Hello to all of our Landcare Members, Partners, Sponsors, and Friends throughout the Bass Coast Landcare Network, and welcome to the August 2024 edition of the BCLN E-news.

We recently celebrated Landcare week with a social media campaign from August 5th - 11th, celebrating and acknowledging our Groups, Members, Partner organizations, Sponsors, Friends, Bass Coast Community and beyond! Australians come together each year during Landcare week to recognise farmers, land managers, Landcare facilitators, Landcare groups and volunteers protecting this land. This year’s theme was Landcare is for everyone (L.I.F.E.), and everyone who does their bit is so important in restoring our landscapes.

You can get involved in Landcare, both at home and at work. If you want in on the action, visit https://www.basscoastlandcare.org.au/ hit the 'Get Involved' tab and check out the many ways you can join us, it could be as a group member, you could apply to do a project on your property, sign up as a volunteer, sponsor a program or offset your car emissions, there are so many ways to get involved!!

This month's E-news contains other interesting events, general news, grants, webinar recordings and more. Grab a beverage, sit back and relax, we hope you enjoy the read. 

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

The 2024 planting season is coming to a close with only 5 plantings to go. It's not too late to get involved, check out our website for the remaining planting dates and locations.  Planting indigenous trees, shrubs and groundcovers not only benefits our land and wildlife, but also you. Community Tree planting days are a chance to get out and see parts of our landscape you may not have seen before, spend time with neighbors, family and friends or meet new friends, increase your fitness, and of course enjoy some great food afterwards. We look forward to seeing you all at one of the last planting days of this season. 

For further information on Community planting days, click here.

Artists of all ages and abilities are invited to enter the Landcare Prize with a total prize pool of over $2000 available for the winning entries. Expect to see an amazing array of art on display from a high standard of experienced and respected artists vying for the three top prizes. Beginning and emerging artists of all ages are encouraged to enter.

For entries, tickets and details click here for all the links on our Public fund webpage. ​

In this exclusive webinar from Regen Farmers Mutual, learn about carbon neutral cattle, methane, sequestration and supply chains with Christophe Bur. Tickets are free.

When: Wednesday, 21 August, 12.30pm – 1.30pm

Where: Online (Zoom)

Click here to register. 

Check out this exciting upcoming workshop designed to support and uplift our farming community. The Maffra "Take a Well-Being Break" workshop is on Tuesday 27 August from 10 am to 2 pm at the beautiful Duart Homestead. The workshop aims to bring farmers, farming families, couples, and service providers together to provide essential well-being tools and information, connect and share ideas, and identify practical strategies for immediate implementation to positively impact well-being

Click here to register.

The South Gippsland Landcare network are organising experienced landcare facilitator and sustainable agriculture consultant Peter Ronalds to guide you through the process of creating a whole farm plan for your property. Workshop 1 Farm vision & goals, land capability and classing, identifying natural assets. Workshop 2 Farm design, biosecurity and shelterbelts, firewise plantings, weeds. Workshop 3 Soil productivity & health, risk management, biosecurity. Workshop 4 Documenting your vision, setting short & medium & long term goals, completing your farm plan. Your investment $90 Includes poster-sized laminated aerial photograph of your farm. Dates: Thursday 29 August, Thursday 5 September, Thursday 12 September, Thursday 19 September

Click here to apply.

After postponing this event to due illness last month, Kongwak Hills Landcare Group can now announce that they have re-booked Stefanie and can't wait to bring all things soil to you in September!​

DATE: Saturday 14th September 2024, 10am - 2pm.
LOCATION: ​Outtrim Public Hall, 1051 Outtrim-Leongatha Rd, Outtrim Victoria 3951.

Click here for all the event details and to book your place.

What is a food forest? Find out at the next session of the Garden Gems Workshops at the River Garden on Saturday 14th of September from 10am-12pm. Learn how to grow a multilayered garden that works for you. Discover the benefits of efficient design, choice of plants and layout options. This workshop is proudly presented as a part of the Garden Gems project; a partnership between Bass Coast Shire Council, Bass Coast Adult Learning and community gardens across the region.
Click here to book your place.

A huge congratulations to our EGM Dave Bateman who was highly commended for the Sidney Plowman Travel and Study Award at the 2024 Victorian Landcare Awards. Dave is pictured above at the awards with Linda Bowden, BCLN Board Chair and BCLN Board members Paul Speirs and Nic Sibly.

July 28th was National Tree planting day and we celebrated it with the grade 5&6's from San Remo Primary who helped to plant out the first part of our new Conservation zone and Seed orchard at the River Garden in Bass. These superstars planted, guarded and mulched around 450 plants in just a few hours and had a great time getting outside and helping a community project to bring back biodiversity on the banks of the Bass River and the boundary of our River Garden Community Education Space. Over 60 species of indigenous plants will go into this project, which will also be used as a seed orchard. We have included species of plants that are hard to collect from in the wild, so the West Gippsland Seed Bank can continue to supply seed to grow these species. What a great partnership project!

Our new Conservation Zone and Seed orchard at the River Garden has been made possible with funding assistance greatly appreciated, from the National Tree Day/Planet Ark Seedling bank and the Victorian Landcare Grants.

Click here for more information about our School Education programs. 

Calling all young nature enthusiasts! Are you ready to unleash your creativity and become a guardian of the environment? Planet Ark proudly presents the Schools Tree Day Competition, inviting students from Early Learning, Primary School, and High School to be part of the green revolution. Competition closes 11:59pm 31st August.

Click here for all entry details. ​

From the Korumburra Landcare Group.

Korumburra Landcare members, Korumburra locals and friends and family of Kate and Ray came together at this idyllic hillside property on Saturday 3rd of August (only one week after the previous planting in Jumbunna) for another enjoyable and productive Landcare planting day. We put approximately 1400 plants in the ground in just over an hour, a job made easier for us as the plants were already laid out and ready to go!

Thanks to the organisers for this helpful preparation and to all the volunteers who donated their time and hard work. Many of us stayed on to enjoy the scrumptious lunch provided by Kate and Ray – much appreciated, thank you! Thanks also goes to our Bass Coast Landcare Network facilitator Antoine Bahuth, for working alongside the KLG committee in getting both the recent Dean’s and the Minahan’s planting days organised!

Join us again  in Korumburra this Saturday 17th August to get more plants in the ground. RSVP to [email protected] Address and further information provided upon rsvp.

For all things Korumburra Landcare Group please click here. 

The purpose of this survey is to understand how and why climate-smart practices are or are not used on farms across Australia, and allow the Taskforce to better understand the matters important to Australian farmers seeking to develop and leverage climate-smart practices. 

Get involved and have your say by clicking here.​

What a fantastic day we had with the Wildlife Coast Cruises crew today at the River Garden! The crew helped us plant over 750 plants in our new Conservation/Seed orchard zone and extended wetlands in beautiful sunshine. Through donations to their Tree in Cart program, can collect returns, onboard donation boxes and as well as generously matching the funds collected from the Tree in Cart program, Wildlife Coast Cruises have contributed to 333 indigenous plants being planted to increase our biodiversity and health of our environments. We look forward to continuing this great partnership into the future and thank the team for all of their hard work!

Click here for more information about our Sponsorship opportunity packages or customised programs for your business or organisation. 

South Gippsland Shire Council has just opened a new round of Community Grants for the region. This funding is between $1000-$10,000 and the round is open from 1/07/2024 – 31/08/2024. The purpose of this funding is to provide grants for Minor and Major projects and equipment, Planning and Development reports and Festivals and Events. Applicants must be a community organization or group managed by a volunteer committee of management.

Click here for guidelines and to apply.

Applications are now open for Agriculture Victoria’s Rural Womens Network’s flagship 2024 Leadership and Mentoring Program, closing at 11.59pm on the 2 September 2024. The opening of this important Program marks a significant step in empowering female leaders across agriculture.

Take the step and apply here. 

Bass Coast Shire Council is seeking suitable organisations to help deliver priorities identified within Council’s Climate Change Action Plan through the new Environmental Partnerships Program. Through the program, Council will establish partnership agreements with organisations to deliver key environmental projects and programs. Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are open for the Environmental Partnerships Program until 15 September 2024. More information on funding, eligibility, the application process, as well as the Expression of Interest form, and link to apply through SmartyGrants are at the link below. 

​Click here for all the application details. ​

Landcare Victoria have updated their website to include a number of helpful resources for your landcare group - including fact sheets, templates and guides. From a guidance note on how to conduct an activity risk assessment, to an agenda and minutes template, or a gorse management fact sheet - you are bound to find something useful.

Start exploring here.

The Hamer Sprout Fund offers $25,000 for the Sprout Grants each year. Up to $5,000 is available per project, however more (up to $10,000) may be awarded in exceptional circumstances. The Hamer Sprout Fund will consider applications from organisations that share the fund’s goals (to build communities inspired to take action for a sustainable future) and are particularly interested in giving to smaller organisations and projects to get them off the ground. Applications close 30th of September. 

Click here for more information. ​

The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) have two grant opportunities that support not-for-profit organisations and rural and regional communities across Australia. 

FRRR - Community Led Climate Solutions Program
The FRRR Community Led Climate Solutions Grant Program supports not-for-profit organisations across remote, rural and regional Australia to drive local climate solutions that reduce emissions through education, engagement and action. Applications close 26 September
Stream 1: Engage & Deliver Small Grants – up to $20,000; and
Stream 2: Scaling Grants – from $20,001 up to $75,000. For more information click here. 

FRRR - Strengthening Rural Communities
The Strengthening Rural Communities Small & Vital stream gives small remote, rural and regional communities across Australia the opportunity to access funds for a broad range of initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities. Grants up to $10,000 are available for a broad range of grassroots, community-led initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities that strengthen local people, places and climate solutions, with a preference for smaller communities (populations under 15,000). Applications close 5 September. More information click here. 

We have had a lot of action at the River Garden in the past month, while there isn't much food growing at the moment, we have been busy improving our wetlands and beginning our new Conservation and Seed Orchard zone around the boundary. With Grade 5&6 Students from San Remo Primary planting on National tree day, Students from the Village High School in Ryanston getting stuck into some garden maintenance, and Wildlife Coast Cruises having a planting day too, over 1200 plants have been planted in this new zone with around 800 to go.  Korumburra Secondary students and the Village High School students will be joining us in the coming weeks for more sessions to  help get the rest of the plants in the ground. 

Our BCLN Invasive species team completed some rabbit proof fencing works, and our small wetland has been extended and a drain dug between the two wetlands, completing stage 1 of the works, with stage 2 of deepening, lining and sealing the larger wetland, improving the grading of the banks and new signage to be completed later this year.  These works will improve drainage at the very wet bottom part of the river garden and filter any water running off into the Bass River. All of the above works have been funded jointly by a Victorian Landcare grant, a Planet Ark Seedling bank grant and a Westernport Water Community Grant. 

Don't forget to book for the next River Garden workshop in the Garden Gems series on the 14th of September on Creating a food forest, and one more in November on Preserving and fermenting garden produce. We look forward to seeing you down at the River Garden!

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.

Landcare Public Fund making projects a reality – Donate 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. ​Click below to make your tax-deductible donation today. 

Image: David Hartney

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.

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.