TheSomers Eastern Cliff project links significant
vegetation remnants on the tops of Foreshore Reserve by planting an
indigenous wildlife corridor. Somers is quite famous for its
Koalas. Planting thousands of native trees, shrubs, grasses and
herbs and direct seeding some areas is beginning to restore
habitat, manage erosion by controlling runoff, protect the cliffs
and reduce pollutants entering Western Port Bay.
The plantings on the Somers Easter Cliffs
are doing quite well. Thanks to the efforts of dedicated
volunteers the area is being kept weed free. Thousands of
shrubs and grasses have gone in over the cooler months of 2006.
Swales are a feature of the landscaping design to protect the
cliffs from erosion.
A Swale is a ditch on the contour. It
holds water and allows it to gradually infiltrate the soil
down-slope of it over a few days. Soil and water run-off are caught
in the swale which becomes a fertile area. Gradual infiltration of
water and nutrients and the dead roots of plants growing in the
swale, slowly improve soil structure down-slope
