Welcome to Glenthorne National Park | Ityamaiitpinna Yarta, where we are dedicated to preserving and restoring the precious Grey Box derived grasslands. But what exactly are these grasslands, and why are they so significant?

Grey Box derived grasslands are patches of grassland within the Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands nationally threatened ecological communities. These patches have experienced a reduction in tree canopies, allowing sunlight to reach the vibrant native ground layer below. A derived grassland is essentially a grassy woodland from which trees have been removed.

These grasslands play a crucial role in connecting wooded areas with open grassy spaces. They serve as important habitats for a diverse range of plant and animal species, some of which are rare or endangered. By preserving and restoring derived grasslands, we ensure the survival and well-being of these precious ecosystems.

The significance of derived grasslands extends beyond their biodiversity. They contribute to the overall health and resilience of the surrounding environment. These grasslands provide important habitat corridors for wildlife movement, promote pollination, and support soil health and water regulation.

Sadly, grasslands have faced significant challenges due to human activities, resulting in their decline. By focusing our efforts on restoration, we can reverse this trend. Through removing invasive species, reintroducing native plants, and adopting sustainable land management practices, we aim to bring back the beauty and functionality of these grasslands.

Your support and involvement in our restoration project are crucial. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the conservation of Grey Box derived grasslands, ensuring their significance for future generations. Join us in preserving these remarkable ecosystems within Glenthorne National Park | Ityamaiitpinna Yarta.

A Green Adelaide grant has allowed Adelaide University PhD Student Max McQuillan, to help the Friends of Glenthorne decide on a best practice, to establish and expand Native Grassland areas over Glenthorne. The Project will run for the next two years, 2023-2024.

This project aims to recreate 5 hectares of a high biodiversity value endangered Grey Box Derived Grasslands ecological community through innovative design and emerging direct seeding methods at Glenthorne National Park – Ityamaiitpinna Yarta.

The project also aims to use the design, implementation, and management of the grassland to promote ecological knowledge through key partnerships.

A partnership with Nature Play SA involves co-design of the grassland for nature education for STEM courses, including at Urrbrae high school and at the University of Adelaide.

Both the inherent design of the grassland and creative interpretation through digital and physical content enhance educational opportunities at Glenthorne National Park.

Finally, the project will be systematically documented as part of a PhD which will also involve the development of a management plan to be implemented by the Friends group to care for the project in the long term.

Timetable

Date (2023)	What happened
17 May	Seeding Natives planted out the areas that were scraped.
14 May	This past week have seen a significant change in our “Community Grassland” area on Glenthorne. While working there, a jogger, going through the park was quite concerned, and said that he thought that no-one was allowed to build houses on a National Park. He had seen the “Scrape” area, which is the next stage of the “Community Grassland”. A test of seeds in the soil revealed that weed seeds can be found up to 12cm down in the soil. This weed-seed load has to be removed before that area can be planted out with native seeds. So, a significant area of the project will have the top 15cm of soil removed, (it will be spread out on another area). Earlier this week, heavy earth-moving equipment moved in, and started this scrape, but the moisture level of the top soil was so high, that scraping and grading the area flat was not working. A second attempt will occur soon, after a few rain-free, drying-out days. The area where the soil is dumped will then be sprayed, when the weeds emerge, then planted out. This will then establish three types of areas. One Area “Solarised” by the clear plastic sheets. A Second Area will be “Scraped” and then seeded. A Third Area will be “Sprayed”, and then seeded. This will help us to work out which method of site preparation is best for future Grassland areas of the park.
20 Jan – 1 Feb	Measure out sites, Dig trenches, Lay Plastic sheeting – The sheets 1 & 2 were laid on relatively dry soil. – The sheets 3 & 4 were laid after a spray with water – The sheets 5 – 8 sheets were laid after 8mm of rain
16 Jan	Inspect Project Sites on Glenthorne

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