Published in the Riverine Herald on August 26, 2017
LOCALS will be rolling out their picnic blankets at Echuca Lions Park on Sunday to celebrate the end of a community project to make a home for the endangered Squirrel Glider along the Campaspe River.
The ‘Gliders Along the Campaspe project’ received a “terrific response” from the local community, according to Veronica Groat, the president of the Strathallan Family Landcare Group which ran the project.
Volunteers from local schools, churches, scouting groups, and men’s sheds have all pitched in to help plant trees and build nesting boxes for the gravity-defying marsupial.
“We’re having a picnic to get together the people who’ve helped, to thank them for being so good to us,” Mrs Groat said.
In the past 10 months, more than 300 nesting boxes have been put up along the Campaspe Esplanade and surrounding area.
“That’s what these little blokes need, because ideally they live in tree hollows but in order for a tree to have a hollow it needs to be 150 years old,” Mrs Groat said.
The hollow-bearing trees were cut down long ago, but Mrs Groat is optimistic that the box trees and river red gums might one day provide a natural habitat for the squirrel gliders.
“The Campaspe River is so important because that’s the only place where there are trees of a certain vintage and height where squirrel gliders could make their home,” she said.
Already, the little animal seems to be making a big comeback. Nearby residents have noticed nesting boxes being filled with gum leaves, which the squirrel gliders collect one-by-one for bedding.
“It’s a small thing but for people like us who are looking for indications of habitat it’s enormous,” Mrs Groat said.
She said that nearby residents were very enthusiastic about bringing back native animals and plants to the Campaspe Esplanade.
“When we’ve been there hanging our boxes the locals all stop and have a chat. It’s a great talking point, this squirrel glider project. It’s a little animal that needs a little bit of help.”
“We’re all having a go. Just volunteers, ordinary people trying to do something for nature, for the planet, so we can say we did something.”
The picnic will be at Echuca Lions Park on Sunday from 1pm to 3pm. Those interested in attending can call Veronica Groat on 54849293 or 0447849293