The first is a Bird Forum on Saturday, 18 October with talks by twitcher extraordinaire Sean Dooley, as well as two local birders Ron Fink and Bruce Donaldson. This will be a great chance to find out about native birds, as well as the work of the Macedon Ranges Indian Myna Action Group in controlling that pest species. Limited spots are available, so reserve your place with William Terry on 5421 9674 or at wterry@mrsc.vic.gov.au. Woodend Neighbourhood House 2pm – 4pm, nibbles on arrival; please arrive at 1.30pm for prompt start. Link to Shire site

The second event is a Bird Count and we’re encouraging all Landcarers to take part in this easy 20-minute backyard survey. The aim is to collect data to monitor and track distribution and numbers of birds in the Macedon Ranges, as well as gauge threats. Check out the Shire website or the Landcare window for more info.

Thanks to the 10 wonderful staff from Western Water who approached us about doing a morning of volunteering, and then did so on Wednesday, 17 September 2014.

We cut and painted a mass of blackberry in various plantings near the weir at Ruby McKenzie Park, leaving six massive piles for Council to collect.
The Western water team were desk- and field-workers, and they worked cheerfully and tirelessly despite the thorns. We provided morning tea and feel well pleased with our end of the bargain.

Many thanks to Nicole Cooper, Senior Communications Advisor, for the
initiative.

When: Sunday, 28 September

Time: 9am – 12 noon

Where: Wood St

Parking: at end of Wood St, near Badger Removals

Bring: secateurs, gloves, sharp knife, whipper snipper

Morning tea provided

Tasks cutting and painting of woody weeds, plant guard removal and maintenance, whipper snipping in plantings.

This important tidy up is to tackle gorse re-growth at a site on the creek that has been rehabilitated by Landcare and planted out with hundreds of native trees, shrubs and grasses, as well as over 20 exotic specimen trees. Please help us give a little TLC to the native revegetation work done to date and hit the gorse before it seeds!

For further details contact David on 5427 4117 or email us

Have you got plants in your garden and have no idea what they are? This Saturday morning you can bring along a photo or sample to the Woodend Library and local botanists – Adam Barber and Bianca Aquilina – will identify them for you!

As part of Landcare week the Woodend Landcare team are running a weed/native identification session on Saturday, 6 September from 10.30am to 11.30am at Woodend Library. Pop in with your plant or photo on your way to the farmers’ market.

Spring is just around the corner and our Sunday working bees are back after the winter break

When: Sunday, 24 August

Time: 9am till 12 noon

Where: Slatey Creek Reserve

Directions: 1.4 km from the traffic lights along Ashbourne Road

Parking: On the “no through Rd” that runs along the East side of the Reserve

Morning tea provided

Tasks include burning off an existing pile of branches, picking up and burning off some other fallen branches throughout the reserve, plant guard maintenance, cutting and painting of woody weeds, pick up roadside rubbish, digging a trench to redirect water flow from a recently installed drain, etc.

This is an annual tidy up at Slatey Creek so all help is welcome and the reserve is a very pleasant location to carry out some community environmental work.

For further details contact David on 5427 4117 or email us