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Friends of Forrestdale

2010 News
The Friends of Forrestdale community group has received international recognition for its restoration of Forrestdale Lake, winning an Oceania Region Wetland Award.

The International Wetland Globe Awards have been developed by the World Wetland Network to encourage best practice in international wetland management. WetlandCare Australia is a member organisation of the network.

The rehabilitated Forrestdale and Thompson Lakes were named as winners of the Green Globe award for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands at a ceremony in Japan on 11th November 2010, as part of the Convention of Biological Diversity.

Members of the Friends of Forrestdale community group - which is supported by the City of Armadale – were praised for their tireless efforts to restore the lakes throughout ongoing drought conditions.

Armadale Mayor Linton Reynolds said active community contribution to local environmental projects such as Forrestdale Lake was to be commended.

“The City of Armadale congratulates the Friends of Forrestdale for the recognition they have received at the Wetland Globe Awards,” Cr Reynolds said.

“These awards intended to draw attention to the great work of volunteers at environmentally-sensitive wetland sites.

“They also demonstrate that good management, conservation and restoration can slow loss of biodiversity and habitat.”

2009 News
The Anstey-Keane Damplands in Forrestdale are an amazing botanical resource. Rod Giblett and David James have produced an article in the June 2009 Landscope detailing the reserves value. The damplands are under threat from a planned Keane Road extension which would split the regional park. Please comment on the upcoming Public Environment Review. If you would like to be notified when the public comment period opens, please email the Friends at friendsforrestdale@westnet.com.au.

Landscope article (June 2009)

Who we are
The Friends of Forrestdale is a community group of 12 members dedicated to conserving Forrestdale Lake Nature Reserve and adjoining reserves. The group was launched in April 1990 following a recommendation in the Forrestdale Lake Nature Reserve Management Plan (1987). Since this time, the group has played an active and valued role in the planning and management of the reserve and surrounding bushland areas.

The Friends group maintains an interest in all bushland areas within Forrestdale including Bush Forever sites 253, 262, 342, 344 and 345. This area is larger than Kings Park but has no full-time employees. These areas include wetlands, banksia woodland and heathland and are habitat for thousands of birds, bandicoots and frogs. The group’s activities aim to conserve their values, rehabilitate degraded bushland and wetland areas, and ensure that their management is adequately resourced. On-ground works include: fence maintenance; weed surveys and eradication; bush regeneration; bird surveys; collecting water depth data; and picking up rubbish. They consider rehabilitating bushland around Forrestdale Lake as one of their most successful on-ground activities because it is a growing contribution to the area, and brings back wildlife such as bandicoots.

The Friends group includes people with a wide range of complementary skills in data gathering, hands-on activities, knowledge of flora and fauna, researching and writing. They completed a book of oral (cultural) and natural history of the Forrestdale Lake and surrounds. The book not only publishes and preserves memories and recollections of present and former residents of Forrestdale, but also aims to promote a sense of ownership, belonging, and place amongst current residents. The book will be published in December 2006.

Why be part of a friends group?
"Lasting memories, friendships with other members, and making a contribution to the future conservation of an area together as a legacy for all to enjoy” provides the driving force and philosophy behind the Friends of Forrestdale. “Don’t give up ? always keep trying” is their advice to others.

Outer city sanctuary
Forrestdale Lake Nature Reserve (Forrestdale Lake) is located approximately 25 km south-east of Perth, in the City of Armadale.

It was gazetted as an A-class Nature Reserve in 1957 for the Conservation of Flora and Fauna, and valued for recreation (particularly sailing).

Today the reserve is recognized as one of the most important conservation areas in southwestern Australia.

Forrestdale Lake together with Thomsons Lake were designated Ramsar wetlands in 1990. The two lakes constitute a major breeding, migration stop-over and semi-permanent drought refuge area for waterbirds.

Seventy species of waterbird occur at both Forrestdale and Thomsons Lakes with 21 of them breeding. More than 20 000 water birds have been recorded on Forrestdale Lake (22 196 in January 1986).

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