Skip to content

Fungi along Ferndale Trail

The Ashburton Creek Biodiversity Crew [ACBC] has been working along the Ferndale Trail and biodiversity corridor from Summerhill Park to Ferndale Road, Glen Iris for nearly 4 years, keeping the beds weeded, mulched, and planted with indigenous flora. The planting and biodiversity this brings is enjoyed by the many people who use the paths to cycle, run, walk and rest each day.

The City of Boroondara supports KKA and it’s groups by providing critical planning and guidance – along with mulch, water as needed, and indigenous tube stock for special planting days. During this Autumn/Winter planting season, the group has already completed its first planting day by putting 600 indigenous plants into the ground, with more planting days to come.

The ACBC crew – hard at it!

As part of the KooyongKoot Alliance [KKA], ACBC and other affiliated volunteer groups have a long-term vision: creating a continuous green corridor for flora, fauna, and fungi along the now barrel-drained Ashburton Creek through to Gardiners Creek.

Key objectives are to: attract native birds by increasing the tree canopy while strategically planting indigenous shrubs and mid-story vegetation to welcome back beneficial insects, small birds and animals.

Fungi

The recent wet weather has brought our local ecosystem to life, triggering a burst of fungi around tree roots, fallen logs, mulch, and soil. Some of these are tiny and tucked away, while others show off bright colours, distinctive spots, fluted caps, or shiny flat tops. These fascinating organisms play a vital role in our ecosystem by breaking down organic matter, which releases essential carbon dioxide and phosphorus back into the soil and atmosphere to nourish the surrounding environment. Here’s what Sheena (one of the ACBC crew) found along the trail in late May:

Click on an image to enlarge and scroll through the photos; Click X when done.

Tip of the iceberg

What we see above the ground is just a small preview. The visible fungi are actually the fruiting bodies of a massive, hidden underground network of mycelium. This incredible thread-like system actively underpins local soil health, regulates water systems, stores carbon, and physically connects plants to support the entire ecosystem.

During the coming months keep a look out for a myriad of fungi, flowering indigenous plants and birds looking for food and shelter along the trail.

Caution !

Note that Sheena has done her best to identify the mushrooms she found – but she is not an expert. Fairly recent events have emphasised that many of our fungi are poisonous, even lethal – so we should not collect, eat, or otherwise consume mushrooms and other fungi growing in our parks.  Parents should be vigilant in relation to children in this respect.  

Join Us…