Members of Lithgow Women's Shed are doing their part to help the Eastern Pygmy Possum after several lost their homes to the Gospers Mountain bushfire.
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The Women's Shed have teamed up with Lithgow Environment Group and Biodiversity Monitoring Services Andrew Lothian to create nest boxes for the little animals who lost their homes.
Lithgow Women's Shed president Leanne Hopkins said the group wanted to help out after Lithgow had experienced back to back crises.
"We've had drought, bushfires, flood and now the coronavirus.
"The fires were very traumatic and many people were left with a profound sense of loss," she said.
Ms Hopkins said people lost homes, livelihoods, community facilities and there was severe loss of bushland.
"This had a devastating impact on our native animals," she said.
She said Lithgow Women's Shed were looking for a project to contribute to the recovery of the local environment.
"When we were approached by Lithgow Environment Group to build nesting/monitoring boxes to replace the ones lost in the fires it was a no brainer," she said.
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She native animals were under increasing pressure from loss of habitat, feral predators, drought and most recently, bushfires.
"The bushfires affected 5.4 million hectares in NSW, this includes 2.7 million hectares in national parks," she said.
She said the Easter Pygmy Possum was an important pollinator of plants such as banksia and eucalypts.
"They transfer pollen flower to flower as they feed on nectar," she said.
She said they contend with threats from feral foxes and cats and currently, damage to their habitat.
"This situation is compounded by the 2013 bushfire which burnt much of the nectar producing plants the possums feed on around Lithgow area," she said.
Ms Hopkins said it was great to be able to do something practical to help the local area recover from the effects of the fires.
The Lithgow Women's Shed is closed currently due to the coronavirus outbreak however members are continuing to work on the project at home.
"Our aim is to quickly complete at least 50 boxes so they can be installed before the very cold weather sets in," Ms Hopkins said.
She said this was important as in cold weather the possum goes into a state of torpor, also known as lowered metabolic rate, to save energy.
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Alanna Tomazin
Alanna is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald with a focus on education. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at alanna.tomazin@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Alanna is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald with a focus on education. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at alanna.tomazin@austcommunitymedia.com.au
