Grant

Fauna Discovery Survey of Five Mile Creek

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We are excited to announce a new project for 2026. During this year, Woodend Landcare will discover what animals live in and along Five Mile Creek.

Woodend Landcare has been caring for and revegetating Five Mile Creek through Woodend for 30 years. In many sections, the seedlings planted decades ago are now fully grown. They provide homes and food for a diverse array of animals. We know what plants grow along the Creek. However, we have little idea about what animals have moved into the revegetated habitat.

The aim of this project to discover what animals live in and visit the Five Mile Creek riparian corridor. This information will be logged on the official Victorian Biodiversity Atlas and used to guide future work. If it is decided that specific species need nesting boxes, Woodend Lions and Woodend Men’s Shed have offered to help.

Grant funding provided by the North Central Catchment Management Authority and Landcare Victoria will support this project. A fauna ecologist will be engaged to undertake several surveys. These surveys aim to discover and identify the animals. Survey methods such as spotlighting, harp traps, nest box checking, eBird and eDNA will be used.

Australian Wood Ducks, Five Mile Creek, Woodend. N. Middleton.

Extra funds needed for eDNA sampling

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a high-tech biodiversity sampling method. It involves analysing trace amounts of DNA. This DNA is shed by animals into their surrounding environment, such as the water of Five Mile Creek. eDNA analysis will provide us with a list of species that live near and in the Creek, including vertebrates (fish, mammals, etc) and macroinvertebrates (worms, yabbies, tiny water bugs, etc). Macroinvertebrates are a crucial indicator of water quality. They are near the bottom of the food chain. Therefore, they are food for bigger animals such as fish and platypus.

The eDNA part of the project has come in $3900 over budget, but we consider it an important element of the project. We are therefore seeking donations to help cover the cost. For information, or if you would like to contribute (tax deductions are available), please contact woodendlandcare@gmail.com.

Freshwater Crayfish (yabby) hole, Five Mile Creek, Woodend. N. Middleton.

Community Events

As part of the project, we will be running four free community events where you can learn about and help discover animals along Five Mile Creek:

  • Sat 18 April – Fauna surveying – Discovering nocturnal animals.
  • Fri 9 October – Fauna surveying (Teenagers event). What animals live in our patch? (Spotlighting and more).
  • Sat 10 October – Breakfast with the birds. Join us at sun rise to hear and learn about the Woodend dawn chorus.
  • Sun 8 November – Project wrap up. What we found, what’s missing and what’s next.

Details will be available on our website and in the Woodend Star closer to the date.

Spotted Marsh Frog near Five Mile Creek, Woodend. N. Middleton.

Upcoming Working bees (9 am Sundays):

Thanks to everyone who joined us on Sunday for our first working bee of the year. Our next working bees are:

  • 22 February – Five Mile Creek near Crisp St.
  • 1 March – Clean Up Australia Event. Meet at Information Centre. BYO gloves, appropriate clothing/shoes and be sun smart.

Our Thursday Crew continue to meet most weeks at various locations around town. Contact woodendlandcare@gmail.com to get your name on the mailing list to find out where to meet.

Hope to see you there!

White necked Heron near Five Mile Creek, Woodend. Ann Yates.

Woodend Landcare – August 2021 News

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TONIGHT! Grassland Talk and AGM – Monday 16 August 2021

A reminder that our AGM and talk are being held online tonight, Monday 16 August at 7.30pm. Email woodendlandcare@gmail.com for the zoom meeting link.

Martin Roberts will be speaking about the value and importance of local grasslands. These are the most threatened ecosystem types in our region. Martin will discuss the management of a valuable existing grassland – the Woodend Grassland Reserve – including the role of ecological burns. He will also highlight the steps taken to recreate a grassland at the Quarry Rd retarding basin. Martin Roberts is the Bushland Reserves Officer at Macedon Ranges Shire Council.

Woodend Grassland Reserve by Hubert Weisrock

Working Bee – Sunday 22 August 2021 – maximum of 10 adults

Our Working Bees start back this month on Sunday 22 August from 9am-12pm. This month we will meet at the Five Mile Creek embankment on Campaspe Dr near Heron St. Please park in Campaspe Park (over the creek from Bowling Club).

Please bring gumboots, waterproof clothing, own gloves, secateurs & eye protection. For this event, please also bring own morning tea. We’ll be cutting, painting and hand-weeding emerging woody weeds below the embankment. We will also look to work in the area opposite the Children’s Park.

Important – Due to strict limit of 10 adults, please RSVP attendance (email woodlandcare@gmail.com) in advance. When you arrive, please use the QR code near the tool trailer to check in.  

Please check our Facebook page for any late cancellations due to weather or Covid. Any questions, email us at woodendlandcare@gmail.com.

Five Mile Creek near the Campaspe Drive embankment

Box of Habitat Update

Recipients will be pleased to know that they are close to receiving their long awaited Boxes of Habitat.

Most of the orders from Tree Project have now been picked up. It was a pleasure to meet Kalai Shaw and Suelin Haynes – who are the coordinators of the volunteers growing our order (pictured below). These volunteers have been growing our seedlings all year and include members from Caulfield Gardening Club and a women’s refuge center in St Kilda.

Tree Project is a amazing program to be part of. If you would like to find out more, visit the Tree Project website here. They are now looking for growers and landholders to order for 2022.

Our boxes of habitat will be mixed and distributed as soon as our order from Western Plains Flora arrives. Helpers to mix the boxes are most welcome – let Krista know if you can.

After the storm, we were lucky enough to source an extra 500 plants which meant we could give out a additional 16 boxes of plants. Most of these have gone to people who missed out earlier and to properties that were badly impacted by the storms. The boxes looked great (see pic below), however the boxes coming soon will be even more diverse. A big thanks to Raina Kilner for the plants and to Jen Firestone for helping deliver and mix up the boxes.

Shall we do it again 2022?

We are thinking about offering this Box of Habitat program again. It would be good to know the level of interest before we commit. If you are keen in being involved and planting some habitat next year, please email woodendlandcare@gmail.com or call Krista on 0408 204 449.

Note that, if we go ahead, there will likely be some adjustments to the program including the price and timing. We want to ensure we get plants at the best time for planting and that we fully cover the costs involved. We are also open to any feedback from those involved this year.

Community Grant Success! Five Mile Creek Masterplan

We are pleased to share the we have been successful in obtaining a Council community grant for the development of a Masterplan for Five Mile Creek. A masterplan will help Woodend Landcare and Council work together to enhance Woodend Five Mile Creek over the next ten years or more.

It will guide habitat restoration projects, support grant applications and inform infrastructure needs to improve the passive recreation and access to the creek for a broad range of users. Most importantly for Woodend Landcare, the masterplan will ensure future actions have the best ecological outcome for the creek and its surrounds and will ensure this work is supported by the local community.

Development of a masterplan for the creek and its environs was a key action in the recent community climate action plan developed for Woodend, and in the broader Five Mile Creek project being developed with North Central Catchment Management Authority.

We are keen to get started on this exciting project and will encourage lots of input when the time comes. *watch this space*

Healthy Landscapes Program

Readers may be interested in the following programs about regenerative agricultural practices to help you improve your land, soil, water and livestock in the shires of Macedon Ranges, Hepburn and City of Greater Bendigo:

  • Individual, free, on-farm advice
  • Webinars, workshops and field days
  • Holistic Grazing Management short course
  • Farmer discussion group

Click here to find out more about the program and to register your interest.

The program has a newsletter covering upcoming events, interesting tips and other ways to be involved in the regenerative farming world – subscribe to the newsletter here.

Draft Updated Environment Strategy

You are invited to share your feedback on Council’s updated Environment Strategy.

The previous Environment Strategy was adopted in 2016 and since that time, Council has delivered most of the strategy’s actions such as preparation of a Biodiversity Strategy, Climate Change Action Plan and Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy.

The vision and key principles from the original strategy have been retained, and the updated strategy responds to a range of emerging priorities identified by the community through previous engagement processes. It is also aligned with Council’s recent declaration of a climate emergency, the development of technologies in the energy sector, and changes at a state and national level to legislation and environmental priorities.

Feedback is invited until Friday, 10 September and can be submitted via an online survey or to environment@mrsc.vic.gov.au.

Woodend Landcare September News: Celebrating wildflowers and much more!

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Wildflowers Working Bee: 23 September

Our next Sunday working bee is on the 23rd of September from 9am till 12 pm in the Landcare protected wildflower zone on the railway reserve near the intersection of Quarry Rd and Washington Lane. This area is arguably one of the best examples of wildflowers within Woodend.

Our Landcare group has erected signage at this site to minimise mowing to an access track. This will enable the numerous lillies, orchids, herbaceous perennials and grasses to thrive. We are also protecting the existing shrubs and emerging tree seedlings.

Last Spring we had a successful working bee at this same location but there is still more to be done. Tasks include removing some non indigenous shrubs and lots of woody weed removal of predominantly broom. These weeds are threatening the existing indigenous vegetation.

Please join us to lend a hand and learn about the biodiversity of this site and why incorrect mowing practices are such a threat.

The site is accessible by parking in Peter Godden Drive or Washington Lane. Parking on the reserve will be limited to works vehicles only. Bring gloves, eye protection, suitable clothing and secateurs, loppers and pruning saws. Look for the Landcare blue trailer. Morning tea is provided.

For further details contact woodendlandcare@gmail.com. Newcomers are most welcome.

More info:

Vegetation of Quarry Road – Report by Karl Just, November 2016

Woodend Landcare Mowing Guidelines July 2017

quarry-rd-poster

Take a walk with the wildflowers: 6 October

Explore the wonders of wildflowers in full bloom with a guided walk through the Woodend Grassland Reserve on Saturday 6 October from 2pm to 4pm.

Renowned for its rich diversity of herbs, lilies and orchids, the Woodend Grassland Reserve is considered to be the most significant area of natural grassland vegetation in the region, boasting a number of rare species within it.

Central Victorian botanist and ecologist Paul Foreman, who has over 20 years’ experience in land management and nature conservation, will lead the walk. Highlights likely to include Slender Sun Orchids, Flax Lilies, Parrot Peas, and the Nationally Endangered Matted-flax Lily.

The Woodend Grassland Reserve is located next to Buffalo Stadium at 1 Forest Street, Woodend.

This free event is a partnership between Council and Woodend Landcare and being held to coincide with National Biodiversity Month.

For more information or to book, visit mrsc.vic.gov.au/environment-events or call 5421 9660.

Woodend Primary Junior Landcare Biodiversity Grant Success!

Congratulations to Woodend Landcarer and local parent Nicole Middleton and her team of budding young gardeners for their successful application for a Junior Landcare Biodiversity Grant. The $4700 grant will see the upgrade the Woodend Primary School Community Children’s Garden and establishment of a indigenous plant border.

Bunnings and the Woodend Men’s Shed have already pitched in to make new raised garden beds pictured below. The new funds will cover supplies to improve the plant propagation area and an indigenous garden with educational plaques. Woodend Landcare will assist with ordering plants, equipment and the planting day in September 2019.

Nicole runs a Kids Garden Club every Monday lunch time. The 40 keen students who attend have already helped prepare the indigenous garden with newspaper and wood chips. They’re excited by the fact that they’re creating habitat for wildlife.

201712WPS Community Childrens Garden Dec2107

Get involved in platypus distribution mapping

As a result of  recent successful funding the Upper Campaspe Landcare Network (UCLN) is embarking upon a one year project to map platypus distribution on the Upper Campaspe Catchment on the Campaspe and Coliban Rivers in conjunction with the Australian Platypus Conservancy.

The project will be launched on the banks of the Campaspe River on 26th October in Kyneton at 1.30. You are invited to be involved as a Citizen Scientist in this project. Please email uclandcare@gmail.com to find out more.

UCLN A4 Platypus poster_EMAIL

Simple things that make a big differnce

Our Landcare Week library display this year has the theme: “simple things can make a big difference to our native plants and animals”. Budding junior landcarer and St Ambrose Primary student, Anna Moloney made these posters to help us spread the word. The display will be available through the school holidays. A huge thanks to Lulu from Woodend Library for being so supportive of our group.

20180831_161610_resized_1

drive safe poster Anna Moloney

St Ambrose student and budding junior landcarer, Anna Moloney. made these excellent posters for Woodland Landcare.

big difference poster anna monoley

Intrepid Landcare Leadership Retreat Macedon Ranges

The Upper Deep Creek Landcare Network is very pleased that Intrepid Landcare will kick-start in the Macedon Ranges this October with a weekend retreat for passionate young people!

Who: the leadership retreat is open to anyone* aged 18 – 35 years, who is up for making a difference and having some fun doing it. *Please note that priority will be given to young people residing in the Macedon Ranges Shire.

 
Where: Treetops Camp and Activity Centre, Riddells Creek

When: 6pm Friday 26 October to 5pm Sunday 28 October 2018

Is This For Me?

  • Are you between 18 and 35 years, have an interest or already involved in environmental conservation and land management activities?
  • Keen to take that interest to the next level?
  • Curious about what is already happening across the Macedon Ranges and surrounding region, and love meeting new people? Then YES. This is for you!
Cost: This leadership retreat is free. To make the retreat as accessible to as many young people as possible, successful applicants are being generously sponsored by Upper Deep Creek Landcare Network and supported by Macedon Ranges Shire Council. This sponsorship covers all catering, accommodation and a carefully packaged leadership development program tailored to meet the needs of young people passionate about the environment. So we do ask that you take this commitment seriously before applying.  
 
Details: for more details about the retreat go to https://intrepidlandcare.org/events/macr/ 
 
Applications: please submit your application by 14 October (midnight) to https://goo.gl/forms/BVUvLmXkyhOo9GYk1
 
More information: on Intrepid Landcare and this retreat please email hello@intrepidlandcare.org or call Megan on 0412 532 817.

Note: this retreat is being hosted by Upper Deep Creek Landcare Network and supported by Macedon Ranges Shire Council. 

A final note

Don’t forget to show your support for the protection of Wombat Forest from logging. Click here for more info.

Woodend Landcare News – August 2018

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Updated 2018 Calendar

Our 2018 calendar has been updated to bring us through to the end of the year.

Landcare calendar – August-December 2018

Our next working bee is on Sunday the 26th of August.  It will focus on the removal of oak seedlings and a general tidy up on the north side of Five Mile Creek near the East St easement. More details coming soon.

Grant Success: Flint Hill willow removal

We are pleased to share that we have been successful in obtaining a Victorian Landcare Grant to remove of woody weeds – particularly Willow, Hawthorn and Blackberry – from a very significant stand of remnant Black Gums on Five Mile Creek where it passes through Flint Hill, a private property in Woodend. These weeds are currently threatening the creek environment downstream and restricting regeneration of the Black Gums. We are looking forward to working with the landholders on this project.

Our AGM: Threatened Species, Annual report and New Committee

Our brief AGM held on the 21st of July saw our 2018-2019 Committee elected with two new members. Welcome Liana and welcome back Peter!

  • Kate Daniel (President)
  • David Gossip (Vice President)
  • Neil Thomson (Treasurer)
  • Linda Vale (Secretary)
  • David Bower (Thursday Crew)
  • Krista Patterson-Majoor
  • Doug Dalgleish
  • Nicole Middleton
  • Peter Yates
  • Liana Quach

Kate gave a quick summary of the our actions over the past year, which you can read about in our 2018 Annual Report.

Click here to view our Annual Report 2018

Anna Murphy from the Threatened Species Conservancy then gave a fantastic talk on the process of threatened species recovery using the Black Gum as an example. For those who missed the talk, here are Anna’s key steps to recover threatened species:

  1. Collect population data including historic and herbarium information. Undertake field surveys looking at area, extent, size and change.
  2. Identify current and potential habitat and identify threats. It is much easier to protect something before it is damaged.
  3. Manage threats to populations. Threatening processes include:
    • Land clearance – broadscale (grazing, cropping, urbanisation) or small scale (road maintenance, fire wood)
    • Modification of native vegetation
    • Altered fire regimes
    • Changes in land management
    • Timber harvesting
    • Changes to hydrology
    • Grazing by native and exotic herbivores
    • Pest plants and animals
    • Plant diseases (eg. cinnamon fungus)
    • Climate change – hard to predict but we know there will be more droughts, higher temperatures and less rainfall
    • Loss of genetic diversity – leading to inbreeding depression and poor plant health
    • Reduction of offspring
    • Genetic problems
  4. Legally protect populations (eg. specially protection zones, planning overlays, conservation covenants)
  5. Build community support for conservation
  6. Collect biological and ecological data
  7. Determine growth rates and viability of populations (through monitoring)

Spotlight on Species Dates

Speaking of threatened species, if you are interested in attending one of the Spotlighting Events that are part of the UCLN’s Spotlight on Species Project to look for Powerful Owls and Greater Gliders, please see dates below and book your place via the links provided. Data collected as a result of the surveys will be added to the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas to help protect these species and their habitat. More information, can be found at: http://www.uppercampaspelandcare.org.au/about-us/spotlight-on-species/

Filling in the Black Gum Gaps

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Woodend Landcare has recently completed our $6650 Victorian Government Communities Volunteer Action Grant. This funding opportunity came at a important moment – Woodend Landcare had just overseen the removal of the majority of willow along Five Mile Creek from Romsey Rd to the Children’s Park in Woodend and we were ready to revegetate the sites with the endangered Black Gum and associated native understorey species.

Black Gum (Eucalypus aggregata) is endangered at a state level and is listed in the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1989. In 2015 it was also recommended for listing as ‘Vulnerable’ on the EPBC Act. In Victoria, the species only occurs in a 4 km radius of Woodend. Its limited geographic range makes it highly vulnerable further loss. Hence, the protection of the black gums is a major goal for Woodend Landcare. Our focus for action for this grant was along the Five Mile Creek where Black Gum remains as isolated trees.

Eight working bees and five planting days later, some 1000 new seedlings are now in place along the banks of Five Mile Creek and any regrowth of willow or blackberry has been treated. The Ruby Mckenzie Park sites saw us plant threatened Black Gum trees into an area previously covered by willow and other weeds. We also added essential understorey species to our previous planting s between Pyke and Bowen St. Just as importantly, some 257 participants attended these events to make it happen – not to mention all the behind the scenes work preparing for and promoting the planting days, organising contractors, and ordering plants and hardware. A mammoth effort by some very dedicated volunteers – estimated to at least an $23,130 in-kind contribution to the project.

To remove the majority of willows, many hawthorns, most of the blackberries and other woody weeds infestations from this part of the creek in three years is quite an achievement. It would have been impossible without the huge volunteer contribution and grant money to pay for the various contractors, materials and plants needed along the way. Our huge thanks goes out to everyone who has been involved in the project and to the Victorian Government for making these funding opportunities available.

David Gossip’s highlight of the project was Dave Bower finding his pocket knife still in good condition after being lost five or more years ago!

Woodend Landcare kids lending a helping hand
Packing up pots

First working bee for 2018

Our 2018 series of working bees kicks off on Friday the 2nd of February with our traditional  twilight bee followed by a BBQ at the Children’s Park. Always a delightful evening – do join us! More details to come in the new year.

News from our neighbours: Newham Landcare

CLICK HERE to view Newham Landcare’s latest news. Features a great article about turning your dam into habitat, and another about climate change and biodiversity.

News from the Upper Campaspe Landcare Network

CLICK HERE to view the latest news from UCLN. Features:

  • CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT UNDERWAY FOR UCLN
  • KYNETON SECONDARY COLLEGE STUDENTS WIN RESOURCE SMART SCHOOLS AWARD
  • EAGLES MONITORED BY PIPERS CREEK LANDCARE
  • UCLN BIOLINK PROJECT UPDATE
  • THE WILDFLOWER WHISPERER AT NEWHAM HALL.
  • NEW VICTORIAN BIODIVERSITY ATLAS APP
  • JUVENILE BARKING OWL STEALS THE SHOW
  • CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEPBURN SHIRE COUNCIL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY
  • SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION AT METCALFE
  • KYNETON SHOW
  • RABBIT UPDATE
  • EVENTS
  • GRANTS, NEWS AND RESOURCES