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Articles Pindan Post 83 Pindan Post No 83621 words The Minyirr Coastal Park base camp boasts some fabulous large fruiting trees, surrounding some well built and decorated shelters that are a welcome rest stop for walkers along any one of several trails in the area. This is a relaxing spot for visitors to call and share stories and learn more about the local culture and environment from the groups that have put this project together. Open Monday to Wednesday mornings, local guides, trainees and volunteers are on hand to help you, enjoy a cuppa and a chat and answer your questions. The walk trails are well marked and cover different parts of this coastal strip and includes a short walk that finishes on a quieter part (without vehicles) of Cable Beach. The entrance to the base camp is near the junction of the Gantheaume Point Road and Gubinge Road where a shady carpark marks the start of a short trail to the camp. Large spreading Gubinge trees, Terminalia latipes (ferdinandiana) abound along this track and throughout the base camp. Sporting fruit with very high Vitamin C, this tree has always been important to indigenous people and is likely to continue to be a popular choice of fruit to enjoy. The tree has a pale brown smooth bark, large oval shaped leaves and oval shaped green fruits to 2 or 3 cm. They usually have ripe fruit during the early part of the wet season when the drupes become soft. Common around the camp is the Mangarr tree, Pouteria sericea, with my favourite local fruit, drupes that become purple when ripe that can be collected from beneath the tree and the flesh eaten dry like dates, with a similar taste. This species is easily picked by its dark green dense habit, with small dark green leaves clustered along stems, making the fruits difficult to spot. A few large specimens are found on sand dunes in bush behind the Industrial area and across the road from the Cattle Yards on Port Drive. A fabulous old Mangarr tree with a rough, dark gnarled trunk occupies a square of the Bowling Club carpark in Herbert Street and another is in Anne Street near the roundabout. Trees of this size and age are rare in Broome and are often hollow, providing excellent habitat for reptiles, possums, rodents and micro bats and a myriad of insect species. Fruit can regularly be found under these trees. To see the tiny bats hunt for insects, look down the street just after sunset, the little bats can be seen zigzagging across the street between the larger trees in the fading light. They can also be seen down Mary Street where several large trees occupy local gardens, providing similar habitat such as hollows and dense canopies. Another notable fruiting shrub or small tree around the base camp is the Sandpaper Fig, Ficus opposita, a species that is widespread in the Kimberley. Often quite bland tasting, the specimens near the base camp are much sweeter and tastier, and are keenly sought when ripe. The leaves are dark green and shiny, but hard and rough like stiff sandpaper. All trails in this region are well served by fruiting trees, as well as the usual range of local wattles, hakeas and gum trees. The local Member for the Kalgoorlie Electorate, Barry Haase, visited the base camp last week to meet the latest Green Corps participants and supporters. He commented on the importance of the work carried out by this group and commended the Minyirr Park organization for the improvements since his previous visits. The Green Corps has a number of activities to carry out during the six month program, and includes growing native plants, maintaining trails and weed control. 8/06/06 |
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