Our monthly working bees are back after the winter break! On Sunday 23 August, help Woodend Landcare to remove ivy and other weeds along the north bank of Five Mile Creek (up and down from Jo’s Bridge). Removing ivy from native plants is important because it stops the aggressive vine from blocking vital sunlight, weighing down branches, and stealing soil nutrients and water, which helps the native vegetation survive and thrive.
Updated 2026 Calender
There has been an update to our 2026 calendar to include the details of all working bees and events for the rest of this year. Be sure to mark these dates in your calendar!
You may have noticed the Black Gum Reserve between Woodend Tennis Club and Jeffreys Street, is looking wonderful. Planted seedlings are flourishing, insects and birds are fluttering about, and fungi are producing healthy soil, while the woodchips and lack of mowing are enabling natives to self-propagate. The area is teeming with life!
As with many of our green spaces in Woodend, the current state is the result of contributions from many individuals and groups over a considerable period.
Many hands over many years
Back in 2010, Woodend Scouts adopted the central “Scout Billabong” and joined Woodend Landcare to clear weeds and install 800 understorey plants in 2010 and 2013. Woodend Landcare’s Thursday Crew have undertaken annual work at the Scout Billabong since 2014.
On 9 June 2021 ferocious winds decimated many mature Black Gum (Eucalyptus aggregata) trees. Black Gum is listed as “threatened” in Victoria, and Woodend is the only place in Victoria where they grow, so protecting remnant mature trees is critical. Other than the revegetated Scout Billabong, the site was simply remnant Black Gum trees in mown ‘paddocks’.
In 2023, Woodend Landcare joined with Macedon Ranges Shire Council (MRSC) and Woodend 1st Scouts to revegetate large sections throughout the site to help protect the remaining old trees as part of the Black Gum Biolink Project. MRSC staff prepared seven areas for revegetation within the 8,400m2 (2 acre) area. Come Sept 2023, the first seedlings were planted by MRSC and Scouts.
Woodend Landcare obtained funding from Bendigo Bank and MRSC to step-up the project. Two thousand indigenous seedlings were planted over four working bees between October 2024 and May 2025. Over 50 people from Landcare, Scouts, MRSC and the wider community contributed around 200 hours of volunteer effort.
Since 2024 the Thursday Crew have regularly tended to the site – watering seedlings during dry periods, fixing/removing plant guards, hand pulling weeds, dealing with fallen limbs and spreading wood chips.
In October 2024, Woodend Landcare volunteers were filmed at the site for Postcards, the travel and lifestyle tv show. This screening highlighted the importance of the work undertaken by volunteers to protect Black Gums.
On 26 April 2026, approximately three years after efforts started transforming the site, 24 volunteers of all ages spread woodchips on the last two beds around the Scout Billabong, weeded and planted another 120 seedlings. Finally, the bulk of the mulching and planting was complete (for now!). An amazing effort by all involved since 2023!
What’s next?
As with all things in nature, this site will continue to change. Intense hand weeding will continue until the reintroduced natives are big enough to fend for themselves against the invasive weeds, then only general maintenance will be required. The planted natives will grow, die and new species will be planted to suit the new microhabitats, further increasing the biodiversity.
Compared to before Woodend Landcare and associated groups started caring for this site, now the old remnant Black Gum trees are protected, and the biodiversity is exponentially greater. There are spaces not just for people, but a myriad of insects, birds and other animals to enjoy and thrive.
On Sunday 24 May we will protect rare Black Gums and habitat for local Swamp Wallabies in the bushy area behand Ruby McKenzie reserve. Come along to help us remove woody weeds and share in a tasty morning tea. New volunteers are always very welcome.
Help us to plant seedlings and care for our existing revegetation sites near the tennis courts on Five Mile Creek. On Sunday 26 April, volunteers will plant tube-stock, spread mulch, hand-weed and remove old plant guards. We have tools for moving mulch, but more might be handy, so if it’s easy to do, please bring a wheelbarrow, rake or shovel. Morning tea will be provided.
On Sunday 1 March, 15 people met at the Woodend Information Centre. They scoured up and down Five Mile Creek between Buffalo Stadium and Campaspe Park. Their mission was collecting rubbish. Still, some of us couldn’t resist the temptation to pick a weed or two along the way!
In total, we filled 8 big bags. They contained approximately 1,120 pieces of rubbish. This is an increase from 747 items in 2025. The increase is mainly due to soft plastic.
Of note:
11 plastic soy sauce fish (not the type of fish we want in our creek!)
20 dog poo bags (including some unused bags)
12 balls (tennis, golf, dog toys)
1 shopping trolley
1 pallet
2 vapes
It was pleasing to find no plastic straws, syringes or facemasks this year.
Additionally, no plastic plant guards were found. Instead, there were 4 biodegradable cardboard plant guards. This reflects Woodend Landcare’s switch to these for revegetation within the Five Mile Creek flood zone. Although cardboard guards are more expensive, it results in better outcomes for our local environment.
Woodend Landcare 