Grab your diary, a cup of tea, and enjoy our jam-packed September News. We have heaps to share… our next working bee is in a couple of weeks, we’ve developed a very useful local plant guide and had grant success, and there are some fantastic local environment events coming up. Please forward this information on to anyone who might be interested. And thanks for subscribing to Woodend Landcare’s News (www.woodendlandcare.wordpress.com)!

Next Working Bee: Sunday 25th September, Five Mile Creek Enviro Fund Site

Our next working bee is on Sunday 25th of September from 9am till 12pm. Our main aim is to remove as many redundant plant guards as possible from along the Five Mile Creek revegetation sites between Bowen and Pyke streets. With a good turnout we can also get another group to tackle some gorse and some blackberries in this area. Morning tea will be provided to the usual high standard. The landcare tool trailer will be on site but please bring a knife, gloves, some chaff bags or similar and suitable footwear. Parking is best at the north end of Wood St near the gym and St Ambrose schoolyard. As always, newcomers are most welcome and hugely appreciated. For further information contact Peter Yates on panday@bigpond.com.

Based on previous working bee experience we know that removing plant guards is a very child friendly and satisfying job! Here is little local Landcarer, Annie, doing a great job!

Five Mile Creek and Woodend Gardens Plant List

Given the disturbance history of the local area it is hard to say exactly what would have grown where to a fine detail of accuracy. However, with the expert help of Adam Barber, Michelle Patrick, Krista Patterson-Majoor, Peter Yates and David Gossip we have had a go at developing a list of all the indigenous (locally native) plants for this area.

Click here to view Woodend Landcare’s recommended plant list

There are certain ‘rules’ about where native vegetation grows naturally. This list follows these basic rules including geology, soil type, aspect and rainfall. It is worth noting that climate change will allow some species to move in to this area and push some other species out.

The lists are broken up into different plant types (trees and shrubs, herbs, grasses, ferns, lilies and rushes sedges and aquatic herbs). In addition, they indicate the specific areas where the plant species are considered suitable.

We have also provided extra suggestions for plants suitable for home gardens. While these species may not be specifically native to Woodend, they would be found in the Macedon Ranges and have other excellent habitat qualities such as attracting insects and birds.

We hope it will be a useful resource for the Woodend community. Comments or suggestions are welcome, please email woodendlandcare@gmail.com. Thanks heaps to Adam, Peter, Michelle and David for your input.

For over 20 years, Woodend Landcare has planted thousands of native plants along the Five Mile Creek to create a habitat corridor that runs right through the center of town. We hope you can help broaden our impact by using locally native plants in your garden.

Kids in Nature: Explore our favorite local places and attend a Nature Kids Workshop

We believe that getting kids into nature is a very good thing to do. If you head into the Woodend Library over the new few weeks you can check out our new display promoting local places to explore which we know kids love. This display has been especially timed with the library’s school holiday nature activities.

From 11am-12pm on Tuesday the 20th of September join the Victorian National Parks Association to create a magical mini forest inspired by Rachel Tonkin’s magnificent book ‘Leaf Litter’, and help create the library’s Nature Names collage. Ages 6-10yrs. Bookings required through the Woodend Library.

Grant Success! Filling in the Black Gum Gaps along Five Mile Creek

We are thrilled to share that we have recently been successful in obtaining $6650 in funding from the Victorian Government’s Threatened Species Protection Initiative Community Action Grants.

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 is along the Five Mile Creek where Black Gum often remains as isolated trees. In the past year we have successfully cleared most of the major weed infestations along the creek. This project aims to fill these gaps with new black gum plants and associated species. In addition, the small Slatey Creek population has high conservation value as it is relatively undisturbed and we will continue our restoration work in this important area.

Our major goals of this project are:
1. Revegetate newly cleared 2 hectare area along Five Mile Creek with 1000 plants;
2. Remove remaining large willow trees and any other major weed infestations;
3. Involve the local community in working bees and tree planting events.

Our focus for action is along the Five Mile Creek where Black Gum often remains as isolated trees

Frogs! Want to learn how to identify them?

Macedon Ranges Shire Environment Events 2016-17

The shire have developed a brilliant program of environment evens for the year ahead featuring Tim Flannery, woodland birds, spotlight tours and more.

Click here to view their event calendar 2016

Want More Landcare News?

Our Regional Landcare Coordinator, Tess Grieves, has sent through the September 2016 edition of the North Central Chat. Inside you’ll find plenty of great news stories and interesting courses coming up. CLICK HERE to view the newsletter.

Next Working Bee: Slatey Creek Reserve, Sunday 28th August

The annual working bee at Slatey Creek Blackgum Reserve will be from 9 am till 12 pm on Sunday 28th of August. Maintenance tasks include: plant guard maintenance, cutting and follow up poisoning of mainly small gorse and hawthorn seedlings, a check for any litter and a burnoff of a fireheap if conditions are suitable. Bring gloves, a kneeling pad, secateurs, sturdy waterproof footwear etc. Morning tea will be provided and the Landcare tool trailer will be onsite. This is our first Sunday working bee for the Spring / Summer season so we hope to see you there. Newcomers welcome. Contact David for more information: dandkgossip@bigpond.com.

Lake Earnshaw Plan: feedback sought

Lake Earnshaw is a hidden away piece of undisturbed nature. It has a history of
being the the townships former swimming natural pool and an anglers paradise.
Over the last 40 years the precinct has been invaded by weed species
(blackberry, gorse, willow and hawthorn). The Woodend Thursday crew have been working solidly in this area for over 2 years. They are endeavoring not only to unearth, restore and preserve the former qualities of the site but to also take itLa in a new direction.

Lake Earnshaw in snow: Winter 2016. Check out the crews plantings on the right – this area used to covered in a sea of gorse and blackberry. Photo: Pene Rice

The inherent qualities of a ‘wild zone’ so close to the towns center wants to be preserved for the enjoyment of the community, while encouraging visitors into the site via defined
pathways. New plantings enhance the area while creating a wildlife corridor along
Five Mile Creek. Pathways linking existing areas define movement zones and keep
traffic out of sensitive ecosystems. Structures within the natural environment aid
education and encourage engagement with the natural environment.

Click here to read more about the Lake Earnshaw concept plan

Pene Rice, who developed the plan alongside the Thursday Crew, is asking for community comment. Please email her with your thoughts, suggestions or dreams for this special part of Woodend: pene@poppyhill.com.au. Comments close on the 10th of September. Alternatively you view the plan and have a chat with Pene at the next Woodend Farmers Market on Saturday the 3rd September 2016.

Landcare Week: Woodend Library display and Farmers Market Stall

What has now become an annual tradition for Woodend Landcare, we will celebrate Landcare Week (5th to the 11th of September) with a display in the Woodend Library. This year the focus will be on celebrating all of the delightful local places that are great to explore with kids. This will link in with the kids nature activities that the library is planning over the September school holidays.

We will also have a stall at the Woodend Farmers Market on Saturday the 3rd September from 9am till 1pm.  You can pick up information about our local environment as well as have a chat with a representative from Woodend Landcare. The Lake Earnshaw plans will be on display and we’d love to receive your feedback on our vision for this area.

A walking track into town

Many of you may know Woodend cycling and walking advocate, Hubert Weisrock. He has asked us to help gather some support for a track that runs from South Rd into town. Please contact Hubert if you are interested in being involved: hubert.weisrock@bigpond.com.

Hello to all who are interested in the Walk / Bike -Track from South Rd. to the centre of Woodend.

Best Regards
Hubert Weisrock

Two interesting up-coming local events:

Two inspiring presentations, an extraordinary afternoon tea, and a delightful community feel left us motivated for the year ahead at Woodend Landcare’s recent AGM.

Annual Report – Krista Patterson-Majoor

It’s been another busy year for Woodend Landcare with the culmination of the large grants we received in 2015. We organised two community planting days and four education events, developed a black gum brochure, held our monthly working bees and supported the Thursday’s Crew weekly efforts around town. None of this would be possible without the great team effort that is Woodend Landcare. Thanks to everyone who has given so much during the year. After a big year of works along Five Mile Creek, we now intend to focus on the maintenance of these efforts as well as furthering our plans for the Lake Earnshaw area.

There are also a few people I’d like to acknowledge and thank in particular:

• Kate Daniel – for her outstanding presidency for two and a half years and overseeing a couple of large projects.
• Jo Clancy – for being such a passionate advocate for our local environment and a very dedicated member of the team. Jo is standing down from the committee after 13 years of executive roles.
• Bob Sullivan, John Newell, and Barry Clarke – for giving such a huge amount of energy to the Thursday Crew over the years. John, Bob and Barry are standing down from the committee.
• Peter Yates and Adam Barber – for their on-going and invaluable support for Woodend Landcare behind scenes.
• Pene Rice and Doug Dalgliesh – for joining our 2016-2017 committee.

Click here to view our 2015-2016 Annual Report

Click here to view the minutes from the 2016 Woodend Landcare Annual General Meeting

Lake Earnshaw Plan – Pene Rice

Pene Rice and the Thursday Crew have developed a fabulous plan for the Lake Earnshaw area. Of particular note are the revegetation sites, picnic shelter, and the proposed pathways: with asphalt paths linking to the Gilbert Gordon Oval to the town, and the granitic or mown paths encircling four distinct recreational and natural areas. The draft plan will be displayed in the Coles window and on our website. We will also consult with the Macedon Ranges Shire Council over the coming months on our proposals. We invite any comments about the plan. Please email your feedback to woodendlandcare@gmail.com.

Click here to read more about our Lake Earnshaw proposal

Macedon Ranges Koala Project – Linda Healy

Linda is a local koala carer and has set up a web site to get statistics on koalas living in the Macedon Ranges. Koalas have been recently recorded right in the heart of Woodend along Black Forest Drive and in the rail reserve along Quarry Road.

Although there are other koala registers, she hopes the community sends sightings to her first to build our local knowledge on the species, and she will pass on details to the national registers. The statistics that she hopes to gather will allow her to present her case to the authorities for action in regard to protecting the local koalas.

The local density of koalas is low. Landcare has been asked to support the project by looking for scats at the base of eucalypts at our project sites and by spreading the word about the project. We will put up a notice about the website in the Coles window and provide a link from our blog.

Click here to visit the Macedon Ranges Koala Project Website

Save the date: Slatey Creek Working Bee on Sunday 28th August

Our next working bee will be at the Slatey Creek Black Gum Reserve. More details coming soon.

Reminder: memberships now due

A huge thanks to all those who have renewed their Landcare membership. If you are not a member or have not yet renewed, please show us your support and do so as soon as possible. Click here for details on how to pay the $20 membership fee and to download a membership form.