On 28 February 2024 a fire burnt 110 hectares in and around Dereel Nature Conservation Reserve. Fortunately there was a very quick response by firefighters. Damage to built infrastructure and fire extent was minimised. On Sunday we went for a short walk up Swamp Road to see how the vegetation is recovering.
The fire was extremely hot and tree canopies were scorched and the ground is still bare in some areas with orange fungi appearing. There are green shoots of sedges emerging and some epicormic growth on wattles and eucalypts. A few trees have been cut down for safety reasons but the logs are still on the ground for habitat.
Last September some of our members joined the U3A Orchid Group a walk around the swamp and an orchid wander in the bushland. The walk around the swamp appears to be closed but in spring it will be interesting to revisit to see what orchids emerge. Here is a link to an ABC article and video about the fire.
The photos below shows a comparison of what is left after the fire with what was there previously in the bushland on the other side of the road to the swamp.
The Field Naturalist Ballarat 