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.

This month's Enews is absolutely jam-packed with a range of events, general news, lots of grants and more! We hope you enjoy this edition.

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

Join Nerrena / Tarwin Valley Landcare Group for a workshop facilitated by Regenerative Australian Farmers who will discuss repairing land degradation through regenerative agricultural practices that build soil carbon, increase water retention, support soil biology and ecosystem biodiversity. This event will be held on April 22nd from 10am-4pm in Nerrena. 

Click here for further information and to book​

Mark your calendars! Landcare Victoria have some fantastic webinars coming up over the next few months, covering topics such as succession planning, child safety, financial governance and risk management.
Keep an eye on their website (http://ow.ly/wVSW50NuoK8), socials and your inbox for updates, or send an email to [email protected]​.

With recent changes to child safe standards in Victoria, this is the perfect time to update your knowledge of what’s expected of your group. In this webinar you’ll learn about:

• legal changes to child safety standards last year – what they mean for your group and how to comply
• working with children checks – when do you need them and how they work
• tools and tips to ensure your activities are child safe
• an opportunity to ask an expert your questions

This webinar will be held on April 26th from 5:30-7pm.

Click here for further information and to book​

You are invited to an exciting farm walk at the Moyarra property of Burke and Bronwyn Brandon, Moyarra Pastoral. The farm is managed as an organically certified sheep and beef farming enterprise. 
Burke and Bronwyn have been implementing regenerative agriculture management practices for many years, with a particular focus on high density grazing and pasture management with low inputs. Join a discussion around simple and practical ways to manage fencing, water, balancing pasture supply and demand while maintaining soil quality and nutrient levels, benefiting both animal health and the farm business. Declan McDonald from ReGen Soils will also be joining us on the day to contribute his knowledge and expertise. This will be a fantastic interactive farm walk and we hope to see you all on the day.

Click here for further details and event flyer with booking details. 

Our next River Garden Blitz will be held on May 13th from 930am-1230pm, focusing on Seed saving for vegetables and herbs, led by our very own Lisa Wangman. This day will include some hands-on work with removal of spent plants and collection and processing of seeds, with each participant getting to take home their own little stash of free, open pollinated seeds. These free seeds will help you to start your own collections of open pollinated seed that can be collected and resown to grow true-to-type veggies and herbs in years to come. We will also be doing a bit of last-minute tidying up to have the River garden ready for thousands of visitors for the Sustainability Festival on the following weekend on Sunday May 21st and would love your assistance! 

Please click here to book your place and get some free seed. 

You are invited to a field day showcasing the benefits of ‘integrating remote sensing technology into farm planning’.  Focusing on a local Bass Coast case study farm we will be joined by Falcon UAV who are industry leaders in the use of drone technology in the agriculture sector. Falcon UAV will be presenting the results of remote sensing aerial survey work undertaken at the case study farm incorporating thermal imaging and comparing to the NDVI imaging. The aim is to show correlation between soil surface temperatures and stressed pastures. They will also demonstrate the use of their technology in the field. Also supporting the day is Federation University Australia who will be presenting comparative site soil moisture results, again with the aim of showing a correlation of results to demonstrate the legitimacy of remote sensing.  We will also be comparing satellite data, sourced from the Australian Feedbase Monitor. A case study report will be made available for attendees to encourage research and to compare the accuracy and legitimacy of the 3 data sources.  

Click here for more information and to view the event flyer with booking details.​

This year’s Sustainability Festival on May 21st from 10am-3pm at the River Garden in Bass, is shaping up to be an informative, inspiring and educational event for all ages. We have now secured some fantastic speakers for our event stage, interesting stallholders, live performances, plus demonstrations and workshops to book into, children's activities and more. Save the date to attend and look out for our Festival Program set to be published on our website in early May.

We still have space left for more stallholders and food vendors, so if you have a product, service or group related to Sustainability in any way or delicious food options, we would love to hear from you! Registration forms are open at the link below for stallholders, demonstrators and presenters, plus the opportunity to become an event sponsor with two packages available that include great promotional opportunities for your business or service. This event is bought to you by the Bass Coast Landcare Network with support from Bass Coast Shire Council and Westernport Water. 

Click here to check out the website, apply to be involved and look out for our program of activities for the festival coming to this page in early May!

Landcare professionals and volunteers working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to take part in Cultural Safety training to be provided by the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO). The training provides contextual examples of the experience of Aboriginal people including examining the legacy of intergenerational trauma. It also examines the complexities and nuances of Aboriginal culture and some approaches to consider when interacting with indigenous Australians. The course was offered to almost 60 participants from Landcare in 2022. This Zoom sessions will be held on Monday June 8th from 10am to 3pm.

To register your interest to attend, email Barry Kennedy at [email protected]​

GROUP AND NETWORK NEWS

A great day was had by the Inverloch and Kongwak communities at the Inverloch Kongwak Primary School’s “The Great Fete” on Saturday March 18th. Kongwak Hills Landcare Group hosted a stall with informative displays about what they do, indigenous tubestock and seed packs, stickers, badges and more. The wildlife nesting box and monitoring equipment display was a hit for all ages. A BIG grateful thank you to ALL who donated resources, volunteered their time and efforts and contributed toward their stall, and also toward the fete itself. What a smashing day! 

Click here to learn more about Kongwak Hills Landcare Group​

Korumburra Landcare Group had beautiful weather for their first farm walk of 2023, as 18 members turned up for a wander through Paul and Liz's property. Paul and Liz bought the property in 2009, and after a few years of renovating, they could turn their attention to the land, and finally move down here fulltime in 2017. In 2016 with the help of Landcare, they planted 6,000 plants on a very steep slope, which Paul estimates was about 80-85% successful. Walking through their little bushland paradise it would be easy to get a little lost now, due to how big the trees and shrubs are, and Paul offered members some tips from his experience over the past 7 years. The walk was followed by a delicious BBQ lunch... A big thank you to Paul and Liz for sharing their successful revegetation project, and also to President Jim, and Secretary Rosemary who did a fantastic job organising everything behind the scenes.

Click here to learn more about Korumburra Landcare Group.​

The Phillip island Landcare group recently hosted a Dieback walk and talk session at the Oswin Roberts Reserve to launch their new Pilot Dieback Survey program. Members of the Dieback Sub-Committee including Keith McDougall, Alison Oates, John Eddy, Lisa Wangman and Daniel Kallstrom from the Phillip Island Nature Parks led the walk and answered questions from over 35 people in attendance, all of whom were concerned about the issue affecting our eucalypt trees across the Island. With so many experts on hand, including other very knowledgeable participants,  discussions ranged from insects, pathogens, fungi, possums, and habitat loss due to historic land clearing, which led into a demonstration of to how to fill out the survey form. If you have dieback happening on your property, PILG would be grateful if you could fill out their survey. You can become a citizen scientist and help them gather information. This information will hopefully lead to conclusions that can be worked on to reduce the future impacts.

Click here to access the PILG Dieback web page and Pilot survey guide and form.​

Bass Coast Tree Care recently completed a number of “chainsaw nesting hollows” across various locations in Kongwak, part of the “Kongwak Hills homes for wildlife – Engaging Volunteers in Citizen Science” project being undertaking by the Kongwak Hills group. It is a unique process of first selecting structurally sound dead timber, the sawing and the removal of a face plate, carving out the hollow and then refixing the faceplate, all while multiple metres off the ground.
Did you know natural nesting hollows can take a minimum 80-120 years (or even hundreds of years for large hollows) to form? And with past clearing and removal of trees in the landscape, creating subsequent decline in habitat, KHLG hope these new hollows can be a substitute home for various birds and marsupials until existing vegetation and revegetation projects mature. Keep an eye out for some of these chainsaw hollows if you are visiting the Kongwak Pioneer Reserve, and if you see any new residents making house, be sure to snap a pic and share with the group. 

Project funded by Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action - 2021 Community Volunteer Action Grants

Click here for more information on the Kongwak Hills Landcare Group activities

In the past six months over 20 volunteers from Phillip Island Landcare group have been increasing their skills and learning how to identify various indigenous plants and weeds. Over four sessions, visits to Cape Woolamai, The Koala Conservation Centre, Surf Beach and Ventnor foreshores, Ventnor Common and to Leela Maki’s garden, were led by Lisa Wangman, Group facilitator, Education and Training manager for BCLN. Participants found out how plants are named and classified, how to use various tools including books and online references, some handy tips on identifying plants from Australia’s major plant families, and Ecological vegetation classes or EVC’s. Participants also included some of our BCLN Works Crew and volunteers from various Coast Action groups, who found the hands-on nature of being able to see the plants in their local environments very useful to increase their ID skills. 

Click here for more information on Phillip Island Landcare Group activities.​

If you would like to volunteer some time at the Sustainability Festival (May 21st, 10am-3pm), please get in touch! Volunteering could include anything from setting up and packing down event spaces, greeting people at the entrance, to helping out with stage management. We would love to hear from you if you are able to help out in any capacity. 

Please email us at [email protected]​ to express your interest in volunteering at this year's Bass Coast Sustainability Festival. 

GRANTS, TRAINING, INFORMATION, RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LANDHOLDERS

Environmental volunteer groups can apply for up to $20,000, for projects that protect or improve the natural environment, including native vegetation and wildlife, waterways and soils. Grants of up to $500 are also available to help with group and network administration and running costs. Applications can be made through your local Catchment Management Authority. More information here. Applications close on 16 May.

Click here for West Gippsland CMA info and applications.

Click here for Melbourne Water info and applications.​​

Applications are open now for Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants. These grants provide young Victorians with an opportunity to participate in biodiversity-focused hands-on projects and/or learning activities. Victorian childcare centres, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, Scouts, Girl Guides and youth groups can apply for grants of up to $5,000.  Applications close on the 12th of May.

Click here for further information and to apply.​​

The Nuffield Scholarship Program offers Australian primary producers a chance to travel and study. In 2024, scholars will receive $35,000 to travel overseas and study ways to improve their farm business and industry. It is an opportunity to step back from your business, explore the world, develop business friendships and explore new innovative opportunities for agriculture. Applications are open until the 9th of June.

Click here for more information.​​

The Gallagher Animal Management and Landcare Australia partnership are going bigger this year than ever, providing 22 grants for permanent electric fence product worth $8,000 each to Landcare Groups, Landcare Networks and landholders to support fencing projects that will produce long-term environmental rehabilitation outcomes in areas including riparian protection and farm dam restoration. Closes June 15th.

Click here for more information and to apply.

This program, provided by the State Government, offers scholarships of up to $10,000 for farmers aged 35 and under to gain valuable new skills and invest in their future. Applications close on 8 May.

Click here to learn about the program and to apply for a scholarship, via the Agriculture Victoria website.​

Learn how to manage water and successfully implement a Landscape Rehydration project on your property. This interactive, hands-on course will empower you to understand the water cycle to enhance the resilience and productivity of your rural landscape. Through activities that blend scientific principles and practical skills, you will learn about:  the role of the water cycle and plants in farming landscapes, drivers and indicators of a healthy and unhealthy water cycle, how to identify and prioritise issues on your property to ‘heal your hydrograph’, how to apply sound planning and design principles to give your Landscape Rehydration project the best chance of success.  

For more information and pricing, click here.​

We have been harvesting the last of the Summer vegetables, and recently started emptying and re-planting the swales and raised beds with Autumn crops. Our Interchange group have been helping out with weeding, mowing and planting, and love to spend time in the River Garden, in the rain or the sunshine.

Our next River Garden Blitz day will be held on May 13th, (see event story and booking details above) and will focus on Seed saving, showing how to collect, process and store Heirloom seed varieties. This session will also include a last-minute tidy up to have the garden ready for thousands of visitors to the Sustainability Festival, held on Sunday May 21st at the River Garden. This will see a transformation of the River Garden space ready for a vibrant festival atmosphere, with electric cars, gardening demonstrations, event stage, exhibitors, children's activities, food and more! If you would like to assist with the site preparation for this event, we will always welcome more volunteers. Please contact Lisa on [email protected] if you are interested and have a few hours to spare. We would love to see you down at the River Garden!

Click here to check out our River Garden page, register as a volunteer or to stay in the loop for upcoming events.​

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.

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, 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.

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.