In 2006 LOLA representatives met with relevant agency staff and volunteers in order to discuss and co-ordinate the further expansion of weed control management and volunteer initiatives at Jenolan Caves, with a particular focus on Sycamores. 

Since that time, three successful volunteer training weekends funded by LOLA have been held in May and November 2007, May and November 2008 and May 2009 with up to 20 participants attending the ealier events and then 30 at the later events. This was further supported with in-kind assistance from the Reserve Trust in the form of staff and accommodation. Additional activities included an evening BBQ, interpretative guided walk within the Caves Precinct in regard to hydrology, geology and cultural and historic significance. Further was a guided spotlight walk observing and identifying nocturnal fauna species and discussion of many of the threatened species (flora and fauna) occurring at Jenolan Caves. A guided night-time cave tour was offered from the November 2007 activity.

 A number of volunteer models exist that have been successfully established elsewhere, such as the ‘Friends of the Colo’, and ‘Willows out of the Wollemi’ (Willow Warriors), with a specific focus on either an area, or a particular type of weed, that has generated a strong ongoing volunteer-support base. LOLA and the Jenolan Caves Landcare Group would like to replicate this kind of model, and are running another event in September and november 2009, based upon the prevois successful  events, at which point existing funding to continue the program of activities will be exhausted.

NPWS (Oberon) has expressed a desire to continue with funding support for these activities, again, with ongoing support from the Jenolan Caves Reserve Trust.

To see  a PDF leaflet the tools bing used and the instructions on how to treat the Sycamores and photos showing the results of the work being done click here

to see the leftlet on the next activities click here