May News and Field Day Invite

May 9, 2016May 9, 2016 / Woodend Landcare / Leave a comment

Cobaw to Campaspe Connections Field Day

Woodend Landcare is thrilled to be involved in a exciting new project, in conjunction with the Upper Campaspe Landcare Network.

‘Cobaw to Campaspe Connections’ is about working together, in a strategic way, to restore the landscape to provide more habitat for native plants and animals – and allow them to move freely again – to feed, escape fire, to take refuge in drought times and breed successfully.

Small patches of isolated bush are not good for our native plants and animals. Especially important is access to the Campaspe River and its tributaries, as it is a lifeline for many species. This project is about increasing quality habitat and creating connections to the Campaspe.

It is a big goal we have set – but it can be done. We want to start by learning more about the area and how to most effectively restore it. And we especially want this project to be inclusive – provide ways for everyone in the area to tell us what they value in the landscape and find ways for us all to play a part.

We are holding a field day to explore the region’s ecology and to discuss what needs to be done to fix it. We would be very pleased if you were able to come along. Details are in the poster below – RSVPs are essential. Note: this event is being held in lieu of our normal May working bee.

UCLN A4 Field Day poster_lo-res JPG

Trees for Mum 2016 success!

A brilliant team effort saw 900 native trees, shrubs and grasses planted to rehabilitate what was once a dense blackberry thicket on a bend on the Five Mile Creek. We were thrilled to have 140 passionate participants brave the drizzle and plant with great spirit for our 2016 Trees For Mum event.

Thank-you to everyone who came along and planted with their mum or for their mum. We hope you will enjoy watching your living legacy grow over the years. Thank-you to our wonderful Landcare stalwarts – David, Kate, Chris, Doug, Peter, Krista and Dave – for doing so much behind the scenes and on the day. Thank-you to our exceptional catering team – Jo, Susan and Sam – for keeping us going through the morning. A huge thank-you to Angela and family for being such passionate advocates for, and organises of, Trees For Mum in Woodend. And finally, thank-you to the North Central Catchment Management Authority for the Landcare Grant that made the day possible.

Click here to see more of the gorgeous photos from the day.

Alice, Angela and Jason planting a tree for granny.

More landcare news

Please click on the links below to read more regional and national landcare news.

North Central Chat May 2016. This link will take you to the North Cental page where you can download the latest landcare newsletter. Of special interest to Woodend Landcare is a report on page 8 about our waterwatch volunteer – Emma McKenzie – who is monitoring water quality along the Five Mile Creek . Thanks Emma!

Landcare Australia’s Landlink

A tree for your mum on Mother’s Day

April 22, 2016 / Woodend Landcare / Leave a comment

Come along and plant with your mum or for your mum on Mother’s Day.

Woodend Landcare is hosting Trees of Mum on Sunday, 8 May from 9am to midday at Campapse Park off Campaspe Drive, just the other side of the creek to the Children’s Park near the free tennis court.

Trees for Mum is a series of Australia-wide free tree planting events run by Landcare on Mother’s Day. First started in Sydney in 2002 by friends and colleagues, Deena Raphael and Lauren Adlam, as a way of paying tribute to their Mums, who they had both lost to cancer; Trees for Mum in Woodend is now in its fifth year.

The trees and shrubs will be a range of natives that are perfect for the Woodend climate. The Woodend Landcare team will be on hand with plenty of tools to help you plant them into weed mat along the bank of the creek. Everyone will be given a tree or a shrub and some grasses to plant to create an interesting habitat.

Bring along some gloves and we recommend gumboots; it might be wet and muddy. There’s no need to book this year, but if you do have a question call Angela on 0409 373 010
treesformum2016

24 April Working Bee and Other News

April 8, 2016 / Woodend Landcare / 1 Comment

Next Working Bee: 24th April 2016

Help us get our 2016 Trees for Mum site prepared on Sunday the 24th of April.

Help us get our 2016 Trees for Mum site prepared by laying jute mat on Sunday the 24th of April.

What: Site preparation on the creek flats near the Woodend Children’s Park for Tree for Mum 2016. Tasks include laying jute mat and removing ivy and other weeds from the site.
When: 9am – noon, 24th April 2016
Where: Campaspe Park, north side of Five Mile Creek, near the single tennis court.
Bring: Gumboots and gloves
Eat/drink: Hot drinks and morning tea provided
RSVP: Krista on 5427 2140 or woodendlandcare@gmail.com

Swamp Wallabies return to Five Mile Creek

Peter Yates has written the following piece about our latest discovery along Five Mile Creek.

Swamp Wallabies are like a smaller, darker version of a Kangaroo. They are beautiful little animals and unlike kangaroos, they are more or less defenceless against dogs. In the past, they probably lived in the bushier areas along Five Mile Creek in Woodend , but in recent years they seem to have disappeared. This may be partly due to the increased prevalence of uncontrolled dogs.

Legally dogs are permitted to be off-leash as long as they don’t harass wildlife. Many people are quite sure that their off-leash dogs are harmless and don’t represent a threat to people or animals, but this is often not the reality. Voice control is never as effective as a leash. Dogs are companion animals and they certainly enjoy their walks just as much if they are with you all the time on a leash, so it should not be regarded as an imposition on their freedom.

At our recent Landcare working bee, a swamp wallaby was seen browsing between the walking track and the creek. At the same time numbers of off leash dogs were seen passing with their owners. This is an appeal to all dog owners to please consider making a small change if they are in the habit of letting their dogs roam near them during walks. Many of us live in Woodend because of the fabulous natural environment it offers. Wallabies are beautiful, inoffensive, defenceless animals and it would be great if we could allow them to co-exist with us in their natural habitat without threats like off-leash dogs. In the not too distant past, Landcare members have witnessed a loving pet Labrador harassing an injured wallaby which subsequently had to be put down. Please give this some thought.

Guard Removal Working Bee Success

Meet our latest Woodend Landcare working bee recruits… hardworking Annie and Ned helped us to remove several garbage bags full of old tree guards from our past revegetation sites along the Five Mile Creek at our last working bee on the 3rd of April. Thanks to everyone who came along and to Chris and Susan for the tasty morning tea.

North Central Chat – Landcare News

The April 2016 edition of the North Central CMA publication ‘chat’ is now available (click here), covering Landcare and Waterwatch activities in the local area. In addition, an interesting fungi workshop is coming up in Baynton on the 30th April 2016, see flyer below for more details.

Woodend Landcare News: March 2016

March 7, 2016March 7, 2016 / Woodend Landcare / Leave a comment

Important Dates

Plant Guard Removal Working Bee: 3 April

Our next working bee is to be held on Sunday April 3rd from 9am till 12pm (note this is a changed date to the original due to Easter). We will undertaking the very important task of removing old plastic plant guards from previous plantings on the north side of the creek starting at the new access bridge over the creek to Shirley Park Estate and heading downstream. A good turnout would enable us to move into other areas on the same day.

'Willow Attack' Working Bee, February 2016

Our ‘Willow Attack’ Working Bee, 28 February 2016

Location. Five Mile Creek Reserve which is accessible from the Southern end of Tennyson St. Look for the working bee signs near the bike track.

What to bring? A pocket knife or stanley knife, long pants and long sleeves, boots, spare chaff bags or similar

The Landcare tool trailer will be onsite and morning tea will be provided.

RSVPs to Krista on 5427 2140 or woodendlandcare@gmail.com. Newcomers are always welcome.

Trees for Mum 2016: 8 May

Doug Delgeish has been working quietly behind the scenes preparing our site for the 2016 Trees For mum planting. Thanks Doug!

Trees for Mum is a part of a national series of Mother’s Day tree-planting events hosted by Landcare. This year’s events will be held on Sunday 8 May. In Woodend, we’ll be planting trees and shrubs for mums at the Woodend Children’s Park. Save the date and come and plant with your mum or for your mum.

Our working bee on the 24th of April will be dedicated to preparing the site in readiness for the big day. We’ll provide more details about this in April.

Our Big Weekend in February

The last weekend of February was a big one for Woodend Landcare.

On Saturday the 27th of February, we were thrilled to be on display at the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Festival alongside several of our fellow local Landcare groups. Many interesting and inspiring conversations about our local environment were had on the day. Meanwhile, the kids enjoyed puppet play in ‘the stump’ which was highlighting the importance of hollows for homes for many of our native critters.

The following day we had a great crew gather for our Willow Attack Working Bee. Willow regrowth at the Tennyson St site was treated, as was about a fifth of the willows growing in the weir. We’re now looking into how to get through the remaining four-fifths! Thanks heaps for joining us everyone – it was a testimate to the old saying ‘many hands make light work’. Special thanks to Jo and Susan for the tasty morning tea and to David for his great on-site guidance.

Puppet play with ‘the stump’ at the Macedon ranges Sustainability Festival

Cobaw Campaspe Biolink Project

The Upper Campaspe Landcare Network recently received a Victorian Landcare grant to assist in developing long term action plans for landscape restoration along two natural corridors. One of them – the Cobaw Campaspe Biolink Project – involves Woodend, Ashbourne, Carlsruhe and Newham Landcare Groups.

A desktop study of the biolink area is currently being undertaken and workshops in the field are planned. Open to landowners, Landcare members and interested stakeholders, the workshops will include walk and talk events with ecologists and indigenous owners looking at issues such as threatened species, river and grassland restoration and remnant vegetation management. We will keep you notified as plans progress.

This map shows the approximate area of the Cobaw Campaspe Biolink Project.

MRSC Draft Environmental Strategy

Many of you will be aware that the Council’s draft environmental strategy is currently open for comment. We encourage everyone to check out strategy and provide comment to council. The strategy is available for downloading and comment by clicking here. Ross Colliver has done a great summary of the strategy for Riddells Creek Landcare at http://nutsaboutnaturercl.blogspot.com.au/

Interesting Newsletters

These newsletters are worth a read if you’re interested in more Landcare news from the region.

Upper Campaspe Landcare Network: http://www.uppercampaspelandcare.org.au/february-2016/

North Central Chat: http://www.nccma.vic.gov.au/library/scripts/objectifyMedia.aspx?file=KMSMedia/pdf/143/80.pdf&fileName=North Central Chat- March 2016.pdf

February events, committee update, and a huge thanks…

February 14, 2016February 14, 2016 / Woodend Landcare / Leave a comment

Sunday 28th February Working Bee: “Willow Attack”

At the “willow attack” working bee on Sunday 28th February we will be undertaking a much needed trial removal of willows on the western end of the weir on Five Mile Creek. Another group of willing workers can cut and paint the numerous small willow clumps downstream of the weir towards the Five Mile Creek reserve. There is also some important whipper snipping to be done in the surrounding plantings so there are plenty of tasks for everyone. All newcomers are always most welcome.

This happy crew thoroughly enjoyed January’s twilight working bee – and got heaps achieved too! Thanks for coming everyone – hope to see you again in February. Photo: Sandy Scheltema.

When: Sunday, 28 February 2016.
Time: 9 am till midday with a short break for morning tea (which is provided).
Where: Ruby McKenzie Park in Tennyson St
Bring: Your own gloves, sturdy footwear, sun protection etc.
More info: Contact David on 5427 4117.
RSVP: Krista on 5427 2140 or woodendlandcare@gmail.com

Please note this event will be cancelled if the day is declared a Total Fire Ban.

After the working bee, head down to the Sustainability Festival’s Community Picnic. From 12.30 pm, there will be a relaxing and entertaining picnic in the Woodend Children’s Park complete with live music and old-time games. More info at: http://slf.mrsgonline.org.au/

Saturday 27th February: Sustainability Festival

Woodend Landcare, alongside many of our neighbouring landcare groups and network, will be on display at the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Festival at the Woodend Community Garden and Hub site. The festival runs from 10 am till 4 pm on Saturday the 27th of February. Please come along to check out our local biolink plans and enjoy the interactive landcare kids area.

More info at: http://slf.mrsgonline.org.au/

Woodland Landcare Committee Update

Past president, Peter Yates and Krista checking out our recent planting site.

As we all adjust to a new year and new commitments, there has been a small change of office bearers for Woodend Landcare. Both Kate Daniel and Jo Clancy decided to step down from their respective roles as President and Vice-President, but the good news is that they remain on the committee. Krista Patterson-Majoor has taken on the president role and Dave Bower will be Vice-President. Kate is now our Treasurer until the July AGM. We are always keen to have new people join our friendly committee, so please contact Krista on 5427 2140 or woodendlandcare@gmail.com if this is something that might interest you.

And a huge thanks…

On behalf of Woodend Landcare we’d like to share our huge thanks to both Kate and Jo for their fine leadership of the group.

Kate has been president for around two and a half years and has overseen over $35,000 worth of great projects undertaken along the Five Mile Creek and in the Woodend area in this time. Her delightful manner has been a pleasure to work with and our landcare group is going strong as a result.

Jo has been either president or vice-president of the group for as long as most of us can remember. She is a passionate advocate for our local environment and is a very dedicated member of the team. We thank Jo for all she has given to the group and look forward to many more of her ‘cooeee’ morning tea calls and biannual newsletter.

Thanks Kate and Jo!!!

March Working Bee Date Change

Last, but not least, we have discovered that our proposed March 27th working bee clashes with Easter so it was decided to change the date to April 3rd – please amend your calendars.