Education Events
Connecting Country runs a dedicated education and engagement program each year that aims to provide information, practical skills and inspiration.
This year we are kicking off with our first Landcare Link-up for Landcare group representatives on Sunday 26th February 2017 at 8:30am. This Link-up will run a little differently to others, as it will be held outside (location TBA) and in the morning to avoid the hottest part of the day. The focus will be on cultural heritage awareness in the Mount Alexander region. On the 17th July we will host another Landcare link-up with the FTLA about group governance. To find out more about these events contact our local Landcare Facilitator Asha on 5472 1594 or by email on asha@connectingcountry.org.au
Next is the KBA Guardians training workshop on the 18th March 2017 in the off year for the Feathered Five Festival. BirdLife International has designated hundreds of areas of conservation importance around the world known as Key Biodiversity Areas. And we have one here on our very own doorstep – we are part of the Bendigo Box Ironbark area. ( They used to be now as IBA’s: Important Bird areas). This event is in partnership with Birdlife Australia and is intended to help build capacity through training on bird identification and assessment of habitat and threats.
We are also looking forward to the Camp Out on the Mount event on the 1st and 2nd April. We will be working with Friends of the Box Ironbark Forest, Harcourt Valley Landcare Group and Parks Victoria to host a fun weekend for families and Landcarers as campers touch base with the natural assets on the mount. With environmental activities and helping with managing feral pine populations in the park this weekend has traditionally been a great way to meet others, learn about the environment and be active in taking care of this beautiful place we call Mount Alexander.
During late April and early May we will be running three workshops about that essential element, water. Titled ‘Water in our Landscape’, this mini program of workshops will cover, habitat creation in dams, ecological thinning and building pool and riffle systems.
If you’re interested in birds, (who isn’t?) in late April we will be running a Buloke and Diamond Firetail workshop. Tanya will also be running her monthly birdwatching walks throughout the year, for more information about these walks, please email her at tanya@connectingcountry.org.au or by phone on 5472 1594.
June will be a busy month as we celebrate the achievements over the last five years of the Connecting Landscapes program on the 6th and work with the Little Habitat Heroes Project to hold their community planting day at the old silkworm farm on Mount Alexander on June 17th.
In 2017 we will continue to be active in the press and on-line. Our monthly ‘Nature News’ articles in the first week of each month in the Midland Express are something to look out for. You can also always keep in touch via our Connecting Country Facebook Page – do ‘like’ us!
The best way to stay informed is via the Connecting Country webpage and our regular emails and blogs, you can subscribe here. Alternatively you can contact Naomi for more information about the Education and Engagement program on 5472-1594 or naomi@connectingcountry.org.au.
You can find out more about our past education program: a summary of each session, photos and associated resources are provided in the links below.
