Seeding Our Future Project 2024/25
Posted on 30 October, 2025 by Hadley Cole
Back in November 2024, Connecting Country kicked of the Seeding Our Future project funded through the 2024 Victorian Landcare Grants. The scope of the project wass to help protect and conserve locally rare and threatened plant species through a series of educational workshops that build knowledge and skills within our local community.
Indigenous seed security is a concern for many in the natural resource management sector. With increased fragmentation of landscapes and the changes in weather patterns and climate due to global heating, the future of many plant species is under threat. Grand scale restoration works are needed and programs such as the Victoria Governments Bushbank program require huge quantities of seed to meet restoration targets. Seeding Victoria are working with project partners Cassinia Environmental and the Natural Resources Conservation Trust to raise awareness of seed security and provide training and resources to aspiring seed collectors to increase seed supply and availability.
The Seeding Our Future project compliments the work Seeding Victoria and partners are undertaking to raise the importance of seed conservation. Considering this, for the first workshop we hosted in November 2024 we partnered with Seeding Victoria in a Seed Collection Workshop at the Botanical Gardens in Castlemaine. The workshop was sold out with keen participants coming along from as far away as Reservoir!
Dan Frost from Seeding Victoria talked us through the basics of seed collection including the equipment needed, permits required and the various collection processes for different indigenous plant species. After a morning in the classroom, we went for a walk through the Botanical gardens and up to the bush land reserve behind the gardens to explore which local plants are currently flowering, seeding or close to seeding and how you might approach collecting and storing their seed.
Dan talked us through the adapted seed collection techniques for various plant families including some grasses, daisies, acacias, eucalypts, bottle brushes, and cone producing plants.
November until late summer is some of the best times for seed collection in the local area, so for aspiring seed collectors this was the perfect time to build a knowledge base and learn about the permits required before getting out there to collect!
Participants reported that they thoroughly enjoyed the workshop. A big thank you to Dan and Robert from Seeding Victoria for sharing their deep knowledge of local seed. We hope to see the future of seed collecting secured and many of our local plant species conserved and protected.
Below photo shows Dan Frost from Seeding Victoria presenting on various collection techniques to a very engaged audience. All photos in this post by Carmen Bunting.
Nature Art Soundscapes presents The Feathered Five!
Posted on 30 October, 2025 by Lori
A truly special, immersive art and music event, celebrating some of our treasured local woodland birds.
Nature Art Soundscapes are musicians Hilary Blackshaw (violin, guitar and vocals), Joel Bloom (lap steel guitar), Clara Schutz (cello) and artist Jane Rusden. The quartet celebrates local woodland wildlife through weaving beautiful live art making with evocative musical soundscapes.
Audiences are invited to immerse themselves in the magic and wonder of local nature, through gentle relaxation (BYO cushions, blankets and/or PJs – we seriously don’t mind!), or you are welcome to bring your own art supplies and draw along with Jane.
When: Saturday 22 November 7-9pm
Where: Wesley Hill Hall, 149 Pyranees Highway, Castlemaine
Tickets: Adults $20, children (under 18) free. Book here or available at the door.
All proceeds generated from this performance will be donated to Connecting Country Castlemaine to assist their woodland bird monitoring project.
Bird of the Month: Grey Fantail
Posted on 20 October, 2025 by Lori
Words by Damian Kelly and Jane Rusden. Photos by Damian Kelly
Always a delight to watch, the Grey Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) swishes its tail around directing insects into easier catching distance. And then there’s their tinkling call, often heard before the bird is seen. Luckily for us bird watchers, Grey Fantails can be very curious, which means they come much closer to us than many other species. They do have rather a disapproving look on their tiny faces, characterised by their drawn down white eyebrows.
A confiding and widespread species, the Grey Fantail can be found all along the wetter eastern and western areas of Australia and occasionally spreading into drier areas inland. Tasmania, New Zealand and other islands also have populations of this species.
Nest of a Grey Fantail (Damian Kelly)
Urban gardens are also utilised and here in Castlemaine, in our garden near the centre of town, a pair of Grey Fantails has successfully fledged young for the last two years. The nest is concealed in dense vegetation right next to a garden path, but human traffic does not seem to concern them. Whenever I walk past, a beady eye is watching me, but the bird never leaves the nest. Two young were raised each time which is quite a feat given the tiny size of the nest. Built from small twigs, grass and hairs and held together with spiders’ webs, the nest is a beautiful construction. The nest from two years ago was simply refurbished with more web prior to the second season of breeding (see photo).
Although not fully understood, the movements of Grey Fantails are a mixed bag. In some areas populations are partly or fully sedentary, whilst in other areas migration takes place. Movements can be driven by food availability and temperature. There seems to be a whole east coast movement of birds. All in all, a mixed bag of movements. I can report that the birds who breed in our garden are not present over winter but have returned now as spring advances.
Some of the Tasmanian birds migrate to the mainland over winter. Groups of Grey Fantails have been regularly recorded moving across King and Flinders Islands on the way to the mainland. There are probably some altitudinal movements, but this is often confused by other movements occurring. At times small groups up to 30 birds can be seen moving through areas.
Feeding tends to be arboreal, often catching prey in flight, although they will also feed on the ground. Food consists mainly of insects, but they occasionally take fruit or seeds. Often associated with mixed feeding flocks moving through vegetation.
Grey Fantail utilising prickly cover of Gorse, (an invasive weed), with its tail characteristically fanned. Photo by Damian Kelly.
Bird of the Month is a partnership between Connecting Country and BirdLife Castlemaine District. Each month we take a close look at one special local bird species. We are blessed to have the brilliant Jane Rusden and Damian Kelly from BirdLife Castlemaine District writing these! We’re excited to join forces to deliver you a different bird each month, seasonally adjusted, and welcome suggestions from the community.
Great Southern Bioblitz – Castlemaine Region 24-27 October
Posted on 16 October, 2025 by Lori
It’s the beginning of October and so wonderful to see the new growth and increasing activity in bushlands and gardens after so many months of challenging conditions. Trees, shrubs and other understorey plants are putting out new leaves and foliage, and canopies are becoming denser. Birds are calling and nesting. Frogs are croaking. Thankfully insects are about again, albeit not in good numbers yet, but Painted Ladies and some day moths are about. And we are already being treated with the bright colours of Myrnong, Waxlips, Leopard orchids and Caladenias, with scattered clusters of emerging leaves promising Helmet and Gnat orchids.
Hopefully while all of this is happening those of you who live in or visit the Mount Alexander Shire will be getting ready for the Great Southern Bioblitz 2025,which runs from midnight October 23 to midnight October 27. This is your opportunity to join other citizen scientists to help build the scientific databases that increase the knowledge and understanding of our bushlands and their biodiversity. These annual Bioblitz surveys collect vast amounts of data on species and distribution that would otherwise be unavailable.
The Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club are again hosting a count in this region and they’d love your contributions! If you can contribute, all you need is a camera or phone and enthusiasm!
You’ll find lots of information, including deadlines, tips on uploading your images to iNaturalist, the online global databank for observations of biodiversity and more on the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club Great Southern Bioblitz webpage.
Images: Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club
North Harcourt Sedgwick Landcare Group AGM with Ira Barker
Posted on 16 October, 2025 by Lori
North Harcourt Sedgwick Landcare (NHSE) are pleased to welcome Ira Barker from bushfoods social enterprise, Murnong Mummas, as the special guest speaker at the Groups Annual General Meeting.
A Gunditjmara person living and working on Djaara Country, Ira will share their journey connecting with native edible plants, culture, and Country, and how a drive for self determination has had a positive effect on them and those around them.
AGM business will include the annual activity report, and the election of the committee for the next year. They welcome new nominations to the committee – contact nhselandcare@gmail.com for more information.
A free BBQ will follow the formal business.
When: Sunday 26 October 11am-12pm
Where: Sedgwick Hall, Sedgwick
Bookings: Free (gold coin donation will be appreciated) – click here to book.
Taradale Landcare AGM and nestbox installation demonstration
Posted on 8 October, 2025 by Lori
Taradale Landcare are hosting their Annual General Meeting on Sunday 12 October in Taradale, VIC and encourage new members and committee nominations. Following the usual AGM formalities and refreshments, Tom from The Tree Company will provide a nestbox presentation and installation demonstration at Taradale Mineral Springs Reserve.
When: Sunday 12 October, 10am – 11.30am
Time: AGM 10am – 11.30am – Taradale Primary School multi-purpose room
Nestbox installation 12noon – Taradale Mineral Springs Reserve
RSVP: taradalelandcare@gmail.com
Baynton Sidonia Landcare present Taungurung Cultural Heritage Workshop: Fri 17 October 2025
Posted on 6 October, 2025 by Hadley Cole
Our friends at Baynton Sidonia Landcare are hosting a Strengthening Landholder Knowledge of Taungurung Cultural Heritage Workshop on Friday 17 October from 10.30am to 1.30pm at the Baynton Hall.
The aim of the workshop is to build landholder knowledge and confidence to support the preservation of Taungurung Culture on Country and to create shared pride in it.
The workshop will include:
- Understanding cultural heritage on your land
- Identifying cultural sites and artefacts
- What to do if you find artefacts on your property
- Working together for culturally sensitive land management
Where: Baynton Hall, 51 Darlington Road, Baynton VIC
When: Friday 17 October, 10.30am – 1.30pm
Bookings essential: The workshop is free, but a gold coin donation is appreciated. All are welcome, but booking is essential by texting Clare on 0423294430 with full names of attendees, telephone numbers, dietary constraints and the district you live in. Bookings will be confirmed or you will be placed on a waiting list. Please do not attend unless you have a confirmed booking.
Seed Collection Workshop with Seeding Victoria
Posted on 2 October, 2025 by Hadley Cole
Seeding Victoria is a community not-for-profit working hard to provide provenance based seed supply for revegetation projects throughout Central, South West and North West Victoria. The work of Seeding Victoria is crucial to the implementation of successful restoration.
In partnership with Natural Resource Conservation Trust, Cassinia Environmental and Connecting Country, Seeding Vic. presents a Seed Collection Workshop on Saturday 18th October 2025 in Castlemaine.
This workshop offers local community members the opportunity to take direct action to increase flora populations across the region through the development of seed collection skills and local flora identification. Through the collection of seed and growing of indigenous plant species, particularly those that are rare, we can increase genetic diversity and population of local indigenous flora, creating resilient ecosystems and seed banks for our future.
The day will involve;
- The nuts and bolts to seed collecting: You will learn species identification, what permits you need to obtain for collecting seed, OH&S, collection techniques, extraction and storage.
- Field Trip: We will have a look at the OH&S components of seed collecting, observing what’s flowering and what will be ready to collect in the coming months.
- There will be an opportunity to order seed-collecting equipment on the day.
- Learn about how the Natural Resource Conservation Trust Seed Bank Revolving Fund works and how to obtain a discount for seed-collecting equipment.
- Introduction to the BushBank Program: How to get involved in collecting seed for the $30M Government program and access funding to undertake biodiversity planting on your property.
When: Saturday 18 October 2025, 9.30am – 3.30pm
Where: Castlemaine Botanical Gardens Tea Rooms, Downes Rd. Castlemaine
Cost: $30.
For more information and bookings – click here
This workshop is funded by Cassinia Environmental, Natural Resources Conservation Trust and the Victorian Government BushBank program.