What's New January 2024 BCLN E-news Hello to all of our Landcare Members, Partners, Sponsors, and Friends throughout the Bass Coast Landcare Network, and welcome to the January edition of the BCLN Enews. This month's Enews contains a range of events, articles on recent events, general news, grants and more. Grab a beverage, sit back, relax and enjoy! From the Board and Staff of BCLN, we thank you all for being a part of the local Landcare action in 2023. From putting record numbers of plants in the ground, to participating in the various social or knowledge sharing events, to growing plants at our Nursery and many more ways that you have all been involved, it all makes a difference. We look foward to working with you all again in 2024. For all the latest updates, follow us on Facebook and Instagram... just click the links above! UPCOMING EVENTS Making our Farms Safer Farmers are invited to celebrate the launch of a new industry handbook, Stay Farming longer and safer: a practical guide for older farmers and their families. The launch will be held on Phillip Island on Monday 5th February. This guide is aimed at Victorian Farmers who are aged 60+ and has been created as part of the Victorian Farmers Federation 'Making Our Farms Safer' Project. The guidelines can be found here . To register for this event send an email to
[email protected] Hooded Plover Workshop at Kilcunda Are you interested to learn more about Hooded Plovers? Do you like walking along the beach? Ever wanted to get involved in protecting your local threatened species? Come along to our workshop to learn about Hooded Plovers and what you can do to protect them. Hooded Plovers lay their eggs and raise chicks on the beach, and you can get involved in protecting them. We will spend the morning indoors, have lunch and go for a beach walk. All are welcome. For all workshop information and to RSVP click here. GROUP, NETWORK AND GENERAL NEWS Australian Bug Hunt This summer join over 10,000 Australians on the great Australian Bug Hunt! Using powerful AI and a simple app, it’s easy to identify weird and wonderful insects just by snapping a photo with your mobile phone. You can satisfy your curiosity, be entertained, and learn interesting facts about our valuable native species. For further information click here . The Very Fast Break- Seasonal Climate Update Welcome to the last Very Fast Break seasonal climate update for December 2023. The team will take a rest over the Summer and be back in April 2024. They would love your feedback. If you have comments, questions or feedback address them to Dale Grey at
[email protected] For further information and to access the video, click here. Australian Government Sustainable Agriculture Landcare Award Nominations are open for the 20234/2024 State and Territory Landcare Awards. The Australian Government Sustainable Agriculture Landcare Award acknowledges an individual, group, network or organisation that has demonstrated excellence and leadership in implementing sustainable and integrated land management practices on a farm property, or properties that protect soils, water, vegetation and biodiversity. The award also recognises practices that deliver improved natural resource management and farm productivity outcomes. Nominations are open to farmers, First Nations organisations, Landcare groups/networks, farming systems groups, primary producers and/or farming enterprises. For further information click here. Landcare Plan for Victoria 2023-2033 After 16 months of meticulous development and extensive engagement with landcarers and stakeholders, the Landcare Plan for Victoria 2023-2033 was successfully completed and launched in November2023. The online launch event attracted 100 participants and garnered considerable media interest. Plans are in motion to develop the first implementation plan in 2024, marking a significant milestone for the landcare movement’s future. To access the plan click here. GRANTS, TRAINING, INFORMATION, RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LANDHOLDERS Partnerships Against Pests Grants Funding worth $500,000 is available that will help community groups deliver workshops and resources including fact sheets and videos, showcasing best practice management tips. This will support the newly launched Victorian Biosecurity Strategy . Grants worth between $10,000 and $50,000 are available to a wide range of agricultural and environmental volunteering groups and organisations. These grants are not for on-ground work but instead focus on capacity building, education, partnerships and collaboration. Applications close on 19th February 2024. For more information click here. PROJECT UPDATES Bass Coast Secondary Schools Stepping onto Farms project Last year we started rolling out our secondary school farm visits as part of the 'Bass Coast Secondary Schools Stepping Onto Farms' project. The project is working with up to 15 Landcare farmers across Bass Coast who represent a variety of farm enterprises to host up to 40 tours for secondary school students. Students will see first-hand what life is like working in agricultural roles and learn about the pathways to finding future employment in similar roles. Thanks so much to all of our farmers who have recently hosted a school tour to their farm. Our first 2024 school tours will roll out in February as part of term 1 activities. We look forward to working with schools and farms in Bass Coast to further roll out this program. Check out future editions of our ENEWS for further updates. For further information on Bass Coast Landcare Network Education programs, click here. Capturing Carbon for a Biodiverse Bass Coast - In local planting projects! If you feel passionate about the environment and want to contribute to action on climate change by reducing the impact of your car on our planet, why not consider becoming a part of our ‘Capturing Carbon for a biodiverse Bass Coast’ program? Head to our web page at the link below and simply click on your car's size to make a tax-deductible donation, so we can plant indigenous plants in biodiverse plantings across Bass coast on your behalf. These plantings will increase habitat and important wildlife corridor connections while capturing carbon from the atmosphere. All your friends and family will also see your complimentary car sticker showing your commitment to the Bass Coast environment and climate action. donate today Landcare Public Fund making projects a reality – Donate today to make a difference! The Bass Coast Landcare Public Fund is a regional non-profit organisation focusing on conserving biodiversity throughout Bass Coast. We do this by supporting community groups to work in their local area to add value to their conservation efforts, encourage broader community ownership and participation and by working in partnership with other land managers. We work to help protect native plants and animals in Bass Coast’s most ecologically important landscapes. Your tax-deductible contribution, no matter how small, or by leaving a bequest in your will, helps to protect native plants and animals in Bass Coast’s most ecologically important landscapes. SUpport us What's your story? We would love to hear from you and your Landcare group with stories and photos of what's been happening in your area and any suggestions of things that you would like to see in your E-news. We look forward to meeting and catching up with you at upcoming events and activities around Bass Coast. Until next edition, Happy reading, from the Bass Coast Landcare Network. Visit Our Site We want to hear from you for the next E-news! Please send us any of your stories, events or other information for the next edition of the E-news by the end of the first week of the month. All we need is a photo and a couple of paragraphs to be sent to:
[email protected] Let's be buddies The Bass Coast Landcare Network would like to acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Land Owners within the Network area, The Bunurong and Boon Wurrung people. We also recognise the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations in Land and Natural Resource Management.
