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Revegetation - Broad Toothed Rat Traditional Cache

Hidden : 1/3/2012
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   other (other)

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Geocache Description:

This cache is a small revegetation project that I undertook as Coordinator of Friends of the Olinda Forest between Olinda Creek Rd and Silvan Rd. Eagles Nest Rd. Used to be here as well.

In the early 1990's a population of the threatened Broad Toothed Rat (Mastacomys fuscus) was found in the area. The then Department of Conservation Forests and Lands decided a picnic ground and road was no longer appropriate here and the Friends of Olinda Forest where approached to plant the area. Picnic Tables and the toilets where removed and a tractor ripped the compacted soil.

The area already had an existing tree cover, so we concentrated on collecting seeds for and the growing of plants. These where planted in 1994. Now the area looks fairly natural.

Not sure if the Broad Toothed Rat is still here. I doubt it, with the amount of prescribed burning happening around here. If your interested in looking at the results of prescribed burning in this type of ecosystem. Walk another 100m up Silvan rd. The upper side was burnt in 2009, the lower side hasn't been burnt in my memory.

The cache will be a bit of a surprise so please bend the tail around so it doesn't look like a snake. It can be found a little distance from the intersection and about 10m behind a closed for revegetation sign that is no longer that visible. Not completely confident with the readings I am getting from a new etrex 20 under tree cover. Will add some pictures when I find them.

All swaps should be water proof and feel free to have a look around.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Va fznyy ubyybj ng onfr bs ynetr gerr.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)