Before the excursion
Your task is:
- to complete pre-visit activities in the student booklet that includes site research and designing your geographical inquiry
- to complete field work to answer the inquiry questions:
- How do environments function at Brewongle EEC?
- What are the causes and consequences of environmental change at Brewongle EEC?
- How can these changes be managed?
Use the Atlas of Living Australia to discover biodiversity at Brewongle EEC. The link should take you to the data for Sackville North.
Wildlife Corridors
The Study Site
The site is located at Sackville North on a ridge above the Hawkesbury River. The natural vegetation of the area has been modified by farming practices, school buildings and rural residential properties.
The land was originally inhabited by the Dharug Aboriginal nation and was farmed and hunted using traditional methods for 30-50,000 years. The Sackville – Windsor area was considered suitable for farming and was settled in 1810. The vegetation was severely modified following settlement. This was initially restricted to the flood plain immediately adjacent to the river.
Sackville North Public School was located on the site from 1878-1972. Brewongle Field Studies Centre was opened officially in 1979 after the site was used for camping in the interim. It is now called Brewongle Environmental Education Centre and is a facility that hosts other schools on day and camp visits.
The site has been classified as having the vegetation community of Sydney Sandstone Gully Forest and Shale Sandstone Transition Forest with dominant tree species including Grey Gum (Eucalyptus punctata), and Grey Myrtle (Backhousia myrtifolia).
Utilise the Google Map below to help you.
Post visit tasks
Environmental Management
We have worked hard to manage some major environmental problems over the last 10 years. Environmental weeds like Lantana, Morning Glory and Swiss Ivy had taken over our natural bushland, reducing habitat and biodiversity.
We had an issue with Bell Miner Associated Dieback due to this weed infestation.
Photo 1: Lantana is a vine and noxious weed it is choking the first few metres of forest structure in this photo below taken in 2012.
Photo 2: After years of bush regeneration work by students, contractors and our staff we have new teaching areas and healthy forest.
Photo 3: Bush regenerators and students removing lantana
Photo 4: Tree planting to improve biodiversity.
Recent and historical camera trap footage can be viewed on our YouTube channel.
