Free samphire workshops on Yorke Peninsula
Natural Resources Northern and Yorke are hosting a series of community workshops this month where participants can learn about samphire.
Samphire shrublands are low-lying plant communities found in the sheltered intertidal areas of Yorke Peninsula’s coast, and throughout inland salt pans and lakes.
Community team leader Fabienne Dee says that the hands on workshops aim to raise the profile of a critically important ecosystem that has been historically undervalued.
"In the past, many of these sites were seen as having little environmental value, and were used as grazing sites, rubbish dumps, or developed into residential allotments and marinas, and some were mined for salt and gypsum," Ms Dee said.
"Although the low shrubs and muddy flats may not look very spectacular to an untrained eye, these areas act as carbon sinks, curb coastal erosion, regulate water quality and provide foraging habitat for migratory birds, and nursery grounds for fishes and prawns."
Ms Dee says workshop participants will have the opportunity to handle and view different types of samphire under microscopes, and learn simple tips and tricks to identify each of the species, including the protected bead glasswort Tecticornia flabelliformis, which is considered vulnerable to extinction in South Australia.
These workshops will be presented by Peri Coleman, who has over 40 years’ experience in salt marsh, salt lake and salt field ecology.
Dates and locations as follows:
Kadina: Australian Plant Society Clubrooms, 1866 South TerraceMonday, 20 March 1.00 pm-4.00 pm
Port Broughton: Port Broughton Sporting Club, East Terrace Tuesday, 21 March10.00 am-1.00 pm
Marion Bay: Marion Bay Hall, Slow StreetWednesday, 29 March10.00 am-1.00 pm
The series of workshops is being delivered by the Naturally Yorke initiative as part of the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.
To attend one of the workshops please RSVP to Community Team Leader Fabienne Dee on 0428 429 321 or Fabienne.Dee@sa.gov.au.
