Protecting the Valley’s Environment
On this page, you can find all sorts of information. There are reports about some of the many weed eradication projects undertaken by the MVA in the last 20 years. They include PowerPoint Presentations by scientists and specialist weed managers, as well as event reports, maps and photos. Other information is around guidance on invasive weed management and the diversity of our native plant communities.
Past Projects: Reports and Presentations
The MVA has promoted environmental protection since 1999, beginning with an Anzac Day Two Up fund-raiser at the Settlers Arms.
Small and large grants from various State and Commonwealth departments have been achieved and in this section, we offer information about some of them.
Invasive Weed Management in the Macdonald Valley
It is hard not to notice the rapid growth of weeds in our valley. They can be controlled but will probably never be completely eliminated, so the best approach is a long-term one.
The five key messages around weed control in our valley are:
- Keep the good places good and weed-free.
- Pick your battles and work out what weeds to target.
- Use the correct techniques.
- Be patient and stay committed.
- Use online resources for weed identification.
A very helpful and easy-to-use resource is the NSW Government’s WeedWise webpage:
https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au
Native Plant Communities of the Macdonald Valley
The Macdonald Valley is home to an impressive array of native plants — big and small, including trees, shrubs, grasses, groundcovers, sedges, mosses, and lichens.
Here we provide some images of native flora, but this is by no means comprehensive. There are several good quality online resources available.
We also have the Hawkesbury Community Nursery at McGraths Hill, which is the best place to get advice about native plants and what will work in your garden, yard, or riverbank.
Just search online to find it.