Andrew Yandell Reserve (Greensborough)
The 6 hectare Andrew Yandell reserve includes 5 hectares of pre-European remnant bushland.
It has a concrete path and stairs running down the western side of the reserve, and is segmented by some older paths, goat tracks, fire breaks and protective fencing.
The eastern side of Yandell's is home to Yandell's Kindergaten, Greenhill's Preschool, Greenhill's Neighbourhood House and Greenhill's Scouts.
Activities in the park include wildlife observation.
History
Andrew Yandell was an active member of the Greenhills community, and a founding member of the Greenhills and North Greensborough Progress Association, formed in 1945. As the area urbanised, the group could see that Greenhills was losing its natural character. Yandell request Heidelberg City Council to purchase and preserve the 15 acres.
Flora and Fauna
The reserve contains remnants of vulnerable and endangered vegetation communities such as box ironbark forest, herb-rich foothill forest and valley grassy forest. The area of herb-rich foothill forest is the only stand known in Banyule while remnants of box ironbark forest are also very rare.
Yandell's contains 206 species of indigenous plants, eight of which are listed as rare or threatened in Victoria. You can find many wildflowers such as chocolate lilies, twining fringe-lilies, yellow rush-lilies, and a range of greenhood orchids throughout.
104 fauna species have been recorded in the reserve since the late 1980s, of which 84 are indigenous. Yandell's is the only reserve within Banyule that supports the endangered Eltham copper butterfly, a species restricted to a small number of sites in southern Victoria.
The Eltham copper butterfly has an interesting symbiotic relationship with a species of Notoncus ant and the sweet bursaria. Adult butterflies lay their eggs on the stems of the sweet bursaria and, when the larvae emerge, the ants protect them from predators by escorting them to and from the ant nests found underground at the base of the shrub. The caterpillars feed only at night on the leaves of the sweet bursaria and are usually found with the busy activity of the ants scurrying all over and around them as they are feeding on the sugary secretions of the Eltham copper butterfly larvae.
Following the caterpillars' metamorphosis, adult Eltham copper butterflies can be seen fluttering through the reserve over summer.
Access for Dogs
Dogs and cats are prohibited from entering environmentally sensitive park and reserve areas as designated by signs. Dogs must be under the effective control with a chain, cord or leash outside currently fenced areas.
Location
37 St Helena Road, Greensborough 3088 Map
Web Links
→ www.banyule.vic.gov.au/Events-activities/Parks-reserves/Andrew-Yandell-Reserve
→ Friends of Andrew Yandell Habitat Reserve
