HomeAmbers Gully

Ambers Gully

Location:

Black Hill Conservation Park

Area:

63.2Ha

Established:

1990

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Site Description

Ambers Gully is situated at the northern end of Black Hill. It begins at the entrance to Black Hill from Gorge Road and includes the Amber ruins and the Ambers Gully waterfall trail. It encompasses a further 48Ha of Grassy Woodlands (Eucalyptus porosa, Eucalyptus leucoxylon, Eucalyptus camladulensis and Allocasurina verticillata) over native grasses, lilies, ferns, daisies, orchids and many other different species of herbaceous plant. Grassy woodlands are characterised by large imposing trees in the overstorey with a minimal mid-layer of vegetation and a significant diversity of species in the understorey.

The project is run with support by the 4WD Adventurers who provide 4WD access as well as volunteering on the ground.

What this project protects

Being a grassy woodland this site provides vital habitat for a range of small woodland birds and yellow- tailed black cockatoos which we know are in decline in the Mount Lofty Ranges. It has many large significant trees which provide nesting hollows for wildlife. The Ambers Gully site is also an important nesting site for a number of raptors. Tawny frogmouths, collared sparrowhawk and brown goshawk are all known to nest within the project area. It is also part of the range for wedge tailed eagles and square tailed kites, two large raptors which need extensive areas of forest or woodland to breed and can be spied flying overhead when working there.

Tawny Frogmouths

Our Focus

This project has two weed species which threaten the structure of the woodland and as such are the highest priority for containment and removal.
Of great concern is the olives surrounding significant trees. When olives become thick enough they can out-compete eucalyptus trees which provide a home for many creatures and are hundreds of years old. As water and resources become scarce due to the olives, these giants of the woodland become stressed and without the removal of the olives they die. For the past few years the group has been running a community funded “Free A Tree” project to save these ancients of the woodlands. The project is protecting the remaining significant trees and removing the scattered olives from the site.

The other species which the group has focused on for some time now is the weed Erica aborea which has spread through the top of the site. In 2016 there was approximately 13.4 ha of scattered erica, by 2020 this had been reduced to approximately 5.2ha. There is fabulous regeneration of native understorey where the erica has been removed. We have a long term goal of eliminating this weed from the park and we’d love your help on the ground to do so.

Erica Arborea

Donations to the Free a Tree project will save significant trees from being killed by olives.

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How to get involved

This project site is protected with the help of the 4WD Adventurers Club. Come out and join us the last Sunday of February, June and August. You can find the details of all these events on our calendar.

Upcoming Events

Volunteer Stories

My name is Andrew and I am a member of 4WD Adventures Club SA Inc. A few years ago my club was invited to assist in transporting FOBHM volunteers into difficult to access sites. Arriving at a nominated site with a vehicle filled with FOBHM volunteers I assist in whatever activity is planned for the day. I am very appreciative of the description of the site which involves identifying the target noxious weed and also the reason the weed should be removed from the natural environment. I enjoy participating but of course an added advantage is the opportunity to drive the 4WD tracks.

My name is Liz and have long had a passion for walking in natural places around the world. I had always thought Australian parks were well protected by the governments who manage them, so I was surprised to learn that so many parks are losing native vegetation to invading weeds with little funding to prevent habitat loss. I joined the Friends group after this wake up call and have volunteered with them ever since.