Hello to all of our Landcare Members, Partners, Sponsors and Friends throughout the Bass Coast Landcare Network and welcome to the April edition of the BCLN Enews.

With a slight chill in the air, it's starting to feel a bit like planting season! Not long now and we will be hiking up and down slippery hills to plant thousands of trees for future generations of wildlife to call home. 

If you're only new to the area, or just starting to dip your toe into the world of Landcare, consider joining your local group... the fun is just about to begin for 2022! Click here to find your local group.

Meanwhile, we have lots of interesting upcoming events,  articles and more ready for you... We hope you enjoy this month's edition of the Enews!

For all the latest updates, follow us on Facebook and Instagram... just click the links above!

UPCOMING EVENTS 

Current and new members are invited to come along to this relaxed BBQ dinner to meet new people and catch up with old friends, before things ramp up for a busy planting season. This event will be held at The Gurdies Winery on April 29th, 6-8pm. Meat and veggie burgers will be provided, please bring a salad or dessert to share. No BYO alcohol, drinks will be available at the winery. Please RSVP by Friday 22nd April to Anna on 0400 941 940 for catering purposes... also, If you have not yet renewed your membership for this year, please do so.

Click here to check out the 3 Creeks site.

Click here to check out the Bass Valley site.​

Fancy a road trip? Why not head to the GippsDairy Muster, held Thursday, 5 May in Denison, part of the Macalister Irrigation District (MID). Driven by strong local input from GippsDairy’s farming community, the Muster will deliver a diverse, informative and inspirational line-up of speakers. 
The program is full of short, sharp, practical take-home information and ideas to take your business to the next level. In addition, there will be seven break out stations, each showcasing local farmers and other subject experts. Topics include nitrogen, Automatic Milking Systems, recruitment and reward, collars, genomic testing calves, Young Dairy Network and carbon. Registrations close April 29th.

Click here for further details and to register.​

You are invited along to this exciting farm walk to learn more about Natural Capital Accounting on farms. Natural Capital Accounting methods have been developed for assessing both vegetation and soils on farm which can be turned into accounting terms that may attract future funding and trading opportunities.  ​This farm walk will feature regenerative agriculture consultant, Declan McDonald and Karen Thomas from Melbourne Water who will talk us through the Natural Capital Accounting process and analyse the soils and vegetation benchmarking results that have been completed for our host farm, Prom Country Cheese.

Click here for more information, event flyer and to RSVP!​

The Bass Coast Landcare Network in partnership with Gippsland Agroforestry Network are co-hosting a field day tour, looking at two case study examples of local enterprise growing and milling timber in Southern Gippsland. If you’re interested in integrating trees into your farming landscape and would like to know more about a reinvigorated local sawmilling culture, then this field day is not to be missed.

Click here for full details, flyer and to RSVP​

GROUP AND NETWORK NEWS

After 35 years of passion and involvement and over 250,000 trees planted, Daryl Hook has stepped down as president of Anderson Inlet Landcare Group and the BCLN Board. Daryl is one of the most passionate Landcarers that has ever been involved with Landcare, not just in the Bass Coast but throughout the world. Daryl and his wife Margret did the most amazing job turning their moonscape/grassy desert farm at Pound Creek road, Pound Creek into a productive biodiverse paradise over a 25 year period planting and seeding over 250,000 plants. Prior to the Pound Creek Farm they did a similar great job at their Mirboo North farm.

The Hook's farm was the go-to farm in the Bass Coast to take Shire councillors, corporates, Government people and any potential Landcare funders to show them how Landcare can make a huge difference, not just for biodiversity but also production. The farm has been set up incredibly well with 15-20m wide Melaleuca ericafolia dominated shelter/biodiversity belts, which enable Daryl’s cattle to be warmer and happier, leading to better production all round. Daryl and Margret did an incredible job hosting countless field days, soil trials, native grass trials and many Anderson Inlet BBQ farm walks over the years. However, what Daryl did on his own farms in my mind wasn’t his biggest achievement. Daryl’s great fun personality and enthusiasm has inspired many others in our community and myself to do what the Hooks have done on their farms hence multiplying his impact 100-fold at least, onto other farms and people within our community. BCLN and I personally will be forever grateful for Daryl’s commitment to both the Anderson Inlet Landcare group and BCLN as a board member. Well done on what you have achieved with Landcare and good luck with whatever you focus your energy on into the future. 

By Dave Bateman, BCLN Executive General Manager
Pictured are Paul Speirs, Brian Enbom, Don Creed, Daryl Hook and Ken Connor with Daryl's Wollemi Pine at his thankyou Lunch for all of his efforts with BCLN.

Gerard from the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority's Gippslandscapes Podcast recently interviewed some of our passionate local Landcarer's, Anna Spiden and Dani Mathysen-Carr about the nursery, revegetation, and doing your 'bit'. This podcast is inspiring, and really makes you think about how every little bit you do is for a greater cause. 

Thank you to Anna and Dani for sharing your and Landcare stories!

Click here to listen.

On Sunday 9th of April, Gippsland Intrepid Landcare held their Annual General Meeting at the Kilcunda General Store. They reflected on the past year and discussed upcoming events, and after the formalities, headed to a 16-acre Trust for Nature property for an inspiring walk.
Positions elected: 

• Chair - Kelsey Tong
• Treasurer - Elsa Burnell
• Secretary - Brita Jobling 
• Social Media - Claire Jobling 
• Plus a bunch of new and old general committee members 

Click here to learn more about Gippsland Intrepid Landcare​

BirdLife Bass Coast are embarking on an exciting new project, investigating habitat restoration for Blue-winged Parrots (BWPs). They are an elusive little bird, closely related to the famous Orange-bellied Parrots. BWPs have been regularly sighted in the Bass Coast area, and BirdLife Bass Coast believe that the mainland population also nests here, but there are currently few breeding records. They are needing to collect as many observations as possible so that they can understand what is happening to them and why, in particular:

• Where they are feeding, what are they feeding on and when
• Where they are nesting (September until February)
• What their seasonal movements are.​

Click here to read more about this project, including the ways you can get involved, and to check out some fact sheets on Blue Winged Parrots

GRANTS, TRAINING, INFORMATION, RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LANDHOLDERS

The West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority in partnership with the South Gippsland, Yarram Yarram and Latrobe Landcare Networks are planning two drone training sessions in May. These sessions will be open to all Landcare members and network staff across the West Gippsland region however spaces will be limited. These sessions will be for beginners and designed especially for our region’s Landcarers. If you are interested in participating in these drone training workshops, click the link below.

Click here to fill in the expression of interest form

Gippsland Vet Group are seeking expressions of interest for small scale farmers courses, covering animal health and welfare topics for cattle, sheep, goats and alpacas. There will be three nights;

1. Sheep/alpacas/goats - Husbandry and common diseases
2. Calf rearing/cattle - Husbandry and common diseases
3. Parasites - For all species on prevention and management
Please email [email protected] to register your interest and provide which location suits you best (Wonthaggi/Phillip Island/Leongatha/Mirboo North), which sessions you would be interested in, and provide your best contact details, including email.
The course nights would be evening sessions. Dates, times, location, prices and inclusions will be sent out once we have an indication of interest.

Click here to view the flyer​

Meat & Livestock Australia's Producer Demonstration Sites program aims to increase the rate of adoption of key management practices and technologies that improve business profitability, productivity and sustainability, through supporting livestock producers to work in peer-to-peer learning groups.

Funding is available for cattle and sheep producer groups throughout Australia who are interested in running local projects to validate the on-farm benefits of research and development findings. Applications close May 13th.

Click here for further details and to apply​

Do you know an outstanding Australian leader and innovator in Landcare who deserves to be celebrated? Are you a champion of sustainable agriculture and natural resource management in your community? If so, nominate for the 2022 Bob Hawke Landcare Award and let us know about your incredible achievements.

Click here to read more, or to nominate​

The Bass Coast Landcare Network is excited to announce that we have received funding from the Commonwealth Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment for the ‘Farmers Digging Deeper’ Project. This project will support 315 farmers across the region to increase their knowledge of soil health and to better understand the links between soil health, farm productivity and profitability. The project will also help farmers develop management pathways to actively improve their farms soil health and condition.

Click here to learn all about the project!​

A small but mighty group gathered at the Bass River Garden Blitz Day run by local horticultural trainer Adrian James in mid-March, focusing on Autumn crop plantings, reconditioning of soil and protection and aftercare of your garden. It was a great hands-on learning experience for all involved, taking home the knowledge they gained to apply to their own garden settings.
​Keep an eye out for future River Garden Blitz Days with our next session being run on the 14th of May with details TBC. 

Our dedicated Interchange group have been busy, removing Summer crops and weeds with as much enthusiasm as usual... we are so grateful for our wonderful volunteer groups!

Click here for more information on the River Garden and to sign up for updates!

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.

Bass Coast Arc – 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.​ The Bass Coast Arc – “Community Access to Public Space” concept supports community groups to work with public land managers to improve the environment of our public spaces and create appropriate access to these unique areas. Your contribution, no matter how small, helps to protect native plants and animals in Bass Coast’s most ecologically important landscapes. ​

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.