About Us - Friends of the Pledger Wetlands

FRIENDS OF THE PLEDGER WETLANDS

- a community volunteer group:

THE PLEDGER WETLANDS

are in Mawson Lakes starting on the southern boundary of the suburb at the end of Egret Street. The area follows the boundary in a north westerly direction for about 600 metres until it reaches the railway when it turns at 90 degrees to follow the direction of the Gawler rail line until it meets Dry Creek close to the Mawson Lakes Transport Interchange. The Pledger Wetlands cover an area of approximately 10.2 hectares and stretch for about 2 kilometres.

FRIENDS

of the Pledger Wetlands are all volunteers and most (but not all) reside in Mawson Lakes. The Group is recognised and supported as ‘Community Volunteers’ by the City of Salisbury and Natural Resources - Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges. The Friends of the Pledger Wetlands officially came into being in November 2013 when the active members of Mawson Lakes Environment Watch decided that the group should take on the new title. The title now reflects what had been the main focus of the group in recent years. Mawson Lakes Environment Watch was first formed as a community volunteer group in 2007.

The

VISION

of the Friends of Pledger Wetlands is to develop an iconic nature trail for walking, jogging or cycling which showcases native flora and fauna along its 2 kilometre length. As such it will form part of a network of biodiversity corridors in the City of Salisbury.

The

GOALS

of the Friends of Pledger Wetlands are:

To continue and enhance our partnership with the City of Salisbury and Natural Resources – Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges without whom The Friends of The Pledger Wetlands could not exist.
To revegetate with native plants all the land between the water and the fence on the western side adjacent to the railway and between the water and the residential area along the southern boundary.
To provide maintenance to the revegetated areas including weed control, watering and mulching.
To contribute to the provision of plants by propagating.
To ensure the Pledger Wetlands are kept litter free and graffiti free.
To increase participation by volunteers through promotional efforts and direct marketing as opportunities present.
To develop partnerships with schools, local businesses, service clubs and corporate organisations to take advantage of potential volunteer participation or sponsorship.

BRIAN PLEDGER

was instrumental in facilitating the development of Mawson Lakes Environment Watch. Brian was tragically killed in June 2012 in a road accident. The Railway Wetlands were renamed the Pledger Wetlands in his memory. The Friends of the Pledger Wetlands intend to carry on the work that we know Brian would have enthusiastically supported

Our

TARGETS FOR 2014

are:

Plant approximately 1200 new seedlings as in fill in the area currently maintained by FPL.
Continue weed control, mulching and watering in the area currently maintained by FPL.
Any expansion of activities will depend on success with Goals 6 (promotion) and 7 (partnerships)