27-30 October 2017- Victorian Botany workshop in Licola
Posted on 2 June, 2017 by Connecting Country
This interesting 4 day live-in workshop is being organised by a group of senior professional botanists on a not-for-profit basis and is aimed at students and early career botanists. The workshop will include two days of field surveys at 2–3 sites representing different vegetation types (subalpine and lowland). Participants will contribute to the collection of floristic data using a number of survey techniques while learning identification characters of different plant groups. There will be opportunity during evenings to use microscopes and reference material, to further skills in laboratory techniques.
Workshop leaders will give short presentation, run focus activities with smaller groups and demonstrate methods in field botany. The workshop will predominantly deal with plant classification and identification with some additional content on ecology and vegetation classification. Day trips will depart around 8 am each day and return mid-afternoon. A timetable will be provided by email prior to the workshop.
To register and to find out more: https://www.registernow.com.au/secure/Register.aspx?E=25471
Help Little Heroes Plant New Habitat
Posted on 29 May, 2017 by Connecting Country
Little Habitat Hero, Sophie Haythorne, looks forward to planting on the 17th of June 2017.
A new story is being woven into the site of the Old Silkworm Farm on Leanganook, within the Mount Alexander Regional Park, this month, as a group of families and Landcare groups join together for the Little Habitat Heroes planting day on Saturday the 17th of June 2017, 9am-1pm. Open to all to participate, this ongoing initiative envisions 10 hectares of habitat regenerated on this historic site over the next few years.
Initiated by a group of new mothers in Castlemaine in 2016, Little Habitat Heroes, was a successful fund-raising campaign aimed at restoring native bush in honour of the region’s newest residents. Over $3,000 was raised by families and individuals, who were keen to see a beloved child in their life have the opportunity for a personal connection with nature.
This was matched with equivalent support from VicRoads to allow over 900 seedlings to be propagated ready for a wet winter start. Committed volunteers from Barkers Creek and Harcourt Landcare Groups, Connecting Country, and Little Habitat Heroes families and friends are providing their time generously to see the project succeed, with support from Parks Victoria.
“It’s amazing what a small group of committed people can achieve”, says Connecting Country Director Krista Patterson-Majoor. “From the start, when we were approached by the mothers’ group, we could see how closely aligned the project idea was with our organisation’s core objectives. We have been delighted to support the initiative, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to the planting day, it will be a lot of fun.”
For many, especially the nearly-two year olds, the planting day will be their first-ever tree planting experience, and an opportunity to see a habitat emerge that will support charismatic fauna such as sugar gliders and woodland birds. The location is exciting to local ecologists too, as it is uniquely suited to trial the return of indigenous species such as the Silver Banksia which once occurred on Mt Alexander and large areas through central Victoria before the gold rush.
“Just by living their lives, our children will no doubt contribute to environmental loss, so this is a chance for us to give something back,” says Little Habitat Heroes mother Meg Barnes, “The planting day will also offer a way to meet like-minded people and spend time at a gorgeous site.”
Little Habitat Heroes Planting Day Details: 9am-1pm, Saturday 17 June, meet at Leanganook Picnic Ground in the Mount Alexander Regional Park. Everyone and all ages welcome. Morning tea provided, BYO picnic lunch which we’ll eat together. More information visit www.littlehabitatheroes.org. To join the planting day or learn more, RSVP to littlehabitatheroes@gmail.com.
Wednesday 31st May 2017 Fungi of Forests and Farms with Alison Pouliot
Posted on 29 May, 2017 by Connecting Country
International Fungi and photographic expert, Alison Pouliot, will be giving a presentation at the Ravenswood Valley Landcare Group’s next meeting on Wednesday 31st May 2017 at 7.30 pm at the North Harcourt Hall (corner of Chaplins Rd and McIvor Rd). Alison will talk on the role of Fungi supporting Eucalypts, including paddock and forest trees. Every Eucalypt, and most other trees, form beneficial relationships with fungi. Fungi also make farm soils more resistant to drought and disease. Alison will also bring a display of local fungi.
Visitors are welcome – please email Secretary of the Ravenswood Valley Landcare Group, Tricia Balmer, on triciabalmer@me.com if you would like to attend. Supper will be served after the meeting.
Exploring the possibilities of gully restoration
Posted on 26 May, 2017 by Connecting Country
Cassia and Deirdre ask participants do think about what they would do in the gully.
On Friday the 19th of May 2017, Barb Guerin, Cassia Read and Deirdre Slattery from the Victoria Gully Group led a fascinating workshop about seeing possibilities and setting priorities for the ecological restoration of the gully. This session was designed to help people to make decisions about land use and habitat creation in low-lying areas and had an emphasis on restoration in public land.
On a day which was forecast heavy rain, sixteen hardy attendees heard firsthand about how volunteers in environmental groups can make difference to habitat values on public land. Fortunately no-one got wet and lots was learnt – for a full write up and additional resources please click here.
This workshop concludes our 2017 Water in our Landscape workshop series. We would like to offer our warm thanks to all of our participants, presenters and hosts. Thanks also to Naomi Raftery for the vision and coordinating three incredibly interesting sessions. This education program was made possible with funding received from the Australian Government.
Pre-1852 original indigenous trees in Maldon
Posted on 23 May, 2017 by Asha
Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora), estimated age 530 years, Bill Woodfull Reserve, Maldon (photo Frances Cincotta)
Bev Phillips has kindly provided this article about the amazing work Maldon Urban Landcare (aka MULGA) have been doing to protect the trees that have been around Maldon since before the gold rush. Anyone familiar with this landscape knows how precious our large old trees are, so thank you MULGA for helping look after them!
“The primary objectives of this project conducted by MULGA in 2017 were to obtain detailed records for original indigenous trees that were growing before 1852 (pre-European settlement) in Maldon, and to achieve long-term protection for these trees under the Mt. Alexander Shire Council Planning Scheme, or an appropriate alternative scheme. The large, old indigenous eucalypt trees still surviving in the township of Maldon are of significant environmental and historical significance, and are rare examples of pre-European settlement vegetation in an urban setting. The recorded trees are estimated to be aged between 175 and 645 years old.
Initial work for this project was carried out by the late Wendy French in 2009-2010. In early 2017 MULGA members, assisted by Frances Cincotta from Newstead Natives, conducted a detailed survey of trees with a circumference of at least 1815mm, measured at a height of 1.3m. Sites surveyed were the Maldon Primary School, Maldon Hospital, Bill Woodfull Reserve, the Maldon Police Lockup land and St. Brigid’s Catholic Church. In addition two trees on a private property and four roadside trees were surveyed.
Of the 61 pre-1852 original eucalypt trees recorded on public and private land in Maldon, 64% are Eucalyptus microcarpa (Grey Box); there are 8 Eucalyptus goniocalyx (Long-leaved Box), 8 Eucalyptus polyanthemos subsp. vestita (Red Box) and 3 Eucalyptus melliodora (Yellow Box). 49 trees are estimated to be 200-399 years old and there are 3 trees estimated to be aged 400-499 years and one tree 530 years. This means that 80% of the trees are estimated to have started growing between the years of 1618 and 1817.
In addition, MULGA members surveyed 36 pre-1852 eucalypt trees on parts of the Maldon Historic Reserve – the lower slopes of Anzac Hill, Pond Drive, and part of The Butts at the base of Mt. Tarrengower. The species recorded are Grey Box (50%), Yellow Box (28%), Red Box (17%) and one tree each of Long-leaved Box and Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River Red Gum).
CLICK HERE for more information and links to two maps which show the location of all of the pre-1852 eucalypts recorded. There is also a brochure, Living Treasures, available in the Maldon Visitors Information Centre, which includes information and a map for some of the pre-1852 trees.”
NCCMA Community Grants Open Now
Posted on 23 May, 2017 by Asha
Applications for the 2017-18 North Central Community Grants Program are now open. Three types of grants are available:
- Maintenance (up to $500/group or network) and start-up grants (up to $500/group or $1,000/network)
- Project grants of up to $10,000 are available for individuals and Landcare or community based NRM groups, and
- Landcare networks are eligible for grants of up to $15,000.
Online applications are to be submitted before 5pm Friday 23 June 2017 via https://nccma.smartygrants.com.au. Application forms, guidelines and the online survey link are available under the Landcare Grants tab at www.nccma.vic.gov.au . The mandatory ‘Supporting Landcare in North Central Victoria survey’ that you need to fill out in order to apply has been extensively revised.
NCCMA will prioritise projects that improve the natural resource base of agricultural landscapes and encourage projects with a focus on improving soil health, innovative agricultural techniques and practices such as trialling pasture species under variable seasonal conditions, and activities that increase community awareness and engagement such as workshops to up-skilling volunteers and field days. To be successful, groups need to read the guidelines, map their proposed project activities and know their projects really well. Clarity of purpose is vital, as is a clear direction and focus, of both the project and the community.
20/21 May 2017 – Swift Parrot survey in Castlemaine area
Posted on 11 May, 2017 by Connecting Country
Have you seen this bird? A Swift Parrot feasting on blossom, a beautiful photo by Chris Tzaros.
Connecting Country would like to share news that teams of bird watchers across Victoria will be out on the weekend of 20/21 May to look for Swift Parrots, one of the threatened species being monitored in Autumn each year after they arrive from Tasmania. Surveys in areas around Castlemaine are being arranged by Beth Mellick.
If you are interested in participating and have not volunteered in previous years, contact Beth by phone (0431 219 980) or email (beth@nwf.org.au).
May 2017 North Central Chat plus grant information
Posted on 11 May, 2017 by Connecting Country
Please click here for the May 2017 edition of the North Central Chat. This Month features a large Waterwatch feature and the details for the North Central CMA’s 2017-18 Community Grant round, which open Monday May 15th, for six weeks, until June 23. There is a lot happening in regard to grant opportunities for Landcare groups, networks and individuals which is also included in the Chat, as well as some more recent ones below that couldn’t fit in, please see below.
The Threatened Species Recovery Fund was launched last Friday 5 May. For the next six weeks individuals and groups can apply for funding between $20k and $250 for projects supporting threatened species. More info at: http://www.nrm.gov.au/national/threatened-species-recovery-fund
Birdlife Australia ABEF Community Grants (5K)
M Middleton fund for endangered native vertebrates (up to 15K)
https://www.science.org.au/opportunities/research-funding/margaret-middleton-fund
Exploring ecological thinning – the how’s and why’s
Posted on 8 May, 2017 by Connecting Country
Paul Foreman helps participants to hone their monitoring skills at the workshop.
Ecologist Paul Foreman and contractor David Griffiths explored the potential positives and challenges of undertaking ecological thinning in Box-Ironbark forest at our second Water in our Landscape workshop, Ecological Thinning on Bush Blocks, on Friday the 5 May 2017. The thirty people who attended the event at Paul Hampton’s delightful property in Muckleford developed new skills and understanding of the bush around us. A huge thanks to our enthusiastic participants, knowledgeable presenters and generous host for the delightful morning.
For a full list of resources about ecological thinning, please check the documents below:
North Central CMA site assessment form
Box Ironbark Ecological Thinning Trial report
Ecological thinning field day notes
Empirically validating a dense woody regrowth ‘problem’ and thinning: Research journal article
Final Ecological Thinning Workbook- Atlas Ecology Lewis Rd Muckleford
Local and State Government contacts
Parks Victoria and Ballarat uni thinning trial method
VIF Vegetation Work Standards
This Water in our Landscape workshop was made possible with funding received from the Australian Government.
Friday 12th May – Explore New Guinea with the Castlemaine Field Naturalists
Posted on 8 May, 2017 by Connecting Country
At the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club meeting on the 12 May 2017, Jason Edwards, distinguished wildlife photographer, will recount the story of an expedition along the southern coast of New Guinea from the west to the far east. Jason explored the seas and peoples of this remarkable region – from the remote and pristine reefs of West Papua and Raja Amat, to the headhunters of the Asmat; the friendly tribes of the Trobriand and the fire frenzy of the Baining people of Papua New Guinea.
Location: Fellowship room, Uniting Church (UCA) Hall. Enter from Lyttleton St.
Time: Doors open from 7.15 for 7.30 start. All welcome.
Connecting Country to showcase community conservation
Posted on 4 May, 2017 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country is excited to share the news of our successful application with Wild Melbourne for their Community Conservationists video series, supported by the Norman Wettenhall Foundation. The application process yielded 36 applications that demonstrated the breadth and diversity of conservation work being done by the Victorian community. Connecting Country was one of five organisations chosen to be showcased. For more information on the Community Conservationists video series click here and look out for our video in the future!
Sunday 7th May 2017 – Launch of new interpretive signs along Forest Creek
Posted on 4 May, 2017 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country would like to share that new signs are being installed at the Monster Meeting site, Chinamans Point and Expedition Pass Reservoir to tell the rich story of Forest Creek through the years.
Golden Point Landcare invites you to the launch of this Forest Creek Track Interpretive Signage on Sunday 7 May 2017 at 10.30 am at the junction of Forest and Wattle Creeks at the Monster Meeting site (near the corner Golden Point Road and the Pyrenees Highway).
Please join Golden Point Landcare for morning tea after the launch.
Please RSVP for catering: 0423 900 590 or 0407 977 731
Registrations now open for the Wetland Plant Identification Course October 2017
Posted on 4 May, 2017 by Connecting Country
For anyone interested in wetland plant identification and ecology, the registrations are now open for the 2017 Wetland Plant Identification Course with Damien Cook and Elaine Bayes. Starting in October, the course will run over 3 days and participants can elect to do 1, 2 or all 3 days. Each day will focus on a different wetland habitat and be timed so as to follow the wetting and drying of the stunning Reedy Lagoon at Gunbower Island or nearby wetland.
For more information including the 2017 flyer, program and feedback from past participants please click here. To go straight to the registration page click here.
Nature News – 2nd May 2017 Stay at home Dad in Happy Valley
Posted on 3 May, 2017 by Connecting Country
For this month’s Nature News on Page 30 of the 2nd May 2017 edition of the Midland Express, local ecologist and Castlemaine Landcarer, Karl Just explains the unusual breeding biology of a locally lesser common frog species and the work of Castlemaine Landcare in helping to restore its habitat.
Photo Caption: A male Brown Toadlet taking patient care of his eggs. Photo taken by: Damien Cook
Our local waterways sure copped a hammering during the gold-rush days. Early photos show a bleak landscape, all sludgy soil, bare of vegetation. The incredible changes that occurred to riparian habitat during those days would have removed entire communities of plants, mammals, birds, frogs and insects. But the process of recovery has well and truly begun, with the dedicated and hard work of various Landcare groups steadily restoring ecological diversity to our creeks.
Along Forest Creek, one species that would have been heavily impacted is the endangered Brown Toadlet. Now stick with me a moment, I know it has a very uninspiring name, but believe me this little critter is a true icon of the box ironbark ecosystem. Unlike our other local frogs that mostly breed during the wetter winter-spring months, the Brown Toadlet or Pseudophryne bibroni only breeds for a short period during autumn. The males set up little colonies in wet gullies and call regularly to attract a mate. When she arrives and lays the eggs, instead of hanging around she nicks off and leaves the work to the male, who will patiently sit on the eggs for many weeks or several months. This is why the species is also occasionally called a brooding frog. When rain arrives (in good years), the eggs are eventually flushed into adjacent waterholes where the tadpoles will hatch and begin their development.
Heading east into Happy Valley one autumn day, I heard the distinctive sound of the Brown Toadlet calling from the adjacent gully. Although I knew the species is fairly common in some parts of the local area, I was excited as it was the first time I had heard them in the Forest Creek valley. But the gully was a mess – the breeding site was covered in Gorse and Blackberry and there was only a sparse cover of native sedges. Something needed to be done.
Enter Castlemaine Landcare. We applied for and were successful in receiving a grant to clean up the site and also dig a new pond for the frogs to breed in. Landcare held a working bee where we planted the new frog pond with native sedges and rushes and the surrounding area with nectar rich shrubs for birds. We also put down some roofing tiles and had Toadlets sheltering and laying eggs beneath them.
In April 2017 Castlemaine received 140mm of rainfall – three times the long-term average for that month. The Toadlets responded very positively and colonised the frog pond we built last year, as well as several new sites nearby. Landcare aims to continue to restore the site and surrounding area and hope that the endangered Brown Toadlet will one day spread further throughout the Forest Creek valley.
New pond in August 2016
New pond after 65mm in April 2017
Places still available for this Friday’s Ecological Thinning on Bush Blocks workshop
Posted on 1 May, 2017 by Connecting Country
There are still a few places available for this Friday’s workshop titled “Ecological Thinning on Bush Blocks“. This workshop is designed for those interested in the benefits, challenges, and approaches to ecological thinning in remnant vegetation. Participants will visit a four year old thinning trial in Muckleford and hear about this fascinating pilot project. A benefit of ecological is slowing water in our landscape down and can potentially enhance biodiversity on your bush block. Don’t miss out on this free event and finding out more!
Date and Time: Friday the 5th May 2017 between 9am-12pm.
Presenters: Landholder, Paul Hampton; Ecologist, Paul Foreman; and local contractor, David Griffiths
Location: Details about the location and where to meet will be provided upon booking.
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/270332
First Water in our Landscape workshop was wonderful and wet!
Posted on 26 April, 2017 by Connecting Country
Almost constant rain provided the very appropriate backdrop to our first Water in our Landscape workshop, Turning your Dam into Habitat, on Friday the 21st of April 2017. Despite the water, a full house attended the event hosted and presented by local wetland ecologist Damien Cook in Fryerstown. Participants were treated to a walk around Damien’s property where he has been working on renovating dams, creating habitat and restoring a eroding creekline.
Frances Cincotta from Newstead Natives was also at the workshop with plants to sell and lots of information to share about wetland species from our area. For a full write up of the workshop with lots of useful tips about turning dams into habitat and copies of the resources given to participants, please CLICK HERE.
The small frog pond with Swamp Wallaby grass
Damien kicks off the workshop by talking nutrient cycling, and inviting frogs and fish.
Learning about water ribbons around the medium sized dam
Attendees take a break from the rain and share stories over a cuppa
Swamp Pennywort was one of the plants for sale at the first of our Water in our landscapes workshop series
An attendee inspects a shallow frog pond
Sunday 30 April 2017 – Launch of the Cactus Control Season
Posted on 26 April, 2017 by Connecting Country
This year’s Cactus Killing season opens on Sunday 30th April 2017. Tarrangower Cactus Control Group and Parks Victoria are organizing this community field day which will kick off the day at 10.30 am in Watersons Road near the corner of Tarrengower School Road. Follow the signs from the Watersons Road turn off on the Bridgewater-Maldon Road.
There will be a special guest to open the season and the usual great sausage sizzle, cuppa and cake. For more information please contact Tony Kane, Treasurer of the Tarrangower Cactus Control Group Inc. on 5475 2973 or visit www.cactuswarriors.org.
Landcare Gathering at The Meeting Place
Posted on 24 April, 2017 by Asha
Gathering at The Meeting Place
Smoke drifted through the last rays of sunlight as people gathered outside at The Meeting Place in Yapeen for a Cultural Awareness Evening on Monday the 3rd of April 2017. Aunty Julie McHale and Kathryn Coff from Nalderun guided the group through a series of learning activities. The figures of Bunjil and Waa made by the Meeting Place children hung over a room packed full of people.
After the smoking ceremony, we had a game of ‘Pacman’ where Aunty Julie tested our Aboriginal history knowledge. For example, do you know what the question was on the 1967 Referendum?
We were then given a card with a picture and a snippet of an event in Aboriginal history, and we lined them up along the floor in order to make a timeline. A few people selected a card which stood out to them and shared them with the room, ranging from the Dreamtime to the present.
The last activity for the evening focused on the Kulin Nation seasons. We moved down the hall to the classroom and split into two teams. A competition was then underway to see which team could correctly match the most natural events with the correct season – surprisingly not an easy task!
A huge thank you to Aunty Julie and Kath for their hard work and kind sharing, and to Nalderun for inviting us out to the beautiful Meeting Place. It was both a fun and enlightening evening for those who attended.
This event was made possible through the Connecting Landscapes program with support from the Australian Government.
Kulin Nation Seasons activity
Kulin Nation Seasons activity cards
Playing ‘Pacman’ with Aunty Julie and Kath Coff
7th May 2017: Woodland Bird Spotting at Walmer
Posted on 20 April, 2017 by Tanya Loos
Follow that bird! A bit of fun in the Sandon Forest…
On Sunday the 7th May 2017, join the Connecting Country bird nerds on a bird walk, lunch and planting! Local artist Eliza Tree has graciously invited us to her beautiful 30 acre property in Walmer for our next bird survey. The property is grassy woodland adjacent to Crown land and has been awarded a Trust for Nature covenant.
We will do the bird walk, led by Eliza, and then have a BBQ lunch. We will also spend a bit of time having a discussion about the overall conservation of the Walmer area – and identifying some projects for future funding proposals. After lunch, there will be an understory planting session – grasses and wildflowers.
This outing is one of the monthly bird outings in the Mount Alexander area – a few hours out in the bush with like-minded people, carrying out bird surveys on private and public land. This year we have visited a private bush block on Limestone Road, and explored the wonderful Saltwater Track, Elphinstone.
The bird walks are open to everyone with an interest in birds and habitat – even for the total beginner! We can supply you with a pair of Connecting Country binoculars for the outing, and our bird group is friendly and happy to help people 1) find the bird and 2) identify it! We are all learning together – even your walk leader had to send photos of a bird of prey to Geoff Park (Natural Newstead) to confirm that the bird was indeed a Square-tailed Kite!
By identifying and counting the birds on private land such as Eliza’s block in Walmer, we gain a greater understanding of the health of our woodland bird populations; especially of our target species such as the Hooded Robin and Diamond Firetail. By attending the monthly bird walks, we hope that participants will feel confident and inspired to survey birds on their own properties, or on the various bird survey sites on public land.
There are many ways to get involved in the Stewards for Woodland Birds program – to register or to find out more, contact Tanya at tanya@connectingcountry.org.au or call 5472 1594. You can;
- Join the Bird Survey Enews mailing list for a monthly enews with updates on our bird walks and various projects.
- Come along to our next bird survey – the Walmer bird and planting event on May 7 with Eliza Tree ( RSVP required for catering purposes) Eliza extends a warm invitation to camp on her land at Walmer on the Saturday night! Please contact Eliza directly on m: 0409 209707 if you would like to camp.
- Send in your bird sightings! See here to find out more about how.
- Get involved with our KBA (Key Biodiversity area) program, featured recently here.
The Stewards for Woodland Birds Program is generously supported by the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust
4pm Friday 21st April – Trace Balla is launching her new book
Posted on 20 April, 2017 by Connecting Country
Connecting Country would like to share news of the launch of Trace Balla’s new book on this Friday afternoon (21 April 2017) at 4pm at The Hub Plot garden (or in the Growing Abundance Cafe if it’s wet) at the corner of Templeton and Barker Street. Trace’s advice is to feel free to come along… its a picture book…for young and young at heart!