Parks Conservation and Lands - Mulligans Flat Woodland SanctuaryLogo Design Contest

restoring, learning, inspiring

Mulligans Flat Woodlands Sanctuary is an outstanding example of Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum grassy woodland (an endangered ecological community), that is being restored to sustain a range of native flora and fauna, to provide excellent educational and eco-tourism opportunities and to inspire a conservation ethic amongst Canberrans.

The designer has discretion with colour use, but note that a colour scheme has been adopted for Canberra Nature Park (CNP) and has been used in its signage and brochures (see further information). The designer may obtain ideas for colour schemes from the imagery of native vegetation included in the links under further information.
In the CNP logo, bright green (Pantone 5767) reflects the vegetation, grey (Pantone 5507 U) represents the bark of the eucalypts, and yellow (Pantone 111U) represents the cured grasses. Felt Tip and Ariel have been used for CNP publications

About Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary
Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary will have major conservation, education, recreation and tourism benefits, which will be developed over time. The sanctuary allows us to:
• maintain a feral (predator) free area of 485 hectares in an Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum grassy woodland and (a critically endangered ecological community).
• restore woodland habitats and ecological processes to be more representative of the original pre-1750 state.
• create a nationally significant box-gum woodlands conservation project based upon research and learning, informing innovative conservation management practices.
• manage in a sustainable manner, the native mammals within the sanctuary
• support the reintroduction of some locally extinct animals and plants that may support woodlands recovery.
• facilitate links to community, education, recreation and tourism groups.
• share the knowledge of sanctuary construction, management, research and restoration.
The Sanctuary is one of 34 reserves interspersed amongst the urban areas of Canberra that are collectively known as Canberra Nature Park (CNP). The reserve is in the north-eastern corner of the ACT and is adjacent to Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve to the south, NSW to the east and north, and the new suburbs of Forde and Bonner in Gungahlin to the west.
Mulligans Flat and the adjacent Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve together protect the largest remnant of the Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum grassy Woodland (a critically endangered ecological community – see websites below). This ecosystem was extensively cleared and modified in the past to create pasturelands for stock. Before it became a nature reserve in 1995 Mulligans Flat was managed for farming and grazing.
There are usually magnificent wildflower displays in spring and early summer on the slopes and plains of the sanctuary. It is also recognised by the Canberra Ornithological Group (COG) as one of the prime bird watching sites in the ACT. Threatened bird species at Mulligans Flat include the Brown Treecreeper, Superb Parrot, Painted Honeyeater, Hooded Robin and White-winged Triller.
Recreational activities include walking, cycling and particularly observing birds. There are several cycling and walking trails including a self-guide bird walk and accompanying brochure. A Visitor Orientation Display (VOD) near the western entrance to the reserve provides information on nature, Indigenous and pioneer history and recreational opportunities.
Some additional phrases (beyond ‘restoring, learning, inspiring’) that describe the theme we want to convey through the logo are: ‘Glimpse of the past’, ‘Restoring the past to enhance our future’, ‘Restoring woodlands to enhance our future’, ‘A window to our natural history’, ‘Conservation through knowledge’, ‘Integrating research and restoration’, ‘Unique location, unique restoration’, ‘Leading the nation in woodlands restoration’, ‘Learning to live with our woodlands’, ‘On our doorstep’, ‘Research led restoration’.
If the image of a tree or woodland (trees without canopies touching) (or a derivation of these) is used the image should reflect a typical Australian tree (Eucalyptus) and NOT a European or north American tree.
* Flora and Fauna of the region:
Examples of flora and fauna specifically found at Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve: http://www.invasiveanimals.com/downloads/Mulligans-flat-flora.pdf
* List of mammals and birds most likely to be considered for reintroduction to Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary
Mammals
Antechinus flavipes – yellow-footed antechinus
Bettongia gaimardi – Tasmanian Bettong
Isoodon obesulus – southern brown bandicoot
Perameles nasuta – long-nosed bandicoot
Pseudomys gracilicaudatus – eastern chestnut mouse
Pseudomys novaehollandiae – new Holland mouse
Birds
Burhinus grallarius – bush stone curlew
Climacteris picumnus – brown treecreeper (reintroduction begins November 2009).
* Mulligans Flat and Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve Website:
http://www.tams.act.gov.au/play/parks_conservation_and_lands/parks_reserves_and_open_places/national_parks/mulligans_flat
* Mulligans Flat and Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve Brochure: http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/61034/Mulligans_Flat_and_Goorooyarroo_Brochure.pdf
* Symbols for other ACT parks (including Canberra Nature Parks): http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/166034/Explore_October2009.pdf
* Information on listing of Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland
http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/box-gum.html
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/communities/box-gum.html
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicshowcommunity.pl?id=43&status=Critically%20Endangered.html
The potential winner of the Logo Tournament competition should be aware that the client has been considering enlisting the services of the graphic designer that developed symbols for other parts of the ACT’s parks and open space areas, including ‘Canberra Nature Parks’. Due to its substantial cost, this option is a last resort and will be sought if no appropriate Logo Tournament entries are submitted.