Above: Greater Dandenong council staff celebrate the 30th birthday of Alex Wilkie Nature Reserve.ONE OF Greater Dandenong’s most significant bushlands celebrated its 30th anniversary as a nature reserve on Saturday.
Alex Wilkie Nature Reserve turned 30 on Saturday with guided tours, construction of nesting boxes, miniature train rides, and face painting on offer for visitors.
The 1.8 hectare reserve is a significant area of remnant bushland and is representative of the vegetation that would have once covered Springvale, Keysborough and Noble Park.
Greater Dandenong’s environmental programs co-ordinator Maree Keenan said Alex Wilkie Nature Reserve was home to more than 110 species of flora, as well as a number of native animals.
“This reserve is extremely important locally for the conservation of plant species,” she said.
“It also provides a safe habitat for a large number of native animals including ringtail and brushtail possums, striped marsh frogs, blue tongue lizards and the Tawny Frogmouth.”
Greater Dandenong mayor John Kelly said the reserve was named in memory of Alex Wilkie, the former superintendent of Springvale’s parks and gardens.
“This is a very special park that preserves the environmental and historical heritage of Greater Dandenong,” he said.
“It is also an important educational and conservation resource with more than 1000 people, including school children and local residents, visiting the park each year.”
