Sunday Working Bees are Back!
We are very pleased to be starting our Sunday working bees again. To make up for lost time, we are planning two working bees in February!
On Sunday the 7th of February from 9 am, we will be working in the paddocks near the Children’s Park. Tasks will include woody weed removal, ivy removal, plant guard maintenance and a check of the ornamental trees Landcare have planted in this area. The best place to park is near the gym in Wood St. Look out for the blue Landcare trailer to find us.
On Sunday the 28th of February from 9 am, we will target willow and gorse regrowth downstream of Romsey Road. Park at Ruby Mackenzie Park and meet us near the Shirley Park weir.
Please register your interest in attending our working bees or Thursday Crew by emailing
woodendlandcare@gmail.com. Newcomers are always very welcome.
Due to COVID restrictions we encourage participants to bring their own secateurs, gloves, and protective eye and ear wear. A tasty morning tea is provided at our Sunday Working Bees. Landcare events will be cancelled if a total fire ban is declared in the Central district.
Let’s hope we can get in a more consistent run of working bees this year as, after the wet past year, the weeds have not taken a break. Our volunteer work is more important than ever.
Flash back – Planting ‘the Paddocks’
Ten years ago we planted advanced ornamental trees at the extension to the Children’s Park – affectionately known as ‘the paddocks’. These days the Macedon Ranges Shire Council parks crew do a fantastic job mowing and keeping it looking neat and tidy. When we get dry spells, David Gossip is deeply committed to watering the newer trees. This area is already nice, but will only get better with some great shade and autumn colour trees as they mature. This is where our first working bee for 2021 will be held – we hope to see you there!
“The paddocks” planting 2011
“The paddocks” today
Thursday Crew in Action
The Thursday crew is also back in action on many important sites around town. The before and after photos below show the impact of their recent activity cleaning up the Trees for Mum site near Lake Earnshaw. Thursday Crew working bees are held every Thursday morning at 9 am at different venues around Woodend during most of the year. Contact Dave Bower if you would like to get involved:
dvbower65@gmail.com.
Before Thursday Crew
After Thursday Crew
Works happening along the creek and around town
We are very pleased to see some important weed control being undertaken along Five Mile Creek near Bowen Street. The tidy up under the powerlines looks amazing – this is the last remaining really bad area between the High St bridge and Romsey Road to have the woody weeds removed and it will be so much easier now to access and maintain that area.
Bowen St Hill – Before
Bowen St Hill – After
Down by the creek, there is a big oak tree which will be a beautiful sitting place in the years to come. Local contractor, Pat Mansbridge from Bushco Land Management, has done an excellent job. If you get a chance, don your work boots and take a look!
Further downstream, a Working for Victoria Crew from the North Central Catchment Management Authority have been removing weeds along creek behind the pool. Hosted by Macedon Ranges Shire Council, the crew have also been working in the Woodend Grassland Reserve, Quarry Road Retarding Basin, and Old Ashbourne Road Reserve.
Thanks to the Environment Team at Macedon Ranges Shire Council for making all of this important restoration work happen around town. We (Council and Landcare) will now have to be vigilant over the coming years to maintain these efforts.
Video – Celebrating the Wildflowers of Newham and Woodend
We have enjoyed working with Newham Landcare to develop a photographic display that celebrates the wildflowers found in Woodend’s Grassland Reserve and Quarry Road Reserve, and along the rural roadsides of the Newham district. Produced as part of the Sustainable Living Festival, you can watch it here: https://mrsg.org.au/environment.
How many plants can you name?
A Box of Habitat Update
There was a tremendous amount of interest in our ‘Box of Habitat’ initiative. We received orders for 95 Boxes of Habitat from 34 Woodend residents. That is some 4560 native plants! What an incredible outcome this will be for our native animals, birds and insects.
We have submitted our order to Tree Project who have confirmed that the plants are now being grown by their committed volunteers. Woodend Landcare has also ordered some additional (and more difficult to grow) species through Western Plains Flora. This will help to ensure recipients get a really interesting and diverse Box of Habitat. We anticipate the boxes will be ready for pick up in late winter / early Spring this year.
Looking ahead – Woodend Landcare’s 2021 Calendar
Click here to view our 2021 calendar. To help you easily update your diary, here is a snippet through till May 2021:
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Woodend Landcare 
Am keen to continue helping with morning teas.
Please note: we have a new email address; see above.
Regards,
Chris. Holmes