The koala food trees have had their haircut, while the possum food trees in the Victoria Point fodder forest are booked in for their trim in the first week of April.
Known as pollarding, the “haircuts” involve the removal of the upper branches of the trees to encourage the growth of a dense head of foliage which makes for tastier, healthier fodder.
Redland City Mayor Jos Mitchell said Redland City Council and Queensland Parks and Wildlife coordinated the pruning work.
“About two to four fodder beds are pruned annually at the Link Road fodder forest,” the Mayor said.
“When this work is carried out, wildlife carers are invited to drop in and collect any pruned branches that they can utilise.
“The fodder beds are a great year-round resource for our local wildlife carers who do such an amazing job.”
Division 4 Councillor Lance Hewlett said several beds have been planted out with koala food trees at the forest, while other beds provide fodder for possums, bats and sugar gliders.
“There are several species of eucalypt grown for koalas at the forest, as well as a whole host of other plants and trees for other native animals,” Cr Hewlett said.
“This includes acacias, banksias, melaleucas, foambark, waterbush, lemon myrtle, ficus and many more – a veritable smorgasbord for our wildlife.”
A koala food tree bed was pruned on 25 March, with a possum, bat and sugar glider bed to be done on 3 April, weather pending.
