12 h, 6%) and Thistles (12 h, 6%). All other weeds combined accounted for <15% of effort.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.

28 Oct 2022:    Weeding Effort summary for the 2022-23 season, to September 30

The weeding effort for the 2022-23 season to the end of September was 222 hours, 93% within the Reserve. This was more than double the effort for the same period last season and the second largest ever for those 3 months. Strong weed growth in response to the third near-record rainfall year in a row was mainly responsible for this, as well as intensive and repeated weeding of patches in Weetangera paddock in preparation for spring planting.

Most effort was spent in this period on the group of uncategorised low to medium risk broadleaf weeds (which incudes Hoary Mustard, Prickly Lettuce, Nightshade, Tragopogon, Plantain, Flatweeds, Paddymelon and Sorrel; 78 h, 38%) primarily in Weetangera paddock). This was followed by Verbascum (65 h; 25%), then Exotic grasses (27 h, 13%) all rated minor weeds and all in the Weetangera paddock, St. John's Wort (20 h; 10%) and Thistles (17 h, 8%). All other weeds combined accounted for 6% of effort.

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.

06 Oct 2022:    Total number of native plant species recorded on The Pinnacle Nature Reserve reaches 250. Total number of all native species recorded now 876.
 

03 Oct 2022:    New Pinnacle Brochure added to web site
 

26 Jul 2022:    Weeding effort summary for 2021-22 season

June 30 this year marked the end of the 12^th season of closely recording, georeferencing and monitoring fotpin's weed control effort.

Features of the weeding effort summary for the 2021-22 season include:

• effort was the largest of the last 6 seasons, both for the Reserve* alone (802 hours) and for the Reserve and adjacent paddocks combined (809 hours);
• we struggled for the second season in a row to control many of the usual invasive weed targets, notably St. John's Wort and Verbascum, although more thorough treatment in the most sensitive and diverse areas of the Reserve was achieved;
• most effort was spent on: St. John's Wort (290 h), Verbascum (163 h), miscellaneous Broadleaf Weeds (137 h) and Thistles other than Saffron Thistles (80 h). Together these accounted for 83% of total effort;
• an improved 50% of effort was spent on weeds rated as high risk, compared with 40% last season.

See the 2021-2022 weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.

* Note: effort for the Reserve now includes effort in the Extension, both in this season and in previous seasons.

09 Apr 2022:    Weeding Effort summary for the 2021-22 season, to March 31

The weeding effort for the 2021-22 season to the end of March was 560 hours, almost entirely within the Reserve. This was 14% less than last season but around the average of the last 6 seasons. Strong weed growth in response to the second year of record rainfall in a row really required more effort than this, but it was interrupted by the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, shown clearly in the monthly effort chart. Judicious use of allowed exercise time prevented effort coming to a complete halt but there is still a lot to catch up on.

St. John's Wort, our most prevalent high risk invasive weed, has received most effort (228 hours, 41% of total effort), followed by Verbascum (107 h, 19% of total effort).

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.

13 Jan 2022:    Weeding Effort summary for the 2021-22 season, to December 31

The weeding effort for the 2021-22 season to the end of December was 286 hours, almost entirely within the Reserve. This was 25% less than last season but around the average of the last 6 seasons. Strong weed growth in response to the second near-record rainfall year in a row really required more effort than this, but it was interrupted by the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, shown clearly in the monthly effort chart. Judicious use of allowed exercise time prevented effort coming to a complete halt but there is still a lot to catch up on.

St. John's Wort, our most prevalent high risk invasive weed, has received most effort (105 hours, 37% of total effort), followed by Verbascum (84 h, 30% of total effort).

See the weeding effort page and associated links to maps and charts for more statistics and comparisons with previous seasons and across the different management regions of the Reserve.