Restoring landscapes across the Mount Alexander Region

28 Nov 2015 – Rural Women’s Event

Posted on 9 October, 2015 by Connecting Country

The North Central CMA has announced the upcoming 2015 Chicks in the Sticks Rural Women’s event on Saturday 28th November.

“Now in its third year, the annual rural women’s event has become one of the most successful platforms in our region to network, learn from and collaborate with like-minded women who are passionate about environmental action and sustainable agriculture.

“This year’s event will take place along the Campaspe River at Carlsruhe with keynote speaker Katie Finlay- RIDRC Rural Women of the Year; Victorian award winner.

All the event details are on the flyer (CLICK HERE) and RSVPs to the North Central CMA are essential (Phone 03 5448 7124). Last year they booked out quickly, with 120 women registering in just two weeks.  This year has the capacity to host 150 women, so if you are interested it’d be best to book your place sooner rather than later.

 

Gypsy Twitchers on show from 14 Oct to 22 Nov

Posted on 9 October, 2015 by Connecting Country

Definitions of  ‘Twitcher’

  1. A person or thing that twitches.
  2. The term twitcher, sometimes misapplied as a synonym for birder, is reserved for those who travel long distances to see a rare bird that would then be ticked, or counted on a list.

The second definition applies to Albert and Eleanor Wright – ‘the Gypsy Twitchers’ (although in their case, the definition should be expanded to include all birds – not just the rare ones – which are then photographed as well being ticked and counted).  The Wrights have a residence locally, but they are insatiable travelers – hence the ‘gypsy’.

Superb Fairy-wren. Photo by Albert Wright

Superb Fairy-wren. Photo by Albert Wright

There website has an incredible array of photos of birds and other wildlife (CLICK HERE), and they are to have an exhibition of their work locally from the 14 October to the 22 November 2015.

“Albert Wright is a local wildlife photographer who specializes in bird images. Albert and his wife Eleanor, have spent the past 10 years traveling extensively around Australia (and more recently overseas), observing and photographing bird life. It is both passion and obsession! Some of Albert’s stunning images, on canvas, will be on display and for sale at Dig Cafe in Newstead, including many wonderful birds which are local to the Newstead area.”

While you are in Newstead, you can make it a double bird-art event, and also see the exhibition of Curly Hartup’s photography at the Newstead Railway Art Hub (see our earlier post – click here).

Eastern Yellow Robin. Photo by Albert Wright.

Eastern Yellow Robin. Photo by Albert Wright.

 

Aussie Backyard Bird Count 2015

Posted on 7 October, 2015 by Tanya Loos

Celebrate National Bird Week 2015 by taking part in the biggest citizen science project to hit Aussie shores!  From 19-25 October, thousands of people from across the country are heading out into their backyards, local parks, or favourite outdoor spaces to take part in the second annual AUSSIE BACKYARD BIRD COUNT!   This is an initiative of BirdLife Australia; Connecting Country is an affiliate group of this fantastic organisation. We have a data-sharing agreement with BirdLife Australia – which means that the Aussie Backyard Bird Count helps us keep track of how woodland birds are faring in the Mount Alexander region.

 ABBC Logo1To get involved in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count, all you need is 20 minutes, your outdoor space of choice, and some keen eyesight (or binoculars).  It doesn’t matter if you’re a novice or an expert.  Simply record the birds you know and look up those you don’t on BirdLife’s new Aussie Bird Count app or our through their website (www.aussiebirdcount.org.au).  You’ll instantly see live statistics and information on how many people are taking part near you and the number of birds and species counted across your neighbourhood and the whole of Australia!

Not only will you get to know your feathered neighbours, but you’ll be contributing to a vital pool of information from across the nation that will help us see how Australian birds are faring.  Last year volunteers counted 800,000 birds from across Australia, this year Birdlife Australia hopes to make it to at least one million. Get your friends and family together, head into the great outdoors and start counting!

For more information head to www.aussiebirdcount.org.au  or check out the ABBC Poster.

Also, don’t forget that there are some great guest speakers in the Mount Alexander Shire area over the coming weeks, with Andrew Skeoch speaking at the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club this Friday (9 Oct) and Emmi Scherlies talking about Powerful Owls at the Newstead Community Centre next Thursday (15 Oct).  See our earlier blog for further details on these two events (click here).  We’ll also have some information soon about our guest speaker at our upcoming AGM on 27 October.

 

‘Bird Week’ in the Castlemaine Library October 2015

Posted on 7 October, 2015 by Tanya Loos

Ever wondered which bird field guide is for you? What about a good bird book for kids?  Head into the Castlemaine Library this month to check out our Bird Week display.

A small sample of the books and brochures about Australian birds.

A small sample of the books and brochures about Australian birds.

Connecting Country has teamed up with the Castlemaine Library to present the display and includes reviews of some of the key bird books available.

For young people and the young at heart the Library also has the Great Library Bird Count activity…

 The Bird Week display will be in the Castlemaine Library from 10th October – 24th October. 

Bird Week is an initiative of BirdLife Australia, and runs at the same time as the Aussie Backyard Bird Count. If you go to the Aussie Backyards webpage you can see that the Castlemaine Library display joins ‘bird week’ displays from all around Australia.

 If you can’t make it to the Library, see the Connecting Country birdwatching page for resources and useful tips to get you started.

 

 

 

 

Camp on The Mount – Landcare Style!

Posted on 6 October, 2015 by Connecting Country

Flyer-2015-A3-FINAL-email

Click image to download flyer.

Camping experiences come in many styles…

There’s summer holiday camping, normally with about 200 other people and ice-cream shop nearby; hiking camping, in a tiny tent made of material developed by NASA; camping at a music festival, which isn’t really camping at all except that you sleep in a tent to avoid getting stepped on; camping in your relatives backyard at Christmas, because there aren’t enough bedrooms in the house; and ‘glamping’, where someone else pitches your tent, cooks your food and puts some champagne on ice while you’re doing a guided tour.

But none of them are quite like the experience of camping on Mount Alexander at the end of an afternoon spent attacking invasive pine trees with your friends and family!

Camping is strictly optional for those who would like to come to the Landcare Camp Out on The Mount on Saturday 17th October 2015, but for those that do stay over it’s a great way to end the day and take a break from life at the bottom of the hill.

Last year’s Camp Out was a huge success with over 150 people attending the big working bee to remove invasive pine trees from Mount Alexander. One of the great things about the day was how many families came along – and the kids didn’t hold back.

This year’s Camp Out will include the regular activities of a big ‘pine purge’ working bee, BBQ dinner, wildlife spotlighting walk with a Parks Victoria Ranger and Campfire Dessert.

Everyone is welcome to attend this years Camp Out. If you’d like to be part of it, register your attendance with local Landcare facilitator Max Schlachter on 5472 1594 or max@connectingcountry.org.au.

And camping really is optional if you’d prefer to head home on Saturday evening!

The Camp Out is a project of Harcourt Valley Landcare Group and is supported by Parks Victoria and Connecting Country. It is organised by a group of volunteers from Harcourt and surrounding areas.

 

 

Weeds, weeds ……. and no more weeds? Workshop – 25 October 2015

Posted on 5 October, 2015 by Connecting Country

David Cameron David Cameron from Arthur Rylah Institute shares some of his ecological knowledge.

David Cameron will share some of his detailed plant knowledge.

Spring is a beautiful time of year for native plants with yam daisies, chocolate lilies and Silver Wattles in full flower.  But alongside the natives, most landholders will also be all too aware of the competing weeds that have sprung up as well, from persistent ground covers like Soursob through to the thornier weeds like blackberry and gorse.

While the battle to manage weed spread can seem endless, in Connecting Country’s final workshop of the year ‘Back from the Brink’ on Sunday 25 October 2015 from 10am to 3pm, we will be taking participants to different sites in the Newstead area to have a look at where long-term weed control strategies have been effective, and identifying the key ingredients to successful weed management.

Accompanied by local Landcarers (who really know their weeds and the secret to community weed management), Matt McEachran from Bushtech will talk us through the most appropriate methods and the calendar for treating weeds, and David Cameron, senior botanist from the Arthur Rylah Institute, will lead us through some weed identification. Participants can’t fail to leave the workshop with a better knowledge of weeds and different methods their control.

This event is fully catered and transport is provided. Costs are $20 for Connecting Country members or concessions (membership is free) or $30 for non-members.

Register now for this event – places are limited. Contact Jules@connectingcountry.org.au or 5472 1594. Alternatively, Click here for more information on the workshop series, and CLICK HERE to download a registration form.

This program is supported by Connecting Country through funding from the Australian governmenthttp://cdn.connectingcountry.org.au/press/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/cc-education-program-logo_v2.2-large.jpg

 

16 Oct 2015 – New watering point on the Goldfields Track

Posted on 5 October, 2015 by Connecting Country

The Goldfield’s Track stretches between Bendigo and Ballarat, and along its way passes through some amazing forests, woodlands and historic landscapes in the Mount Alexander shire and immediate surrounds.

The Great Dividing Trail Association (GDTA) has invited members and other supporters of Connecting Country to attend the launch of the FIRST watering point on the Leanganook Track section of the Goldfields Track (between Bendigo and Castlemaine). GDTA funded the new tank and in consultation with Coliban Water, the tank was recently assembled and installed on site.  Coliban Water is GDTA’s partner in this initiative and they have announced that they will ‘host’ the tank for track users.

When is the launch: Friday 16 October 2015, from 11.00 am

Where:  At the new tank in Mandurang South, which is located east of the Goldfields Track, next to the Coliban Channel and near the Parks Victoria dry campsite.  Mandurang South Road is close by and Map 30 of the Goldfields Track Walking Guide refers to it.   A map is also attached (CLICK HERE).

RSVP:  For catering purposes by Friday 9 October 2015 to Alison Lanigan at gdtatrail@gmail.com

Refreshments will be provided after the launch.

 

It’s all happening in October….

Posted on 30 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

Hi everyone.  As is often the case, our local area is full of activity over the coming month.  Rather than sending out a stream of blogs over the next few days, we’ve done our best to package some of the main ones into a single extended blog.  Hope you can make it through to some of them.  There are also some grant applications and other items of interest below.  Chris

Connecting Country Annual General Meeting – 27 Oct 2015
The Connecting Country AGM – with guest speaker – is to be held on the evening of Tuesday 27 October.  Soup and yummy dipping breads to be provided as a light meal.  It will be held at the Castlemaine Golf Course, on the Pyrenees Hwy (between Castlemaine and Newstead).  Further details to follow soon.

Local Lives, Global Matters Conference – 16-18 Oct 2015
This international conference is being held in Castlemaine from Friday October 16th to Sunday October 18th.  They have just introduced affordable day and session passes, to ensure that the conference is also accessible to locals.  You can now buy a day ticket for $80 (waged) or $50 (unwaged). Sessional passes are $15 (waged) and $10 (unwaged). Three day tickets have been reduced to $240/$150.  You can also join others at the ‘Low food miles’ dinner, with music, on Saturday night, prepared by Castlemaine’s own ‘Growing Abundance’ ($35/$30).

“Immerse yourself for a day or two or three. Join conversations around local economies, social and ecological justice, reclaiming democracy and revitalised spirituality. Listen to keynote speakers from around the world, and hear about innovations generated in our own central Victorian back yard via panels, workshops and site visits.”

Connecting Country are involved in a panel discussion as part of the conference on the Saturday afternoon.  Connecting Country staff member Krista, Welshman’s Reef landholder Brian and Cactus-buster Ian will be talking about community efforts to improve landscape health.  Check out their full program on the conference website to learn more and register (click here). And they also have a Facebook page (click here).

‘Listening to the Wild’ with Andrew Skeoch – 9 Oct 2015
The sounds of our natural environment are comprised of many voices; birdsong, frog choruses, seasonal insect choirs, mammal calls… How have all these varied animal repertoires evolved? And how can we appreciate and find meaning in listening to nature’s soundworld around us?   Join the audience with naturalist and bioacoustic researcher, Andrew Skeoch, as he presents beautiful and fascinating recordings from wild places around the world, and inspires you to hear the world afresh.

Andrew is the guest speaker for the October meeting of the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club.  The evening starts formally at 7.30pm on Friday 9th October, but you are welcome to arrive earlier for a cup of tea and a chat beforehand.  Members and visitors welcome – no entry fee.  It will be held in the Fellowship Room, behind the Uniting Church on Lyttleton St, Castlemaine (next door to the Art Gallery and Museum).

Powerful Owls of Central Victoria – 15 Oct 2015
On Thursday 15 October, Newstead-based scientist Emmi Scherlies will be giving a community presentation on the Powerful Owls of central Victoria. Everyone is welcome to come along. It starts at 8pm at the Newstead Community Centre. It is a gold coin donation with all contributions going to the Newstead Landcare Group. In correspondence to CC, Emmi said, “Please pass on this invitation to anyone that you think might like to learn a bit about Powerful Owls. Hope to see you there!”

Oral History Training – 14-15 Oct 2015
The Nuggetty Land Protection Group (NLPG) is researching and writing of a landscape history of the Nuggetty district, which is an area about 5 kilometres north of Maldon. As part of the project, NLPG is collecting spoken and visual material from people living in, or having a connection with, the area.  In order to collect stories about the Nuggetty district, environmental historian, Robyn Ballinger, will be conducting FREE training workshops in Maldon on how to undertake oral history interviews.  The training is open to anyone and is completed in one 3-hour session. After the training is completed, it is hoped that each participant will conduct an audio oral history interview for the project using a supplied digital recorder.  Training sessions will be held at the Maldon Neighbourhood Centre on Wed 14 October (6.30-9.30pm) and Thurs 15 October (2.30-5.30pm).  Bookings are essential.

For further details, see the attached flyer (CLICK HERE), or contact Jane (janee@impulse.net.au 5475 2693) or Sue (sba56183@bigpond.net.au 0417 368 899).

The North Central Chat
The North Central CMA has just released the September 2015 issue of their ‘chat’ publication, which is filled with stories about Landcare and Watchwatch from the region (CLICK HERE).  It also contains information about new phone apps for weeds and for pest animals, and lists the successful applicants for the National Landcare Programme component of the 2015-16 Community Grants Program- North Central Victoria.  From the Mount Alexander Region, congratulations to Castlemaine Landcare, Golden Point Landcare and Malmsbury District Landcare.  The recipients of the state-based Landcare grants are yet-to-be announced.

FRRR Small Grants For Rural Communities – Round 28
Not-for-profit community based organisations can apply for grants up to $5,000 to support projects and activities that offer clear public benefit for communities in small rural, regional and remote locations in Australia, contributing to their social and community welfare, economic, environmental, health, education or cultural development. Applications from communities with a population of 10,000 or less will receive priority. Closing Date:  5pm Monday 5th October 2015.  For more information, either go to the FRR website (click here), freecall 1800 170 020 or email info@frrr.org.au.

Nominations open for the Victorian Rural Women’s Award
The government’s Rural Women’s Award honours the efforts of emerging leaders and creates opportunities for women to effect change in agricultural industries and rural communities. The Victorian finalists will be celebrated at a ceremony at Parliament House in March 2016, with the winner to receive a bursary of $10,000 to implement their project vision and participate in the RIRDC Australian Institute of Company Directors Course.  Staff at the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources are available to help prospective nominees through the process (contact Jon Graftdyk on 03 5772 0225 or Jon.Graftdyk@ecodev.vic.gov.au). Applications for the award are open until 30 October 2015. For more information about the award and to obtain a nomination form, visit the RIRDC Rural Women’s Award website (click here).

Photographic exhibition  – 10-24 Oct 2015
And don’t forget that the Newstead Railway Arts Hub is running an exhibition of the photos of Newstead-based naturalist, Curly Hartup – click here for our earlier blog about this event.

 

 

 

Alan ‘Curly’ Hartup – Newstead photographer and naturalist

Posted on 24 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

Via Geoff Park, Ken Hartup has made us aware of a wonderful exhibition of nature photographs by leading amateur photographer and long-time resident of Newstead, Alan Jesse Hartup (1915 –2004), which will be opened at the Newstead Railway Arts Hub on Saturday 10 October 2015 at 3pm.  Viewings thereafter are by appointment through until the 24 October.Curly

This exhibition is largely of bird life in Newstead and the surrounding districts, from Alan’s vast array of black and white photographs and colour slides. This selection of 20 works of black and white and prints from colour slides, span over 60 years of Alan’s impressive output. Beginning with his beloved 35m Voigtlander camera, he progressed to the brilliant level of work he achieved with his Mamiya and Rollieflex 2¼ square cameras and his great ability with dark room techniques.

Alan has been represented widely in amateur circles and has been a central figure in promoting, selecting and judging photography in Victoria and interstate. In preparing for this exhibition we have been reminded what a wonderful legacy Alan has left with images of the beauty and richness of our surroundings. He was a man at one with the natural world and one who took a vital interest in our environment and how to care for it. The exhibition was prompted by local field naturalists Geoff Park and Mrs. Joan Butler.

The attached flyer has further details (CLICK HERE).

 

Our majestic paddock trees

Posted on 23 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

Connecting Country Works Crew Member, Ned Brook, shares his love to our mighty paddock trees…

I noticed you out of the corner of my eye. I wasn’t supposed to be looking for you, we were meant to have our attentions on a malfunctioning drainage pipe, but I saw you all the same.

I saw you as we were driving over toward Maldon. The area surrounded on three sides with metamorphic mountains and a depression in between. This is where I found you.

I turned, after I caught a glimpse of you, and witnessed your full majesty. Standing there, tall and strong, healthy. A Yellow box. A beacon to birds and wildlife all around you. I was so taken back by you that I couldn’t concentrate on the pipe.

Holy Goat Cheese and Sutton Grange Organic Farm

Big Yellow

I thought to myself, you stand there, tall and magnificent, providing invaluable services to all around you. To the farmer who relies on you to keep that troublesome water table down below. To the birds who you feed, in their thousands, that visit you every year. To the koalas, possums, phascogales who you protect. Not to mention the teeming insects that live within and use your trunk and bark as a home.

It impressed me how you stand and provide this service with little need or thanks. But you’re beyond that aren’t you, you’ve been here far longer than any of us.

But there is something you need, that we can help with. You have a few friends in the paddock with you, some equally aged and wise old things that I’m sure you converse with regularly. But what about the young ones? Where are your children? Who’s there to take up the reigns when you finally decide to take a final rest? What you need is a fence.

We’ve helped out some brothers and sisters of yours, in a special paddock over in Sutton Grange. We planted friends for them, young boisterous things that will settle down with age. And we fenced them in, to protect them from the wandering cattle and mischievous sheep. But we wouldn’t even need to do this for you. All you need is a fence, some room to grow, and you’d do the job yourself.

 

Conservation fencing – from end posts to curlews

Posted on 22 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

Alex introduces participants to the tools of the trade.

Alex introduces participants to the tools of the trade.

A warm spring day greeted participants and presenters at Connecting Country’s third spring workshop on Sunday 13th Septmeber 2015, this time at the stunning bush property of Beth and Rick Higgins in Yandoit .

Three exclusion plots on the property generated lots of discussion about setting goals, location, choosing the right type of fence, and the on-going management requirements.

Presenters Alex Schipperen (Connecting Country’s Works Crew Team Leader), Judy Crocker (Landcare Facilitator for the Mid-Loddon Landcare Network – and involved in a program using fences to protect Bush Stone Curlews), and Paul Foreman, (Ecologist with Blue Devil Consulting) had plenty to offer in terms of practical experience and observations about conservation fencing.

To read more about the session or to access our online resources, please click here.

Our fourth and final workshop for 2015, Back from the Brink, will be focusing on dealing with potential problem areas on your property – like weed control, waterway enhancement and erosion management. Registrations are now open for what is set to be another very insightful session. Click here to download a registration form.

The education program is supported by Connecting Country through funding from the Australian government.

http://cdn.connectingcountry.org.au/press/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/cc-education-program-logo_v2.2-large.jpg

 

27 Sept 2015 – Cactus Control Day

Posted on 21 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

The Tarrengower Cactus Control Group has let us know that their next Wheel Cactus Field Day will be on Sunday 27th September near the corner of Whitlocks and Greenhill Bridge Roads, just a few kilometres southwest of Maldon. To get there, leave Maldon along Parkins Reef Road, continue along South Parkins Reef Road and finally veer to the left along Whitlocks Road. The route will be well signposted. The morning’s activities will begin at 10:30 am and end at 12:30 pm with an enjoyable free BBQ and friendly chat. If you have any queries please contact Ian Grenda on 0412-015-807 or check out their website at www.cactuswarriors.org.  A map is attached (CLICK HERE).

 

Enjoy Spring at Pilchers Bridge: a celebration of flora and fauna

Posted on 18 September, 2015 by Tanya Loos

Landholder Chris Kirwan has generously invited one and all to his magnificent Trust for Nature property on Saturday 26 September 2015.

Perched on the edge of the Pilchers Bridge Nature Conservation Reserve, Chris’s  property protects Heathy Dry Forest and Box Ironbark Forest. The vegetation provides important habitat for the endangered Lace Monitor, the vulnerable Brush-tailed Phascogale and the Powerful Owl, and listed Victorian Temperate Woodland Bird Community species such as Speckled Warbler.

Tanya Loos will be giving a short talk on the birds of the area – as Connecting Country has two monitoring sites very close to Chris’s property. She will be joined by “the moth-man”, ecologist Steve Williams who will give a short talk on moths and the understorey; Ian Higgins from North Central CMA, who will present on the local flora;  Patrick Pigott, Ecologist, Federation University who will discuss a nearby tree thinning trial,  as well as representatives from CFA, and Axe Creek Landcare.  CLICK HERE to see the flyer.

Saturday 26th September 2015

10.00 am to 4.00 pm

at 178 Huddle Road, Myrtle Creek

Sponsored by the Axe Creek Landcare Group  

Enquiries: Chris Kirwan Phone: 5439-6494   Email: cwkirwan@bigpond.com

Hanging around...

A magnificent Lace Monitor – very rare these days and obviously quite at home!

 

When nature and culture meet

Posted on 16 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

Lauren Cogo in action fencing with the Connecting Country Works Crew

Lauren Cogo in action fencing with the Connecting Country Works Crew

Working out in the field everyday gives Connecting Country’s Works Crew a unique opportunity to experience Mount Alexander Region’s nature at its best. Crew member, Lauren Cogo shares some of her recent discoveries…

“The cultural landscape we live in harbours natural secrets that have survived despite some tough and testing times. All of our developed infrastructure, our cleared lands and the creation of our homes have sadly displaced some native flora and fauna that call our region home. However, our native birds, reptiles and mammals often find way to coincide with our cultural influences on nature throughout time.

On a local scale, we can see changes that the native fauna is becoming adapting to these modifications to their home. As a works crew member I have witnessed these changes, throughout my time working with Connecting Country.

Trees and other flora are a highly valuable means to provide birds with shelter, a reliable food source for insects and hollows for mammals. But what happens when humans interfere, and use them for fence posts?

On one occasion I observed a nocturnal microbat using a timber log fence post as its very own roosting site, wedged in the folds of old hard bark, it flew out just as we were replacing the wire fence. It may have also been using this site for feeding on a range of insects that also live in the timber post, such as spiders, ants and moths. This repurposed timber is still useful in the landscape, despite it not standing proud and tall in its previous natural state.

A Eastern Bearded Dragon found under an old fence post

An Eastern Bearded Dragon found under an old fence post on a Connecting Country works site.

An old fence post, knocked down to be replaced, created the perfect shelter for the Eastern Bearded Dragon, Pogona barbata, currently listed as vulnerable on the Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria. During late winter, it was in a relaxed hibernation mode, known as torpor, and utilized the old timber post for shelter on the ground. They can also be found using your old tiles to bask on, old corrugated iron sheets to relax under and your large hollow trees for shelter.

On another occasion I spotted an uncommon Yellow- Footed Antechinus, Antechinus flavipes, moving rapidly over fallen timber and leaf litter within the Muckleford Creek and acting as the unlikely hero as it thrives in its threatened Box Ironbark Forest habitat around Central Victoria. Unlike many other Australian mammals, the Antechinus is diurnal so they can be seen using tree hollows and logs for habitat; day or night. They can also use our buildings to nest in, so watch out, you may have some company.

This gives me hope that the changes we’ve made to the landscape won’t stop our native critters from ensuring they have safe habitat to live in and a food source to survive. So whether your out in the paddocks, sitting by a creek or at home, keep an eye out for one of natures secrets, they may just knock on your door.”

By crew member, Lauren Cogo.

 

 

Spring brings new opportunities with Connecting Country

Posted on 14 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

As winter comes to an end, so does the planting season for revegetation.

Jarrod Coote out checking the growth of one of our direct seeding sites.

Jarrod Coote checking the growth at one of our direct seeding sites.

It’s been a busy few months for the Connecting Country team, who have been planting and direct seeding indigenous species on private lands around the Mount Alexander Shire. Our work aims to creating better links for wildlife movement between the existing important habitat areas.

This year brought a new team of crew members – Lauren, Ned and Jason. The crew, which turns over each year in order to make the opportunity available to as many local people as possible, have been focused on planting, weed and rabbit control and the installation of protective fencing – while also receiving formal and in-house training in a range of natural resource management techniques.

‘Often the diversity is there in the landscape ready and waiting – we just need to give the seeds a chance. Fenced off land allows not only the trees to establish and grow, but also those bushes and ground herbs and grasses that are such important wildlife habitat’ says Alex Schipperen, team leader of the works crew.

‘The beauty of this program is that we have funding available to partner with landholders and create habitat solutions that suit the landholder, and have great outcomes for biodiversity. Bringing areas of native vegetation onto a property also increases productivity by providing shade and shelter for stock, and increased protection for crops, so it’s a win-win situation.’

With the winter rush over, the team are now starting to plan the next round of projects. Land owners across the region who would like to see if their property is well placed to become part of these projects are encouraged to get in touch with Jarrod, Bonnie or Mel at the Connecting Country office on 5472 1594 or send an email to jarrod@connectingcountry.org.au .

This project has been supported by Connecting Country, through funding from the Australian Government.

 

16 Sept 2015 – Rabbit-buster Roadshow

Posted on 11 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

The Rabbit-buster Roadshow is moving across north-central Victoria, with the nearest event to the Mount Alexander Shire occurring on the evening of Wednesday 16 Sept at the Belvoir Park Golf Club in Ravenswood.  This event is being hosted by North Central CMA, who are pleased to bring Dr Tarnya Cox (Invasive Animals CRC) back to the region to present at this information session.

Information sessions will cover:
– Invasive Animals CRC Boost project (pathogenic calicivirus)
– Integrated rabbit management
– Landholder participation in the Boost project
– Case studies from local Landcare groups
– Where to next — the future release of a new strain of RHDV
– Rabbit Buster Month campaign.

For further information, see the attached flyer (CLICK HERE).

To RSVP to the North Central CMA (for catering purposes) – either call (03) 5448-7124  or email info@nccma.vic.gov.au.

 

Spring into Nature with TfN

Posted on 11 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

TFNEach year, our good friends at Trust for Nature run a series of field days across the state which highlight some of the incredible biodiversity values that are being managed and protected on private land.  On Sunday 4 October 2015, there will be a guided bushwalk walk from Mt Korong to Mt Kooyoora (near the Wedderburn-Inglewood area).

As part of Trust for Nature’s Spring into Nature event series, we open the gates to selected Victorian properties to demonstrate what can be achieved in the name of conservation. Come along to celebrate Victoria’s natural heritage, experience the diversity of our native plants and wildlife, and enjoy spring the way nature intended! Talk with landowners who have permanently protected their properties, enjoy guided walks while the wildflowers are on display, and learn from practical land management experiences that help our native plants and wildlife.

To see the full range of available events from across Victoria this spring – including the Mt Korong bushwalk – and also for RSVP details, follow this link to the TfN website (CLICK HERE).

 

Investigating biodiversity and its value across all scales

Posted on 7 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

Steve introduces us to a moths "super-food" - Cassinia.

Steve Williams introduces us to a moth “super-food” – Cassinia.

Did you know that Cassinia is a super-food for native moths? Or that lichens are actually the result of an algae and fungi working symbiotically? Twenty-four eager participants learnt this and so much more at Connecting Country’s Biodiversity in the Paddock workshop on Sunday 30th August 2015.

A huge thank you to landholders Peter Hansen and Sally Roadknight for inviting the Connecting Country team to their beautiful property at the foot of Mt Tarrengower to hear from presenters Cassia Read (on moss and lichens), Steve Williams (on moths) and Karl Just and Gordie Scott-Walker (on native flora).   Geoff Park (from Natural Decisions and Natural Newstead) expertly kept the flow, whilst highlighting the stunning bird life to be found all around in the property.

A farm tour allowed participants to see for themselves the impressive impact of tubestock planting, natural regeneration through removing grazing, and the effects of erosion control on the creek which funnels run-off from Mt. Tarrengower through their property. Gordie provided us with a detailed list of the reptiles and amphibians, and the hundreds of birds and plant species that he has observed on his parents property, reminding everyone of the gains to be had from regenerating land.

The message of the day from all four presenters was the huge value of biodiversity in the paddock, from the mosses and lichens which hold soil together, to the beautiful variety of moths which feed from and live on all kinds of plants – never has Cassinia arcuata (‘coffee bush’) appeared such a fascinating and valuable plant in the landscape.

Click here for more information and resources from this session.

Also, there are a few places remaining for our next workshop on Sunday 13 September on Conservation Fencing – click here for more information.

The education program is supported by Connecting Country through funding from the Australian government.

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Have your say: Landcare in Victoria

Posted on 4 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

You may have already heard about the review of the Victorian Landcare Program happening currently, as announced by the Victorian Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Lisa Neville. Community input into the review is encouraged via an online survey available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VictorianLandcare

The Victorian Landcare Program includes:

  • Victorian Landcare Grants delivered by each CMA,
  • Regional Landcare Coordinators based in each CMA and state-wide support team,
  • Aboriginal Landcare Facilitator,
  • Victorian Landcare Gateway website,
  • Victorian Landcare & Catchment Management Magazine,
  • Victorian Landcare Awards
  • Victorian Landcare Facilitators (68 facilitator positions – one of which Connecting Country has hosted for the Mount Alexander Region since early 2012 (Max Schlachter’s role))

The input provided during the consultation will be used to inform recommendations for the Victorian Government’s support for Landcare into the future. This is your opportunity to contribute, and any decisions made will only be as good as the information we provide! So don’t forget to write comments if you think the survey doesn’t ask all the questions you want to answer!

  • If you value Landcare …
  • If you believe Landcare contributes to your community and your local landscape …
  • If there are aspects of the Landcare program you want to keep …
  • Or if you think there should be changes …
  • If you are or have been involved in Landcare …
  • If you have an opinion about the future of Landcare  …
    Have your say!

 

13 Sept 2015 – Conservation Fencing Workshop

Posted on 3 September, 2015 by Connecting Country

Conservation Fencing’ will be the topic of Connecting Country’s third Spring 2015 Education workshop, to be held in the Yandoit area on Sunday 13 September. Registrations are open for what promises to be an educational and practical day!

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This is the fence that Rick and Beth built. Guess which side is excluding grazers…

Property owners Beth and Rick Higgins manage a large tract of bush in Yandoit, and over the years have established four exclusion zones, and experimented with differing approaches to revegetation over these sites. This session will use their property as an example to introduce participants to the role of conservation fencing.

Renowned ecologist Paul Foreman, from Blue-devil Consulting, shall introduce us to conservation fencing and its role in improving biodiversity including ways to design, place and measure its impacts on regeneration. With his detailed knowledge of local flora, he will take us on a plot ramble to see what’s there and what’s not and why.

Alex Schipperen, Team Leader for Connecting Country’s Works Crew team, will talk about types of fencing and give a practical demonstration in erecting a small exclusion plot. Alex has over 40 kms of fencing under his belt so he knows what he’s talking about!

We will also be fortunate to have Judy Crocker, Landcare Facilitator for the Mid Loddon Conservation Management Network, inspire us with her successful Bush-stone Curlew project that is protecting current breeding pairs by creating five 4-8ha, predator proof nesting sites in woodland areas.

Further details for the day including transportation will be provided upon registration. The workshop costs $30 or  $20 for Connecting Country members. Please contact Jules on jules@connectingcountry.org.au or call 5472 1594 to register. Click here for more information on the workshop series, and CLICK HERE to download a registration form. The program is supported by Connecting Country through funding from the Australian government.

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