Woodend Landcare

Working Bee: Sunday 27 May

Our last working bee of the season will be at Slatey Creek Blackgum Reserve in Ashbourne Rd on Sunday May 27th from 9am till 12pm. This is a pleasant area to work in and will provide a welcome break from the hard slog of the past three working bees.

There are numerous smaller gorse, blackberries and hawthorns to cut and poison, plant guards to attend to, and rubbish to pick up – so plenty of work for all. Wear suitable sturdy clothing, footwear, gloves and eye protection. Secateurs and loppers will be useful. Morning tea is provided. Parking is on the “No Through Rd” which accessible at the north end of the reserve and is 1.4 km along Ashbourne Rd from the High St traffic lights. Look for the blue Landcare trailer.

Newcomers and newer members are welcome to come and help with the important annual maintenance at this reserve. Throughout the remainder of the year local residents maintain the area. Contact woodendlandcare@gmail.com for further information.

Please note the Sunday working bees will resume on August 26th (location yet to be decided).

Slatey Creek Reserve contains some of the best Black Gums in Woodend.

Ecological Burn at Woodend Grassland Reserve

On the 17th of May, Macedon Ranges Shire undertook the first ecological burn at the Woodend Grassland Reserve since 2012. This is great news for the reserve, known by many ecologists as one of the best remnant grassland sites in the region. Regular ecological burning is an important management tool for grassland environments. Click here for more info on the reserve. Below are a few pictures of the burn which was professionally executed by environmental contractors Indig-We-Do (who have also done a lot of the weed control along Five Mile Creek over the past few years).

In partnership with the Upper Campaspe Landcare Network and Macedon Ranges Shire, Woodend Landcare recently commissioned ecologist Paul Foreman to provide an Rapid Flora and Vegetation Assessment of the grassland. The report provides a brief description of the flora and vegetation present (including a condition map) and, importantly, makes brief recommendations on future management objectives and strategies for the reserve. CLICK HERE to view this report.