Healthy parks, healthy peopleGoing bush for good healthWhen was the last time you escapedthe hustle <strong>and</strong> bustle <strong>of</strong> modern citylife for a relaxing visit to one <strong>of</strong> themagnificent national parks on Perth'sdoorstep?If you do it <strong>of</strong>ten, the chances are yourhealth will benefit. There's a growingbody <strong>of</strong> evidence worldwide thatestablishes a strong positive linkbetween people visiting parks <strong>and</strong> theirphysical <strong>and</strong> mental health. In turn,healthy individuals contribute to ahealthy community.There's something for everyone in thePerth <strong>hills</strong>. Relax under a shady tree inone <strong>of</strong> the many well-equippedrecreation sites, tackle the network <strong>of</strong>tracks <strong>and</strong> trails spanning the nationalparks <strong>and</strong> <strong>forest</strong>s, or take a closer lookat nature through a broad range <strong>of</strong>educational activities <strong>of</strong>fered by CALM.Those with a special interest can evenvolunteer to help look after our naturalbush <strong>and</strong> all that lives there. Howhealthy is that?Of course, national parks also have apositive impact on all <strong>of</strong> us byimproving air quality, reducing erosion,delivering clean drinking water <strong>and</strong>contributing to clean waterways.So, wherever you look, national parksare about good health. Make your nextbreak a healthy one <strong>and</strong> head for thebush!Perth Hills National Parks CentrePerth’s <strong>hills</strong> area has 10 national parks that are anatural playground <strong>of</strong> waterfalls, shady picnic areas,panoramic lookouts, campgrounds, cycle trails <strong>and</strong>scenic walks <strong>of</strong> every length <strong>and</strong> difficulty.With so many locations <strong>and</strong> things to do, how can youget information on the best places to visit with yourfamily <strong>and</strong> friends?The new Perth Hills National Parks Centre is the answer.Open seven days a week from May 2006, the centre isonly 40 minutes from Perth <strong>and</strong> has information onall <strong>of</strong> the national parks in the Perth Hills area.Located at the ‘hub’ <strong>of</strong> the Perth Hills near MundaringWeir, there are plenty <strong>of</strong> other things to do at theNational Parks Centre. Terrific interpretive displaysinside the visitors’ building will give you an insightinto the beauty <strong>and</strong> biodiversity <strong>of</strong> a jarrah <strong>forest</strong>.You can experience the <strong>forest</strong> by walking one <strong>of</strong> theseveral walk trails available. The world famousBibbulmun Track passes right through the middle <strong>of</strong>the Perth Hills National Parks Centre <strong>and</strong> cyclists canalso get easy access to the Munda Biddi Trail.If you need a map, forgot your hat or water bottle orneed to buy someone a unique present, the shop has avariety <strong>of</strong> products. You can buy a c<strong>of</strong>fee or cold drinkto enjoy while you peruse the displays or relax in thenatural surrounds.Don’t rush <strong>of</strong>f after having a quick look around, asthere are other interesting attractions. Experiencebeautiful evenings in the <strong>forest</strong> by staying at one <strong>of</strong>the centre’s two campgrounds or the Djaril-Mari YHA,catch a movie at the Kookaburra Outdoor Cinemafrom November to April or have something to eat <strong>and</strong>drink at the historic Mundaring Weir Hotel orLavender Path tearooms.The Perth Hills National Parks Centre is located onAllen Rd (<strong>of</strong>f Mundaring Weir Rd), 7 km south <strong>of</strong>Mundaring. Follow the signs from Mundaring orKalamunda.Further information is available fromwww.naturebase.net, or call CALM’s helpful staff on9295 2244.Above <strong>and</strong> right The new Perth HillsNational Parks Centre makes itstransition from being a staff home toa refurbished facility at Mundaring.Writer: Don ScottManaging Editors: Caris Bailey, Sue McKenna <strong>and</strong>Rhianna KingDesign <strong>and</strong> production: Gooitzen van der MeerPublished by the <strong>Department</strong> <strong>of</strong> Conservation<strong>and</strong> L<strong>and</strong> Management February 2006www.naturebase.net2
Rich flora display makes <strong>hills</strong> a biodiversity hotspotThe bush <strong>of</strong> the Darling Range comes alive in asea <strong>of</strong> colour as a multitude <strong>of</strong> native shrubs<strong>and</strong> trees burst into flower from late winter toearly spring.This is a great time to use the network <strong>of</strong> bushtracks <strong>and</strong> trails to get up close to the floweringplants.In all, there are believed to be between 1700<strong>and</strong> 2000 native species growing in the <strong>hills</strong>.Between 40 <strong>and</strong> 50 <strong>of</strong> these are endemic to thearea (they don’t grow anywhere else).You might see Darling Range ghost gumsgrowing five to 10 m tall from the cracks <strong>of</strong> thegranite outcrops, the beautiful granite pixie mopshrub (Petrophile biloba) with heads <strong>of</strong> pinkflowers in late spring or the c<strong>and</strong>le cranberryshrub (Astroloma foliosum) with bursts <strong>of</strong> red,black <strong>and</strong> green flowers in late winter.Those wanting tall timber can head to LanePoole Reserve where the wetter climate seestaller jarrah <strong>and</strong> blackbutt trees proliferate. Thenthere are the gnarled w<strong>and</strong>oo trees that providea haven for birds in W<strong>and</strong>oo National Park <strong>and</strong>in other areas east <strong>of</strong> the Darling Scarp.The people <strong>of</strong> Perth are fortunate to have suchrich biodiversity on their doorstep.The entire area west <strong>of</strong> an imaginary linebetween Geraldton <strong>and</strong> Esperance has beenrecognised internationally as one <strong>of</strong> 34biodiversity hotspots in the world.More recently, the Perth <strong>hills</strong> area, encompassingthe Darling Scarp <strong>and</strong> adjoining Darling Rangesurrounding jarrah <strong>forest</strong>s, has been recognisednationally as a hotspot within a hotspot. Thisreflects the enormous plant diversity found here,arising from a unique combination <strong>of</strong> soils <strong>and</strong>climates.The escarpment is an overlap area betweenthe s<strong>and</strong>y coastal plain <strong>and</strong> thelaterites that support the jarrah<strong>forest</strong>s. It is common to find 50 or60 plant species in a 100 squaremetre area, then many differentplants in a block nearby.Rainfall is higher near the scarp,increasing as you go south in thePerth <strong>hills</strong>, but drops awayrapidly as you head north<strong>and</strong> east. So, the <strong>hills</strong>represent the southern,northern or eastern reaches<strong>of</strong> many species.Surprisingly, many Wheatbelt speciessuch as ferns encroach onto the scarp, beingable to endure arid summers on the numerousgranite outcrops.Tuning in to the <strong>forest</strong>‘Listening’ to the l<strong>and</strong> as you movethrough the <strong>hills</strong> area can help you gainappreciation for Aboriginal culture.Aboriginal people believe the l<strong>and</strong> canguide those who ‘listen’ to the l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong>connect with it by taking the time tostop, relax <strong>and</strong> soak in the environment.To the Nyoongar people, the Perth <strong>hills</strong>area is <strong>of</strong> deep cultural significance <strong>and</strong>contains many sites that must not bedisturbed.The granite outcrops you will see dottedthroughout the <strong>hills</strong> <strong>and</strong> valleys are <strong>of</strong>particular significance, with some listedas Aboriginal Heritage Sites. Many <strong>of</strong>these have deep spiritual significance tothe Nyoongar people. Not all <strong>of</strong> themare heritage sites, but they are allconnected in Aboriginal culture.There are also many places in thenational parks where Nyoongar peopletraditionally made tools. The removal <strong>of</strong>artifacts such as spearheads <strong>and</strong>grinding stones from such places, or anyother form <strong>of</strong> damage to designatedAboriginal Heritage Sites, can exposeyou to heavy penalties.There are many opportunities for you tolearn more about Aboriginal culture.The Hills Forest Discovery Centre inMundaring houses CALM’s Nearer toNature <strong>and</strong> EcoEducation programs.Phone 9295 2244 or emailn2n@calm.wa.gov.au for details.CALM's Indigenous Heritage Unit alsoruns Sharing the Dreaming indoor <strong>and</strong>outdoor courses for groups. Bookingscan be made on 9334 0564 or by email(deniseg@calm.wa.gov.au).Indigenous cultural programs fortourists <strong>and</strong> students are also run inother parts <strong>of</strong> the State, including atYanchep National Park.Western Shieldoutfoxes predatorsWoylies, quendas, chuditch, quokkas, western brushwallabies <strong>and</strong> brush-tailed phascogales…these are all unique WA marsupialsthat are being given a better thanfighting chance in the Perth <strong>hills</strong>area through CALM's world-classWestern Shield program.Pioneered in 1994, Western Shieldis an aggressive native faunarecovery strategy involving aerial <strong>and</strong>ground baiting to control introducedpredators such as European red foxes <strong>and</strong> feral cats.It also involves breeding endangered species in captivity<strong>and</strong> translocating animals to areas where their numbershave dwindled.The baits are laced with 1080 poison, a substance that occursnaturally in the native poison pea plant <strong>and</strong> to which ournative animals are highly tolerant, unlike the predators.Western Shield is a direct response to the enormous decline innative mammals across Australia since European arrival.Foxes <strong>and</strong> cats have already contributed to the extinction <strong>of</strong>10 native mammal species <strong>and</strong> many others are threatened.Brush tailed phascogaleThe program extends across 3.7 million ha<strong>of</strong> conservation l<strong>and</strong> from WA'sSouth Coast to the BurrupPeninsula in the north, <strong>and</strong> hasdelivered significant successwith the woylie, quenda <strong>and</strong>the tammar wallaby, which havebeen removed from the endangeredspecies list in recent years.Tammar wallabyWestern Shield is most effectivein protecting animals in the 35gm to 8 kg weight range — thosehunted by foxes. However, the battle isongoing <strong>and</strong> always difficult.3