Ku-ring-gai Bushfire Management- guided walk with Mark Schuster

Ku-ring-gai Bushfire Management: guided walk in the Wildflower Garden and St Ives Showground

The Wildflower Garden along St Ives Showground trail is on Garigal Country, land between Mona Vale Road on the ridge and to the north, freshwater Ku-ring-gai Creek.

Mark Schuster, Bushfire Technical Ranger for Ku-ring-gai Council will talk about his role in bushfire management at this site and the monitoring of impacts on the ecosystems. Mark will be sharing his extensive knowledge of this bio-diverse landscape, and its environmental history.

For planned, prescribed burning, the focus can be hazard reduction or ecological. We shall look at and think about an ‘ecoburn’ site where ground flora thickens compared with an unburnt site. Where are the trees? What are their fire needs e.g., mallee (Eucalyptus luehmanniana)? When do trees, as single trees, or groups, change to becoming a real fire hazard? And fire management for fauna, like the Eastern Pygmy Possum?

At St Ives Showground a new environmental education centre, a model of sustainable building design, is planned to open in 2024. It showcases mountain-biking with trail-care. What relations can be forged between bushcarers and trailcarers?

The walk finishes at St Ives Showground where we can stop at the café.

RSVP Here to book a spot- only 15 places

Getting there:

From Mona Vale Road turn at the Garden signpost onto Richmond Avenue

By car –  Parking onsite at the Wildflower Garden.

By public transport – from Gordon station – Bus 196/197 stop alight Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden.

What to bring

Please wear good walking shoes, bring a bottle of water, snack, sun protection and insect repellent. No dogs permitted. If unwell, stay home and rest.

Organiser: Dr Chloë Mason – 0419 811 750