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

Its been great to catch up with new and old Landcare members while we all get our hands dirty at community tree planting events, what a great start to the season, thanks to everyone for their involvement!  Look out for our 2024 planting schedule in this edition and join in on the action across Bass Coast to restore our landscapes. 

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. 

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It’s our favourite time of year, tree planting season!! 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 the many planting days on offer this season. 

For further information on Community planting days, click here.

The Phillip Island Landcare Group has now released their 2024 planting calendar, with the first planting of the year scheduled for Saturday 22nd June at Kate Darling and John Field's property, adjoining Swan Lake. Help increase habitat and improve water quality by planting more vegetation to filter water as it runs off agricultural landscapes and down into Swan Lake. Plant in comfort with their well set up camper trailer, where you can enjoy hot drinks, seating, shelter and a complimentary lunch. 

Click here for all Phillip Island Landcare planting details and to RSVP. 

Presented by Latrobe Valley Authority as part of their 2024 Festival of Big Ideas program.  You are invited to join this stimulating and empowering presentation from two leaders and changemakers on putting biodiversity conservation and restoration back into the hands of community.  This online event is free of charge and will be an inspiring session sharing of big ideas on how we can collaborate to re-vison our biodiverse future in Gippsland.

To register for this online event click here. 

Learn about cultural safety to create inclusive, safe and welcoming spaces. Cultural safety is about providing an environment that considers and respects the cultural identity, values and norms of the peoples attending your activities. These cultural values and standards may often differ from your own and majority of society.  For Australia’s First Peoples, culturally safe practices and attitudes demonstrate an understanding, acceptance, and respect for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural identities, cultural ways, and ongoing connection to culture, Community and Country.

For further information and to register click here. 

There will be plenty of hands-on practice at this Garden Gems Workshop session on Saturday 13th of July at the River Garden in Bass.  Learn how to prune fruit trees correctly for maximum health and yield, get lots of tips to prune for a better harvest, and how best to manage newly planted trees. All the do’s and don’ts of pruning will be presented by the very knowledgeable Rick Coleman of Southern Cross Permaculture Institute. We have our espaliered heritage apples and pears, orchard and nut trees that all need a good prune, so please come along and learn by doing at this interactive session. 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.

Please click here to find out more and book your place. 

Landcare Week is an annual celebration of Landcare held during the first week of August to acknowledge Australians who are actively restoring, enhancing and protecting the natural environment in their community. Landcare volunteers and groups work all year to care for the environment in their community, and Landcare Week is an opportunity for groups to promote their projects and thank their volunteers. Landcare Week is an opportunity to create awareness of Landcare to inspire people to get involved and volunteer, or for community organisations to offer financial or in-kind support to their local group. Resources and tips are available to help Landcare groups to promote what they do and how, at the link below. 

For more information and to get involved click here.

GROUP, NETWORK AND GENERAL NEWS

What a fabulous sun-filled autumn morning to host Gio Fitzpatrick at the Kongwak Hills Landcare Group Homes for Wildlife Nest Box Information session, hosted on 18th May. Award-winning naturalist, environmental activist and nest box designer, Gio presented to over 60 keen attendees at the Outtrim Hall.  Gio presented his data-backed findings and stories, acquired through years of on-ground monitoring and recording, educating the crowd on the relationship between flora, fauna and landscape and the outcomes that result from the dependencies that co-exist between them.

For further information on this exciting session click here.

35 volunteers attended a special occasion for Korumburra Landcare Group with their inaugural Rail Trail planting on May 18th, on a sunny Saturday morning in Korumburra.   3000 plants produced by their Growers Group and donated by Korumburra Landcare Group were planted between the Rail Trail and South Gippsland highway. There are a further 2,000 shrubs, grasses and sedges to infill the area this planting season. This will complete Stage 1 of a 3-year Plan with 5,000 plants per year provided by their Growers Group.

Thanks go to all the crew from the Biodiversity Team at the South Gippsland Shire for their collaboration, support and enthusiasm in the planning and implementation of this work. The team prepared the site really well and two of their staff attended on the day to celebrate with the group. This was followed up with a scrumptious soup and BBQ lunch. HUGE thanks to ALL who contributed, both before and during the event!! Now to grow more plants for the next planting.  

For further information on the Korumburra Landcare Group Click here.

Congratulations to the Phillip Island Landcare Group, on their successful funding application to Ausnet in partnership with Landcare Australia. This exciting new project will make community revegetation and trials more accessible to the public on Phillip Island at the new Cowes Recreation Reserve. In partnership with Bass Coast Shire Council they will be protecting, enhancing and connecting significant remnant vegetation and wetland habitats, creating demonstration plots of various revegetation techniques, and hosting community engagement and education days over the next three years. We look forward to seeing the great outcomes from this project. 

For more information on the Phillip Island Landcare group click here. ​

With tax time fast approaching its important to get tax ready and prepare for the season ahead.  The Rural Finance Counselling Service provides great tips and advice in their May 2024 newsletter.   

To access the latest RFCS newsletter click here.  

Welcome to the June edition of the Very Fast Break seasonal climate update video clip for 2024.  This is a fantastic resource that provides you with updates on soil moisture, seasonal climate drivers and outlooks.

Click here to access the June 20204 edition of The Very Fast Break.

This program aims to support environmental organisations with bold, direct-action agendas and a commitment to long-term change. It supports innovative work that addresses the root causes of the environmental crisis and seeks to protect both the environment and affected communities.
Grants range between USD5,000 and USD20,000.
The application is a two-stage process:

1. Letter of intent: Closes 30 June 2024

2.  Request for proposal (by invitation): Closes 31 July 2024

For further information on this grant opportunity click here. 

Held on Tuesday, 4 June, this webinar explored the pros and cons of incorporated and unincorporated status for Landcare groups. Whether you're a well-established organisation or just starting out, understanding the legal and financial implications of these two options is crucial for effective governance and sustainability. Our expert panel discussed the differences between incorporated and unincorporated status, including liability, governance structure, taxation, funding opportunities, and administrative requirements. Whether you're considering a change in legal structure or simply seeking clarity on your current status, this webinar will equip you with the knowledge and tools to navigate the complexities of organisational governance.

To access the webinar recording click here.

This series of eight short videos on the key principles of regenerative agriculture have been released by three local Landcare networks (Bass Coast, South Gippsland and Western Port Catchment) and the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.  Hosted by soil scientist Declan McDonald, the videos explain what regenerative agriculture is and how the principles can be applied on all farm types and landscapes within the Western Port Catchment, including beef, dairy, sheep, chickens, horticulture and vineyards.

To view this video series click here.  

BCLN is excited to announce our successful funding for just over $38,000 to engage our community and raise awareness and skills in controlling pest plants and animals. Over the next year we will be hosting a series of 10 Training workshops, erecting new signage, creating new control calendars and new landholder packs. We will also be establishing a Community advisory Committee and re-establishing inter-agency meetings to meet quarterly, keeping invasive species control on the agenda and in works programs for all. Project planning is underway and we will soon be sending out expressions of interest for involvement in  the different aspects of the project, so watch your inboxes for more information to come. 

Our very popular River Garden Kids sessions are finished for our Autumn round, with lots of families enjoying learning about our local environments, from the tiniest critters and seeds to the biggest trees and local creatures. We are looking forward to hosting another round of these sessions in Spring, with funding gratefully received from the Andrews Foundation.

The past few weeks have seen the first frosts at the River Garden. We have been pulling out old crops, renovating our growing beds, and harvesting a bumper crop of pumpkins and tromboncino zucchinis. These have been donated to both Corinella Community Centre and the Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre food pantry programs for those in need. These crops were grown from seeds sown early last spring by Bass Coast College Students, who then planted the seedlings in early summer, then volunteers at various sessions helped to look after them.  Its great to see our produce grown by our community in many different educational sessions, return back to the community as well.

Our next Garden Gems workshop on Saturday 13th of July is always a  popular session, don't miss 'Fruit tree pruning' with Rick Coleman from Southern Cross Permaculture Institute, funded by Bass Coast Shire Council. Please see the post above in upcoming events for details and to book your spot. Looking forward to seeing you down at the River Garden!

For all things River Garden, please click here. 

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 - Before the End of the Financial Year!

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. 

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.