Leura Public School is lucky enough to be situated just above a beautiful Hanging Swamp.
Hanging swamps are unique to the Blue Mountains and play an important role in regulating water flow while catching and filtering water. They are the habitat for some threatened species, including the Blue Mountains Water Skink, which is celebrated by a beautiful sculpture in the school playground. Hanging Swamps are often small areas and are threatened by various impacts from urban development and this swamp is no exception. For more information about these environments and their status, Blue Mountains City Council has put together an excellent page at the following link. http://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/sustainableliving/environmentalinformation/livingcatchments/bluemountainsswamps/ In conjunction with BMCC, the school P & C supports a SwampCare group which meets once a month to conduct weed control on the edge of the swamp. RSVP or enquiries to Lisa Scott-Smith 0414 642 512 |
This swamp environment is largely intact but it is threatened by weeds and rubbish that flow down from the urban environment above. We have been going for several years and have made significant progress.
Students have visited the site in small groups and as whole classes, and we are continually looking at opportunities to engage teachers, students and parents with the beautiful swamp environment and the rehabilitation work that we are doing. Sessions are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month and new hands are always welcome! We meet at the sculpted walls/back fence at 1pm and finish just before 3pm, in time to meet our children when school finishes. The work is social, not onerous and we are making a significant and satisfying impact on the weed threat to the endangered swamp at our school's back door. Swampcare is run monthly from 1.00pm to 3.00pm. |