Dry and windy conditions set the scene for clear skies and warm weather for Tamborine Mountain Landcare Inc’s second Annual Open Day last Saturday. Tamborine Mountain State High School’s exceptional example of native forest gardens staged the well supported event.

From nine o’clock the undercover assembly area of the school grounds was quickly transformed into an exhibition of water quality information, weed clearing posters and other interactive displays.

Tamborine Mountain Landcare Inc featured the Biodiversity Corridors Mapping project, a new high technology initiative,  which will record digital layers of information assisted by GPS. This is mapping combined with a database to record snapshots in time for everything related to biodiversity including: Weed locations; clearing and planting progress, creek lines and water courses. Of note is the recording of the rare vine, Aristolochia praevenosa, which provides the ideal habitat for the threatened Richmond Birdwing Butterfly. The mapping system is compatible with those existing with government agencies for sharing of information.

Other exhibits included Conservation Volunteers Australia, SEQ Catchments and Scenic Rim Regional Council’s environmental services department. The Lion’s Club provided a helpful and enthusiastic group for food and drinks.

Highlights of the day included Lynn Churchill’s Water Biodiversity Sampling with many excited children netting samplings of living creatures in the running waters of Cedar Creek. The event was so popular that Lynn ran a second group later in the day.

Margy Row facilitated ‘Voices in Nature’, a singing workshop in the surroundings of natural forest, while Geckoes Wildlife Presentations entertained children of all ages with their vast array of native animals including a crocodile, tawny frogmouth, several snakes, lizards and frogs along with a sleepy quoll.

Special thanks to SEQ Catchments, funders of the event and the volunteers of the TM Landcare organizing committee who worked hard to ensure the event’s success. Also thanks to TM State High School for hosting the vent.