Working bees resume in February 2022 and the Thursday Crew is back!
After a pretty quiet couple of years, we are looking forward to resuming our working bees in February 2022. There is lots to be done and new helping hands are always very welcome. Check our calendar for dates here.
In the meantime, the Thursday Crew continue their impressive work around town. Thursday Crew working bees are held every Thursday morning at different venues around Woodend during most of the year. Please contact Dave on 0405 910 176 or email dvbower65@gmail.com if you are interested in being involved.
Five Mile Creek survey update
Woodend Landcare thanks everyone who has responded to our survey about File Mile Creek. We have had a tremendous response so far.
We will soon collate the information to pass onto the landscape designers who will begin working on the master plan in the new year. We will be sure to share the draft for comment when it is ready.
The survey closes at the end of November.Click here to tell us your five wishes for Five Mile Creek.
Plogging for health
One thing we have learnt from the community survey so far is that the biggest use of the Five Mile Creek corridor is for exercise and one of the biggest concerns about the creek is rubbish.
So, let us introduce you to something new and exciting taking Europe by storm – plogging! Plogging is the combination of two words ‒ ‘jogging’ and the Swedish phrase for pick up, ‘plocka upp’. It means picking up litter while you get fitter! You get your exercise and make a difference for the environment at the same time.
Plogging can be as simple as heading out on your normal exercise route, collecting rubbish as you go (sort and dispose at home). Or it might be a springboard for you to plan and involve friends or family, your business, or sporting club.
We would love to hear about your plogging efforts. Email us at or share your photos on our Facebook page.
A Box of Habitat grows
Orders are now closed for next year’s Box of Habitat program. The take-up has been fantastic: 40 residents have ordered 78 boxes of habitat. Importantly, many of the orders are going to storm affected sites. It is really inspiring to see the effort people are putting in to restoring habitat on their properties.
Remember that different species of wildlife need different habitats ‒ so a property with a greater variety of habitat features is likely to support more native animal species. Characteristics of a healthy habitat include:
a diversity of native overstorey, understorey and groundcover plants, reflective of the original vegetation type
old, large trees (dead or alive) with hollows
regenerating native trees, shrubs and groundcovers
a ground layer dominated by native perennial plants
fallen timber/debris and leaf litter
areas that are largely free of weeds and introduced grasses
Take Five Minutes to tell us your Five Wishes for Five Mile Creek
Five Mile Creek is a special part of Woodend. It links the town, protects important threatened species, and is a beautiful place to walk and enjoy nature. Woodend Landcare have been working for years to clear weeds, revegetate and enhance community access and facilities along the creek.
Now, in collaboration with Macedon Ranges Shire Council, we are creating a master plan for the public land along Five Mile Creek through the town.
We want to hear from you about how to make the creek even better in the years to come.
Please take five minutes to fill in our survey – CLICK HERE to access the survey.
Tell us how you use the creek and your top five wishes for the future of Five Mile Creek. We’re interested in your ideas for any or all parts of the creek from Romsey Rd downstream to Gregory St (near Buffalo Stadium).
You could consider improvements to the natural environment, facilities you would like to see and exactly where those should go, or fun ways to make the area more educational and engaging. We encourage you to be creative and think big!
Alternatively, visit the Woodend Library where we have paper versions of the survey available and a big map to illustrate your vision. You can also email us your ideas (woodendlandcare@gmail.com). We can’t wait to hear from you.
This project has been made possible with funding from Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s Community Funding Scheme.
Free Black Gums for storm affected properties
Do you live along the floodplains of Five Mile Creek or Slatey Creek in Woodend? If so, your property is likely perfect habitat for the endangered Black Gum (Eucalyptus aggregata).
How to spot a Black Gum:
Small to medium-sized woodland tree that grows 18–20 m tall
Bark on the trunk and main branches is dark grey to black, deeply fibrous or flaky
Glossy green leaves are alternately arranged along the stems and are 5–12 cm long by 1–2 cm wide
White flowers are arranged in groups of seven and appear from November to May
Grows on alluvial soils in cold, poorly drained flats and hollows
Woodend Landcare is aware that a number of Black Gums were lost during the June storm. We are keen to get a better idea of the impacts of the storm on Black Gum populations. If you have experienced Black Gum losses on your place, please email us with your stories woodendlandcare@gmail.com.
Thanks to the Threatened Species Conservancy, we have some Black Gum seedlings to give away – email us to express your interest (and quantities needed) and help to preserve Woodend’s iconic tree. You can pick them up at our stall at the Farmers Market on the 6 November.
We are going to have a small, but much needed, working bee at 9am on Sunday 21 October along Five Mile Creek near Heron Street.
Jobs include cutting and painting some medium sized flowering broom plants below the track, also some small elms and willows and a few other woody weeds in the area such as Cordylines. Some of it will involve some steep areas in long grass, so sturdy footwear recommended. There is also a lot of ivy climbing up the trunks of trees as you head upstream (away from town) and it would be a very worthwhile task to at least cut those plants at the base of the trees to prevent them from flowering and seeding.
Please note the COVID safe requirements outlined in the flyer below and RSVP so we have an idea of numbers at woodendlandcare@gmail.com.
Woodend Landcare at the Farmers Market
On Saturday 6 November we will have a stall at the mini-sustainable living festival at the Woodend Farmers Market. We will have free Black Gum trees to give away and are keen to talk to you about your ideas for Woodend Five Mile Creek to inform the master plan. Please come along and say hello!
Biodiversity Crisis: Animals & plants of the Macedon Ranges exhibition
Did you know that 376 animal species and 1,457 varieties of native plants have been recorded in the Macedon Ranges?
A new interactive exhibition launched at the Kyneton Museum showcases the unique flora and fauna of the Macedon Ranges while exploring the threats to our biodiversity and what we can do to help.
‘A Biodiversity Crisis: Animals and Plants of the Macedon Ranges’ brings together a collection of historical accounts of local species and photographs. This is a unique opportunity to get up close with a collection of animal specimens or peek inside some natural tree hollows to see who lives inside.
A family-friendly experience with hands-on kids activities, the Kyneton Museum is open Friday to Sunday 11-4pm.
We are pleased to share that we will again partner with Tree Project to offer ‘A Box of Habitat’ to Woodend residents.
Each Box of Habitat comes with approx 48 plants – carefully selected to suit the Woodend area. They include a range of grasses, ground cover, shrubs and a few trees. We aim to have 10 or more different species in each box.
Woodend residents can order one or more boxes (max 6), at a cost of $40 per box. Woodend Landcare will coordinate the ordering and delivery of the plants. You need to commit to planting the plants yourself, including providing guards and any necessary site preparation such as weed control, fencing and ripping.
Plants ordered in September 2021 will be available for planting around June 2022.
To order: If you would like to order some habitat for your property, please email woodendlandcare@gmail.com with the following information:
Name
Address
Phone Number
Email
Number of boxes you would like
A short description of where you will plant the seedlings (to help with species selection)
To pay: Please transfer your total amount ($40 x number of boxes) to our Woodend Landcare account (Woodend Landcare, Westpac Bank, BSB 033-674, Acct 982435). Ensure you put your name on your transfer details.
Important: Orders and payment must be received by the evening of Sunday 19 September so we can finalise our order with Tree Project.
Tree Project is volunteer organization leading the way in sustainable revegetation throughout Victoria by providing low cost indigenous seedlings to landholders. If you are unable to plant native plants on your place, you might like to offer to grow the seedlings. Visit their website to find out more: www.treeproject.org.au.
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.
Woodend Landcare invites you to join us on Monday 16 August for an interesting evening celebrating Woodend Landcare and our local grasslands.
Woodend Grasslands Talk
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.
AGM – would you like to join the committee?
On the same evening, we will hold our Annual General Meeting. We encourage you to consider joining the committee – we’d love some new faces at our bi-monthly meetings. Please contact Kate if you are interested on 5427 2312 or email woodendlandcare@gmail.com.
The grassland talk and AGM will be held online via zoom at 7.30pm on Monday 16 August. Email woodendlandcare@gmail.com to rsvp and for the zoom link.
Join or Renew your Membership
Now is that time of year when we ask members to renew their Landcare membership. Membership demonstrates support for our group and ensures participants are covered by insurance at our working bees. We currently have 48 members (including families) – it would be great to see this membership grow. If you would like to join, click here to download a Woodend Landcare Membership Form.
Our annual membership fee remains $20 and you can join or renew your membership by either:
sending cash or cheque to Woodend Landcare, PO Box 297, Woodend 3442; or
paying $20 electronically (include your name in the transaction). Account details: Woodend Landcare, Westpac Bank, BSB 033-674, Acct 982435.
2021-22 Calendar
Our monthly Working Bees are set to resume in August. Below is a snippet of our calendar for the remainder of the year so you can note the dates in your diary.
A reminder that Working Bees will be cancelled on days of Total Fire Ban without further notification.
Thursday Crew working bees are held on Thursday morning at 9 am (when weather and restrictions allow). Contact Dave Bower on dvbower65@gmail.com if you would like to join the Thursday crew mailing list.
Plants and Animals of the Wombat Forest | Online event, 2-4pm, Sunday 8 August
Join the Macedon Ranges Field Naturalists to learn more about the plants and animals of the Wombat Forest. Gayle Osborne and Trevor Speirs from Wombat Forestcare will describe the special species such as the Powerful Owl, Greater Glider, Brush-tailed Phascogale and important flora as well as efforts underway to protect and document them.
A Woodend resident recently found a Powerful Owl along Black Forest Drive. This exciting discovery had us thinking about how we can help protect this beautiful but threatened species in our area. Click here to listen to local nature writer Tanya Loos explain how choosing a better rodenticide will give the species a much better chance.
Have your say – Macedon Ranges Shire Rural Land Use Strategy
The draft Rural Land Use Strategy seeks to update the policy direction for rural land in the Macedon Ranges Shire. The strategy is currently open for feedback. Click here to find out more.
Woodend Landcare 