The People Behind Woodend Landcare

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When people think of Woodend Landcare, they often think of tree planting, habitat restoration or conservation projects along Five Mile Creek. But behind every working bee and community activity are the volunteers who make it all happen.

Our members come from all walks of life. Some have been involved for years, while others have only recently discovered Landcare. As part of our Landcare Week article series, we’re introducing one of our newest members.

Volunteer Spotlight: Joye Stirling

Joye moved to Woodend with her husband in February this year after relocating from Wonga Park. Keen to stay connected to nature and become part of her new community, she joined Woodend Landcare soon after arriving.

Although she was new to Landcare, caring for the environment has always been part of her life. Joye spent her career working in agricultural seed testing and was looking for a way to get outdoors, contribute to the community and meet people with similar interests.

Since joining, she’s attended community working bees and regular Thursday Crew volunteer sessions. Her first working bee, helping plant seedlings and care for our existing revegetation sites along Five Mile Creek, made an immediate impression.

“We spread mulch, planted trees and grasses, and it was really rewarding seeing the transformation,” Joye said. “We walk along Five Mile Creek most mornings with the dog, so now we get to see what we’ve helped create. If a tree guard has fallen over, we’ll stop and put it back up. It feels worthwhile.”

For Joye, it’s not just the environmental work that stands out. “Everyone I’ve met has been friendly and welcoming,” she said. “They’re all genuinely interested in improving the local environment.” She has also enjoyed seeing volunteers of all ages working together, from families with young children to retirees.

Jaye’s advice for anyone considering getting involved is simple: “I’d definitely encourage them to come along. It’s a great way to get outdoors, meet like-minded people and do something positive for the local environment.”

Whether volunteers are helping at our working bees focused on invasive species removal or planting native plants to restore native habitat, every contribution makes a difference.

If you’ve ever thought about getting involved, we’d love to welcome you. No experience is needed, just an interest in our local environment and a willingness to lend a hand. Click here to learn more about getting involved with Woodend Landcare.

Joye Stiring is one of of Woodend Landcare’s newest members.

Nocturnal Neighbours along Five Mile Creek

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It may have been the night of the first frost of 2026, but the stillness provided perfect conditions for Woodend Landcare’s Nocturnal Neighbours event on April 18th. Twenty-five locals were lucky enough to grab tickets to this sold-out event, which was the first of four free community activities hosted by Woodend Landcare as part of the Fauna Discovery Project.

Before venturing out spotlighting, John Harris (Principal Zoology/Ecologist, Wildlife & Ecology), provided an informative presentation, introducing everyone to what native animals we might see in Woodend at night. We learnt what indigenous birds, bats, frogs and marsupials have been recorded within 5km of Woodend over the last 20 years, including curious facts about their lives. John showed photographs and played each animal’s call, so we could identify them by sound, even if we couldn’t see them hiding in the dark.

John also described various techniques, that professional fauna ecologists use for identifying nocturnal fauna and the animal ethics involved. He demonstrated an infrared camera, a camera trap, and showed some footage from these devices that has recently been obtained from private properties along Five Mile Creek.

Primed with this information and our new appreciation of the nocturnal world, we ventured out into the dark, our eyes and ears at the ready. Our first nocturnal neighbour was discovered a mere 50m from the Woodend Community Centre – a Brushtail Possum in the tree above the skate park. Then another near the pool and two Ringtail Possums near the tennis courts.

While youngsters Ivy and Ian kept count of Brushtail and Ringtail Possums, respectively, we also heard frogs, bats and the VLine train. At the end of our hour walking a few hundred meters along Five Mile Creek between the swimming pool, Jeffrey’s St and the new netball courts, Ivy and Ian had recorded 8 Brushtail and 7 Ringtail Possums.

Funded through a grant from Landcare Victoria, more events for the Fauna Discovery Survey Project will be held in Spring. Like this spotlighting activity, numbers will be limited as the greater the number of people, the more noise and disturbance, scaring away the wildlife we wish to see. Tickets for these future events will be available in September.

Black Gum Reserve – thriving with life

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You may have noticed the Black Gum Reserve between Woodend Tennis Club and Jeffreys Street, is looking wonderful. Planted seedlings are flourishing, insects and birds are fluttering about, and fungi are producing healthy soil, while the woodchips and lack of mowing are enabling natives to self-propagate. The area is teeming with life!

As with many of our green spaces in Woodend, the current state is the result of contributions from many individuals and groups over a considerable period.

Many hands over many years

Back in 2010, Woodend Scouts adopted the central “Scout Billabong” and joined Woodend Landcare to clear weeds and install 800 understorey plants in 2010 and 2013. Woodend Landcare’s Thursday Crew have undertaken annual work at the Scout Billabong since 2014.

On 9 June 2021 ferocious winds decimated many mature Black Gum (Eucalyptus aggregata) trees. Black Gum is listed as “threatened” in Victoria, and Woodend is the only place in Victoria where they grow, so protecting remnant mature trees is critical. Other than the revegetated Scout Billabong, the site was simply remnant Black Gum trees in mown ‘paddocks’.

In 2022, the Woodend Five Mile Creek Master Plan identified the area and protection of the remnant Black Gums as a high priority.

In 2023, Woodend Landcare joined with Macedon Ranges Shire Council (MRSC) and Woodend 1st Scouts to revegetate large sections throughout the site to help protect the remaining old trees as part of the Black Gum Biolink Project. MRSC staff prepared seven areas for revegetation within the 8,400m2 (2 acre) area. Come Sept 2023, the first seedlings were planted by MRSC and Scouts.

Woodend Landcare obtained funding from Bendigo Bank and MRSC to step-up the project. Two thousand indigenous seedlings were planted over four working bees between October 2024 and May 2025. Over 50 people from Landcare, Scouts, MRSC and the wider community contributed around 200 hours of volunteer effort.

Since 2024 the Thursday Crew have regularly tended to the site – watering seedlings during dry periods, fixing/removing plant guards, hand pulling weeds, dealing with fallen limbs and spreading wood chips.

In October 2024, Woodend Landcare volunteers were filmed at the site for Postcards, the travel and lifestyle tv show. This screening highlighted the importance of the work undertaken by volunteers to protect Black Gums.

On 26 April 2026, approximately three years after efforts started transforming the site, 24 volunteers of all ages spread woodchips on the last two beds around the Scout Billabong, weeded and planted another 120 seedlings. Finally, the bulk of the mulching and planting was complete (for now!). An amazing effort by all involved since 2023!

What’s next?

As with all things in nature, this site will continue to change. Intense hand weeding will continue until the reintroduced natives are big enough to fend for themselves against the invasive weeds, then only general maintenance will be required. The planted natives will grow, die and new species will be planted to suit the new microhabitats, further increasing the biodiversity.

Compared to before Woodend Landcare and associated groups started caring for this site, now the old remnant Black Gum trees are protected, and the biodiversity is exponentially greater. There are spaces not just for people, but a myriad of insects, birds and other animals to enjoy and thrive.

Woodend Landcare: A slow and steady story of change

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3 to 9 of August 2026 is Landcare Week – an annual celebration of local environmental volunteers and groups. This year is particularly special – it has been 40 years from when Landcare first began in Victoria. To celebrate, Woodend Landcare will share a series of news articles featuring some of our sites, volunteers and stories of change.

First up, Woodend Landcare was recently featured in the Landcare Victoria 40th Anniversary online magazine. The article is a worthy acknowledgement of the countless hours of volunteer work that has gone into the group and natural places around Woodend over many years. It is a brilliant read – check out the link below.

If there is one thing that sits at the heart of the Woodend Landcare group, it is not a single project or planting day, but a commitment that has quietly endured for more than three decades.

https://www.landcarevic.org.au/landcare-magazine/landcare-magazine-winter-2026/a-slow-and-steady-story-of-change

Thanks to all of our volunteers and members for your support of Woodend Landcare and our natural environment. Every contribution – big or small – is valuable. Thanks also to Belinda Pritchard, North Central Regional Landcare Coordinator, for the writing this article and to Nicole Middleton, Woodend Landcare President, for providing the inspiration, information, photos and editing.

Feeling inspired?

Woodend Landcare always welcomes new volunteers and members. Our calendar of events has recently been updated:

Woodend Landcare Calendar 2026 – V7.docxDownload

We hope to see you at our next Sunday Working Bee on the 23 August 2026 around Jo’s Bridge. Click here to find out about more ways to be involved in Woodend Landcare – including becoming a member, donating or joining the Thursday crew.

You can learn more about local Landcare groups this Thursday 9 August as part of Council’s Experience Landcare: Stories from the Macedon Ranges event. Click here for more information and to register.

Experience Landcare: Stories from the Macedon Ranges

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As part of Landcare Week, Macedon Ranges Shire Council is hosting a special evening celebrating the passion, achievements and experiences of local Landcare groups.

You’ll hear directly from local Landcare leaders as they share their stories, successes and the lessons they’ve learned along the way:

  • Helen Scott (Newham & District Landcare) – sustaining a strong and active Landcare group through community connections and long-term commitment.
  • Peter Sporle (Pipers Creek & District Landcare) – building partnerships that deliver positive environmental outcomes, including the group’s work with the Victorian Gorse Taskforce.
  • Kate Lawrence (Macedon & Mount Macedon Landcare) – creating an inclusive, welcoming volunteer community through thoughtful engagement.
  • Nicole Middleton (Woodend Landcare) – delivering successful large-scale projects and the environmental and community benefits they create.

This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow volunteers, exchange ideas and celebrate the outstanding work being undertaken across the Macedon Ranges.

Thursday 6 August 2026, 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm (program below)

Woodend Community Centre – corner of High Street & Forest Street, Woodend

A light supper will be provided.

Bookings are essential – click here to book.

Stories from the Macedon Ranges – Event Program 2026Download