Join us for our annual Plantout at Warrak, on July 28th from 10am -3pm!

This year's Plantout is part of our multi-year "Restoring Mt Cole Creek Project". The Mt Cole Creek was once a healthy ecosystem, supporting a number of threatened species like Platypus and River Black Fish, which are now sadly absent due to erosion damage, weeds, and declining water levels. The project aims to restore and protect important habitat along Mount Cole Creek for native species.

One of the main activities of the project has been repairing significant erosion damage along the creek. The team has been hard at work turning one particular 'grand canyon' into a beautifully flat surface. But the job is not done yet! Planting new trees, shrubs, and grasses is a crucial step in erosion control projects, especially in areas that have undergone earthworks to smooth out deep gullies. Putting in new plants soon after completing earthworks ensures the ground can be stabilized, ecological functions can be restored, and the risk of future erosion can be minimized.

A Victorian 'conservation dog' organization has reached out to our area regarding the innovative use of detection dogs to identify pests on Landcare member properties. These specially trained dogs could become a creative tool in protecting our land from invasive species, ensuring healthier ecosystems and more productive lands.

If you are in the Dadswell Bridge region, and would be interested in having these specialized animals visit your property, please reach out to us at events@platypus.org.au, or use the contact form linked below and write 'detection dogs' in your subject line.

Project Platypus is launching a four year vision as part of Agriculture Victoria's new "Partnerships Against Pests" Program, which is designed to build government, industry, and community capabilities, strengthen relationships, and facilitate greater cooperation on established weeds and pest animals. Our project was one of 16 funded across the state for its initial year of work.  

The backbone of our project is a series of springtime demonstration days, and autumn workshops where landholders can share learnings and coordinate with representatives of the many agencies that share responsibility for good IPA management in our region.

We have two local stars who have been nominated for this years Victorian Landcare Awards. In the running for the 'Women in Landcare' category is Julie Andrew, and in the running for the "Individual Landcarer" category is Huib Ottow. 

Julie has been an integral player in our region’s Landcares since 2004, as well as environmental conservation more broadly in the upper Wimmera, for decades. According to Julie, “our well being as individuals and as communities relies on us being connected to place and to each other. Working in conservation allows both of these essential needs to flourish”.

Huib is a local Landcare volunteer and an exceptional and valuable ecologist and taxonomic expert for our region. Huib has been dedicated to Landcare and habitat restoration in Concongella, focusing on a methodical plan for restoring a degraded bend of the Astons Scour creek, near to his home. When considering why he focused his efforts on the Aston's scour site, he told me “Not everyone has the resources and privilege to act globally, and most of us just only really extend our influence to our local community. But if everyone takes a small patch, then we will see changes on a wider landscape. That’s what Landcare is all about!” 

Read on the get to know them, and wish them luck at the award ceremony this Thursday!

Hollow Hogging with Nils!

From Lachlan McIntyre:

Local conservation arborist, Nils, from Calypto Hollows came out to our property (which was affected by the Pomonal fires) last weekend to create a few hollows (pics attached) as part of the fire recovery. We created 10 hollows across 7 trees for a mixture of animals like gliders, brushtail possums, as well as small and large birds like pardalotes, various honeyeaters, gang gangs and kookaburras. There's also a water point high up on a union to hold water after rain for animals to drink from. To compliment the work Nils has done putting up some hollows on the bigger trees, I will be putting up some nesting boxes in areas where the trees are a bit smaller.

Now it's time to wait and monitor to see what critters move in!

https://www.calyptohollows.com.au/  

What's on a farm?

Students discover soil, pasture and native animals in harmony at Shephard's Hut

The Ararat Rural School Cluster (representing students from Willaura, Maroona, Moyston, Pomonal, and Buangor Primary Schools) recently participated in a unique hands-on learning experience at Rhynie Pastoral, the farm of local farmers Jack and Celia Tucker. This trip was the second in a series of field trips organized by the two Landcare facilitators working with the five schools in the cluster. Our topic for the day was "Healthy Soil and Native Biodiversity on Farms".

The Tucker family welcomed nearly 100 students to their farm, which is not only a hub of agricultural production but also a sanctuary for native animals, named Shepherd's Hut Sanctuary. Their farm blends conservation with farming, nurturing the health of the soil, landscape, animals, and people to ensure long-term sustainability. 
One of our favourite parts of the day was a 'before and after' drawing activity with the prompt, "What's on a farm?' The resulting drawings really showcased what the kids learned!

A Bulls-eye for Nature - A Plantout at the Archery Club

Enhancing habitat as well as sport!

The weekend the Ararat and Stawell archers recently planted over 300 native plants into our brand new 'field course' in the Great Western Rec Reserve. The new target course weaves through a beautiful patch of remnant grassy woodland that runs alongside our main shooting field. 11 club members spent a 3 hour morning planting 10 different shrub and small tree species, including Hakea, Totem Poles, Scarlet bottlebrush, and Bitter Peas. There was still frost on the ground when we got started, but soon enough the cold gave way to a gloriously sunny day. 

The club members can't wait to watch the new shrubs grow and bloom! They will not only provide habitat and food for native animals, they will also create beautiful 'obstacles' for the archers to weave between as they practice on our new field course. As club president Doug Devlin put it, "we will look back for years as the plants grow!"

Thanks to all the club members who came and helped out, and to the Victorian Landcare Grants for funding the project!