Fairbairn Park

Hi All,

Welcome to Fairbairn Park beside the beautiful Maribyrnong River. As you can see by the map below, it looks more like a golf course, and a bad one at that, without the greens and tees; although it does have a golf course next door. Fairbairn Park, or should I say playing fields, is a flat expanse of what could be termed grass, or at least mown green vegetation.

 

The area is mostly used as playing fields for various sports, with a walking/cycling track along the river bank.  The expanse of grass is interrupted periodically by small clumps and lines of trees (think golf) that seem to be placed haphazardly between the fields.

   

A view across the fields showing very limited vegetation (left).

Does the picture on the right remind you of anything - golf anyone?

So, what is wrong with a series of playing fields where we can do a little exercise, with strategically placed vegetative enclaves for flora and fauna to inhabit? These enclaves are so small that I doubt it would accommodate a family of rats, as they are separated by expanses of open ground. Maybe it would be easier to remove the vegetation and save the mowing crew the trouble of going around them...

  

Well guess what, it may be happening as I blog. The chainsaws and herbicides are at work. Notice the orange lump behind the chair (left), the remnants of the former inhabitants, a pile of wood chips, framed nicely by the brown stain of Mr. Herbicide.

Fairbairn Park may be worth a visit if you have a big dog or want to kick a ball, possibly go for a walk along the river bank, but be warned, it can get a bit windy as the old palms can pay testament too. I won't be going back any time soon.

So till next time Happy Parking.

Weed in the Lane!

A local lane,

This a little lane not far from where I live, well traversed by the residents walking the dogs to the parks, going to and from work, and the local children playing around.

This lane is no different to others around generally. It still retains the bluestone cobblestones that many a night cart has trundled, new roller doors for car access along with innumerable fence types in different states of repair.

One of the highlights is the vegetable patch in a backyard with pumpkins growing over the fence. I bet there is a wonderful assortment of delicious and healthy crops behind. This makes me want to go and grow my own, if I had the room and possibly a greener thumb. City gardening at its best.

Apart from the pumpkin, there are few other plants, with the exception of the creepers and vines along the fences extending into the trees of adjacent yards; two vines of note being Anredera cordifolia and Ipomoea indica.

Madeira vine (Anredera cordifolia) is also known as potato vine or lambs tail vine. It is a vigorous climber which is very heavy on the tree canopy and can cause smaller trees to collapse. It is a vigorous climber with heart shaped leaves and potato like aerial tubers along its stems, from which it reproduces. Note: Anredera cordifolia is a declared noxious weed in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia, and prohibited from sale in Queensland and New South Wales. A good, non-invasive, native alternative to madeira vine is native wisteria (Milletia megasperma).

Blue morning glory (Ipomoea indica) is a perennial climber. The thick, smothering growth of this weed is a common sight on many fences, roadsides and forest edges. This vigorous climbing allows it to colonise the highest branches of trees, as well as forming a thick mat at ground level, smothering the current vegetation. It has been known to live for 25 or more years, but is easier to eradicate than Anredera cordifolia.  Note: Ipomoea indica is a declared noxious weed in New South Wales and Western Australia and prohibited from sale in New South Wales.

So please do not grow these plants, they may look nice and green with pretty flowers growing over the back fence, but they can spread rapidly and are very hard to eradicate if established. So get on the net (sites listed below), look them up and see if we, in Victoria, can avoid repeating the problems they created elsewhere.

Happy hunting, I know you want to.

We can do it together!!!!!

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au

http://awsassets.wwf.org.au

Hard copy of above -

Groves, R.H., Boden, R. & Lonsdale, W.M. 2005, 'Jumping the Garden Fence: Invasive Garden Plants in Australia and their environmental and agricultural impacts', CSIRO report prepared for WWF-Australia, WWF-Australia, Sydney.

Today is Victory Day, that is Victory Park Day.


Victory Park, cnr Epsom Rd and Langs Rd, Ascot Vale. This is a large park surrounded by the Ascot Vale Leisure Sports and Fitness Centre (parking, toilet and kiosk facilities available) the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds and Ascot Vale West Primary School.

Victory Park has everything you will need to have a good day out.

Lots of trees to sit under including Golden Elm (Ulmus glabra 'Letescens'), Chinese Elm (ulmus procera), Plane Trees (Plantanus xacerifolia), Fig trees (Ficus macrophylla), Eucalyptus (various ages) and a lonely Himalayan Ceder (Cedrus deodara).

There is a recently constructed undercover sitting area to compliment the out door tables near the play area with on site BBQ's available.

A huge wooden adventure playground with an enormous array of slides, walkways, multiple towers, sandpit, suspended platforms and swings will keep the young at heart on the go.

What really makes Victory Park different to the others so far is the planting of forbs and small shrubs along the boundary with the school (may be inside the school grounds, but does not seem to be inside the school fenced area). This planting has only been completed recently and will only get better with age.

  

There seems only one last thing to mention and that is the Cenotaph with its sunken rotunda (loads of seating). Victory Park would be an excellent choice for a lunch with family and friends on ANZAC or Armistice Day, but why be limited to two days a year when everything you need to enjoy the outdoors is in one place.

So go for a look, pack the BBQ/picnic gear or just get takeaway, you will not be disappointed.