Our “new look” education events in 2016
Posted on 29 December, 2015 by Connecting Country
As 2015 draws to a close, many of us in the Connecting Country office have been thinking ahead. For the past six years, we have run a popular education program predominantly featuring a series of technical workshops and guest-speaker events. In 2016 we plan to continue with our education program – only this time a little differently….
Local birds, and particularly the ‘feathered five’, is our focus for 2016. The feathered five comprise the acrobatic Brown Treecreeper, the elegantly spotted Diamond Firetail, the post-sitting, tail-wagging Jacky Winter, the handsome Hooded Robin, and the mysterious ‘oooom-ing’ Painted Button-quail. Connecting Country has picked these five woodland birds as ambassadors for habitat restoration efforts across the region.
Our inaugural Feathered Five Festival will kick off the year on the 19th and 20th March 2016 – a two day celebration of bird-watching, walks and talks.
Then there will be biannual nest box checks, a ‘sticky beak’ tours of on-ground work projects, regular bird walks, landcare link-ups, and one of our favorite events, the Camp Out on the Mount.
In August, in partnership with the North Central Catchment Management Authority, we’re very pleased to host a Farm Expo which will cover diverse topics such as holistic grazing, water on farms, biodiversity in the paddock, and small farm diversification.
We’ll be celebrating Landcare week in September in a big way with our local grade five and six students at the ‘Mount Alexander Schools Landcare Day‘. We’ll also be supporting local groups to get involved in the Landcare Open Day.
In conjunction with the Castlemaine Festival of Gardens, in November we will be celebrating gardens too – wildlife friendly gardens. There will be workshops and resources made available as well as a inspiring open garden or two to explore.
In 2016 we’d also like to be more active in the press and on-line. Watch out for our monthly ‘Nature News’ articles in the Midland Express. We are developing some exciting and informative on-line videos for our Connecting Country vimeo page. And you can always keep in touch via our Connecting Country Facebook Page – do ‘like’ us!
More information about all of these activities will be available in the new year. The best way to stay informed is via the Connecting Country webpage and our regular emails and blogs. Alternatively you can contact Krista for more information on 5472-1594 or krista@connectingcountry.org.au. (NB: The office is closed from 25 December 2015 and re-opening on 4 January 2016.).
In the meantime we wish everyone a safe and enjoyable festive season, thanks for your support throughout 2015 – and don’t forget to top up your bird baths!!
Dear Connecting Country crew,
Welcome back to 2016 and thank you for all you do to bring awareness and education about our natural environment into everyday life.
As one of the early community members I’m very proud to be associated with such a great project.
Education program looks terrific. Well done – off to a great start!
Thanks Julie. It’s been fantastic to have your on-going support and involvement.
We’re looking forward to the 2016 program as well.
Chris