Wildlife rope bridges crafted at the Yarra Junction Library on 8 July will allow local fauna to move safely through their habitats.
Eco Warriors Australia (EWA) hosted the bridge making workshop at the library which saw participants of all ages join in to support local wildlife.
EWA project manager Fiona Deppeler said the workshops went well, with 20 participants taking part.
“We had lots of fun and everyone was enthusiastic and keen to help our local wildlife, which is amazing.
“Community members used a simple technique to construct flat rope bridges made from sisal rope. We will take these bridges and install them in storm damaged areas in the Yarra Ranges National Park later this year,” she said.
The bridges would restore connectivity between habitats, allowing wildlife to travel between them in upper canopy areas affected by the June 2021 storms.
Wildlife that may use the bridges include Kreft’s glider, feathertail gliders, eastern ringtail possums, brushtail possums and a range of bird species, as well as threatened wildlife like the southern greater glider, Leadbeater’s possum and easter pygmy possum.
The Leadbeater’s possum is critically endangered due to habitat loss, as they rely on specific habitats to survive.
EWA is a not-for-profit organisation and the event was funded by the Victorian Landcare Grants and Parks Victoria
Yarra Junction Library children’s services officer Rachael Falls said people young and old took part in the session.
“We had a good mix of families and also some older couples that came along, as we had it as an open age event to try and encourage as many people as possible to come and participate,” she said.
The session kicked off with EWA members explaining why they were running the project and how it would benefit the local wildlife.
Then the EWA members conducted demonstrations of how to use the rope to create the bridges before participants had a shot themselves.
Ms Deppeler said the workshop helped the community understand how they can help out the environment.
“We feel that our wildlife rope bridge project really gives people a sense of how their actions can directly contribute to protect local wildlife,” Ms Deppeler said.
The EWA will host more workshops in the Yarra Ranges in September during the school holidays.
It’s not the first time the Yarra Junction Library has hosted one of EWA’s rope bridge making events, with sessions being held in the school holidays in the past.
Ms Falls said the workshop not only helped contribute to a good cause, but it also was a way for the community to get together and connect.
“I think it’s really important because being a bit of a smaller town there isn’t that many opportunities in the area for people to do such events.
“We do try and have a wide range of activities to help capture different interests so that people can participate in different activities,” Ms Falls said.
