Connecting Country

Connecting Country’s most recent field day (22 April) was held at Malcolm Fyffe’s grazing property at Sandon. Introducing the trip, Deirdre Slattery, CC Education Advisor, suggested that an historical perspective on private land use showed many changes have taken place in government and community attitudes to land, from wholesale clearing to protection. Malcolm Fyffe and the North Central CMA’s Geoff Park, illustrated the current difficulties and dilemmas involved in farming for a productive and healthy landscape: many of the issues they raised look rather different when seen from a farming or a nature conservation point of view.

Deirdre Slattery provides an introduction to the excursion by explaining issues surrounding historical and present day land use patterns.

The group visited a range of sites: erosion gullies, one active, another planted and fenced out and stable; grazing pastures of both improved and native species; a fenced out remnant of rather degraded bushland and a planned wildlife corridor. Finally Malcolm showed us a large block of land that he leases and runs under light stocking conditions. This site has been partially cleared, but also has partially recovering shrubby native vegetation on its steep slopes and rocky fragile soils. Continue reading →

There will be a field day on the benefits of native grasses in farming systems on Friday 25 May at the Yandoit Community Hall.  This free event runs from 12pm to 4pm, with lunch provided, and is hosted by Connecting Country and the North Central CMA.

Graeme Hand, CEO of Stipa Native Grasses Association Incorporated, will give a presentation which will be followed by a bus trip to a local property. This visit will provide a backdrop for discussion about the production potential of native pastures, plant species selection for native pastures and establishing or regenerating grass communities for native pastures.

To download a flyer with all the details click here.  For more information and to RSVP please contact bryan@connectingcountry.org.au or call the Connecting Country office on 5472 1594.

The evening of Wednesday 18 April saw about 40 landholders from Mount Alexander Shire and more far flung districts gather to learn more on the topic “Can I get paid to farm nature?”

After a fine meal, attendees settled in to listen to a panel of speakers.  First up was Chris Timewell from Connecting Country. Chris outlined Connecting Country’s Yellow Box Woodland project and the sorts of on-ground works and management actions funded through the program.  Peter Johnson from DSE talked about the longstanding and successful Land for Wildlife program, which while voluntary in nature, often forms a stepping stone to covenanting or other actions. Continue reading →

Dr Gregory Holland from Deakin University’s School of Life and Environmental Sciences was recently in the field with Connecting Country testing out some of his latest habitat monitoring and vegetation structure methodologies. Greg became involved with the Connecting Country nest box program in early 2011 after an introduction from Professor Andrew Bennett. Since then Greg has been working with Connecting Country on its monitoring program, in particular the measurement of habitat variables located at Tuan nest box sites.  (Tuans are also known as Brush-tailed Phascogales)

Amy Monagle, a student at the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, has also recently commenced her honours project looking at various aspects of the nest box program.  She is undertaking field research with Bryan McMullan of Connecting Country across the Mount Alexander Region as part of the autumn 2012 nest box program.  We are seeking volunteers to help Bryan and Amy with the Tuan nest-box surveys and habitat assessments over the next 4-5 weeks (see below for more details).

Greg and Amy in the field

It is fantastic to have Greg and Amy onboard in Connecting Country’s Yellow-box Woodland monitoring project and we welcome them to our community. The partnership between Deakin University and Connecting Country is long-lived and their participation brings longevity to our data sets.

To find out more about Connecting Country’s monitoring program, click here.

Volunteers Needed

Over the coming month Connecting Country is performing habitat and vegetation structure assessments at over 100 nest box sites and would like to invite skilled people to volunteer for assistance with these tasks.

Please contact the Connecting Country office to register your interest 03 5472 1594 or  bryan@connectingcountry.org.au

The latest Farm-Tree and Landcare Association newsletter includes items on a Landcare and Primary Producers Survey and Carbon Farming Initiative Methodologies and Initiative Events. There are also the regular sections on Awards and Opportunities, Events, and News and Resources.

Click here to see the newsletter.