Woodend Landcare is hosting a free community barbeque and Landcare information booth on Saturday 17 March, 11 am – 2pm at the corner of Urquhart and Hendley streets, Woodend.

Our Thursday Crew is looking for more volunteers to continue fire hazard reduction and native flora restoration activities along the rail reserve beside Urquhart Street, west of High Street. This is an extension of similar work done along Quarry Road and is being assisted by a Department of Sustainability and Environment Volunteer Action Grant.

The Thursday Crew is a team of just over a dozen volunteers, who meet each week in the great outdoors, tackling weeds and restoring remnant bush as well as being part of a friendly social network.

Landcare members will be on site at the BBQ to welcome all interested locals, including potential volunteers, to enjoy a barbeque in this lovely park-like setting. This is a great opportunity to learn about local plants, get to know your neighbours, meet new people and connect with your community.

For more information about the event and to register your interest, please contact Kate 5427 2312 or Norma 5427 4918.

Woodend Landcare looks forward to seeing you at our working bees and other events this year!

To view our planned events for 2012, click here for the updated calendar.

Peter is currently finalising bookings for the Chainsaw Training with Luke Dam. It will be held at 9.30am on Saturday the 12th of February. For more information or to confirm your spot, please email Peter at pandaY@bigpond.com.

There are also some other up and coming Landcare events which you might like to add to your fresh 2012 diary.

• Twilight working bee: Saturday 3rd of February  (Wood St)… more details coming soon.
• Macedon Ranges Sustainable Living Festival: Saturday 11th of February (rear of 47 Forrest St, Woodend). For more information on the festival, click here.

Woodend Landcare is proud to support the 2012 Macedon Ranges Sustainable Living Festival.

We will have a stall on the day so please come and say hello.

For more information on the festival visit www.mrsgonline.org.au.

Our first chainsaw training session with Luke Dam was very useful to the participants. Luke is an excellent trainer and he has agreed to do a more “in-depth” session on Sunday morning 12th February next year. The first session was mainly about safety. This one will be a full 3 hours from 9.30AM to 12.30PM and will include the safety aspects again, but also many handy tips around the purchase, ownership and basic maintenance of a saw.

It will not be an accredited course, so there will be no diploma, but you will come away with some very handy information and maybe a few new skills. Even if you have used a saw for decades, as I have, you will still find the course informative.

If you have a saw, please bring it, together with ear protectors, goggles, boots and gloves if you have them. Landcare does have some protective gear if you don’t have any. There will be a small charge for non-Landcare members which will be no more than $20. More information nearer the day but we do need an indication of who will be coming, so please let me know.

Cheers, Peter

VENUE – NORTHERN END OF PYKE STREET NEAR THE CHILDREN’S PARK

DATE – SUNDAY 12TH FEBRUARY 2012

TIME – 0930 – 1230

COST – UP TO $20

RSVP – Peter Yates, pandaY@bipond.com