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

It's hard to believe that we are already into the second half of 2022!

This edition is chockablock with news to share, including some completed plantings, LOTS of upcoming plantings, interesting events, projects updates, grant opportunities and much more.

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 

​Come along to one (or more!) of our upcoming planting days! Planting are typically 10am-2pm and lunch is provided. BYO water bottle, sturdy boots and wet weather gear. Please note that property addresses have not been published. If you would like to attend a planting day, please RSVP to the group's email address for the exact location.

• 16th July, 1,000 plants in Ryanston, contact 
  [email protected]
• 16th July, 4,000 plants in Mahers Landing, contact
  [email protected]
• 17th July, 1,300 plants in Korumbura, contact
  [email protected]
• 23rd July, 3,000 plants in Surf Beach, contact
  [email protected]
• 24th July, 2,000 plants in Outtrim, contact
  [email protected]
• 24th July, 2,000 plants in Inverloch, contact
  [email protected]​
• 31st July, 3,000 plants in Bridge Creek, contact
  [email protected]
• 6th August, 4,000 plants in Glen Alvie, contact
  [email protected]
• 6th August, 1,000 plants in Jumbunna, contact 
  [email protected]
• 13th August, 3,000 plants in Ryanston, contact
  [email protected]
• 13th August, 1,200 plants in Ventnor, contact
  [email protected]
• 30th August 3000 plants in Ventnor contact
  [email protected]
  

National Tree Day - Sunday 31st of July 

Although every day is tree day in Landcare, this year's National Tree Day is Sunday 31st of July with the celebration of Schools National Tree Day on Friday 29th of July. Established in 1996, National Tree Day has grown into Australia's largest community tree planting and nature care event. The program is a call to action for all Australians to get their hands dirty and give back to their community.  Each year, around 300,000 people volunteer their time outdoors, getting to know their community and, most importantly, have fun!

In Bass Coast you can get involved in the 3 Creeks ‘Bridge Creek Walkalong planting’ starting at the end of Hawkins Rd, Dalyston and following the creek to its confluence with Woolshed Creek and the Powlett River to the South. There will be designated planting zones along the walk and volunteers will take planting and weeding equipment to plant understory plants to infill past revegetation sites. This will enhance habitat values, reduce erosion along the creek and we will also remove invasive weeds as we go. For further details or to RSVP, please contact: [email protected] This project is supported by BCLN and the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority through funding from the Victorian Government’s Our Catchments, Our Communities Program, and Westernport Water. Plants have been funded by Westernport Water and grown by the BCLN nursery group.

We will also be planting with Students from Bass Valley Primary School on National Schools Tree day, planting 3,000 grassy woodland plants to create a wildlife corridor biolink between coastal and roadside vegetation.

For more information from Planet Ark about National Tree Day click here. 

Registration has been extended to July 22nd, please contact Peter Ronalds at [email protected] for further information.

Attention Bass Coast farmers in the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment. Our 2022 Regenerative Agriculture Training program for farmers will be held during August and September 2022.      
​The program will run on 7 consecutive Fridays from 10am to 2pm and will include farm walks on local regenerative agriculture farms.  There may be the occasional Zoom session. There are only 25 places available, and farms must be located within the watershed of Westernport or Port Phillip Bays.  If you're interested in  being a part of this course please fill out the EOI ASAP and return it to Peter Ronalds (address above) from the Westernport Catchment Landcare Network by July 22nd.

Click here to download the expression of interest form

It’s been four years since Landcarers could gather in person at a National Landcare Conference, one of Landcare’s biggest knowledge sharing events. The National Landcare Conference will take place from Tuesday 23rd to Thursday 25th of August, at the International Convention Centre, Darling Harbour, Sydney. Registrations for early bird tickets are open and will close on July 10. You can also register as a virtual delegate for free.

Click here for more information and to register.

The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) are running Cultural Safety training in September, and Landcare professionals and volunteers working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to take part. 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 40 participants from Landcare in April and May. A third session will be held on Thursday 8th September from 10am - 3pm.
To register your interest, click here to email Barry Kennedy at [email protected]​

The Victoria Nature Festival will be held from the 12th - 25th of September, with the central themes being Nature for Health, Reconnection, Recovery and Regeneration and Connect to Country. Content is encouraged from the Landcare community. The festival's aim is to celebrate the community's connection to nature, and its role in improving mental and physical health. Landcare and other environmental volunteer groups can take part by registering for a “Come and Try” event aligned to the Great Vic Nature Walk on September 17 and 18.

For further details, click here to email Festival Coordinator, Christina Renowden.

GROUP AND NETWORK NEWS

Tuesday 14th of June offered some lovely sun for a massive planting day at Korumburra Secondary College, with VCAL students and some Korumburra Landcare volunteers planting out steep embankments behind the buildings on the school premises. The Korumburra Landcare Group donated 2,000 plants to help change the landscape of the school from bare dirt into a lush low and dense garden. The site was previously filled with overgrown weedy shrubs which were causing issues with the foundations and gutters. These trees were removed last year, and the site was ready for some native Dianella, Lomandra, Poa, Themeda and Pigface species. Using a mixture of drills with an auger bit, small trowels and hamilton tree planters, the students and Landcare members managed to plant most of the plants, with teamwork being the key to getting the job done.

Click here to learn more about the Korumburra Landcare Group.​

Fantastic news. Bass Coast Landcare Network and its key partners are pleased to announce that the long awaited Climate Adaptation Plan (CAP) is live! The CAP can be accessed via the Growing Southern Gippsland website which provides farmers with access to climate resources and local examples of climate adaptation and mitigation. It is designed to encourage self-guided information gathering and research.​ The CAP tool has been designed to enable farmers to identify specific climate impacts relevant for their enterprise and provide guidance of identifying specific on farm solutions. We encourage you to use the CAP tool to investigate which climate impacts are most relevant to your farm and to identify the actions you can take to mitigate or adapt to them. Once you complete your journey through the CAP you will have developed your own individual plan that will enable you to take your first steps to a climate resilient farm. We encourage all landowners in Southern Gippsland to take a journey through the Growing Southern Gippsland website and the CAP tool. Bass Coast Landcare network are planning on running a series of workshops in the future to help landowners develop their own Climate Adaptation Plan.

Click here to access the tool. For further information please email [email protected]

On Saturday 24th June, the Korumburra Landcare Group had a very productive planting day at Woodford Place, at the top of Foster Creek.
Locals and members came together and managed to plant around 1,200 plants. Everyone did an exceptional job, all working hard to get so many plants in the ground and the weather was perfect for planting. Thanks to Plantmark in Wantirna for the donation of 1,400 plants. The remaining plants will be planted a little further up and downstream, by the newly formed group Friends of Woodford Place.

Click here to learn more about Korumburra Landcare Group.​

Photo credit West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority

This three-year project is focused on integrated environmental restoration work throughout the Powlett River / Kugerungmome catchment area.  From the southern slopes of the Strzelecki Ranges to the estuary, the project includes fox control and bird monitoring activities that will help protect Hooded Plovers. Working with local landholders to undertake fencing, weed control and revegetation work on their properties will improve the condition of remnant native vegetation and preserve habitat for the Giant Gippsland Earthworm. Partners involved in this project include Bass Coast Landcare Network, Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, BirdLife Australia, Parks Victoria, Trust for Nature, West Gippsland CMA, community groups and landholders. Project partners recently gathered in Dalyston to share information about their role in the partnership, learn from each other, and give support and advice... click the link below to watch a video from the day.
​The project is supported by West Gippsland CMA through funding from the Victorian Government’s Our Catchments, Our Communities Program.

Click here to watch a video about the project.

The Bass Coast Landcare Network is excited to announce a new project focusing on the Giant Gippsland Earthworm,  Megascolides australis.  BCLN will be working with key partners, Trust for Nature, South Gippsland Landcare Network, Beverley Van  Praagh from Invert-Eco,  Alison Oates from Oates Environmental Consulting, Drift Media and the ​Gippsland Threatened Species Action Group.  The project will be focusing on protection of the Giant Gippsland Earthworm and increasing knowledge of its habitat and management requirements.  The project will be working with nine landowners across Southern Gippsland over a total of 88 ha, 34.83 of which will be permanently protected under a Trust For Nature covenant.  Other project outputs include fencing, weed management, habitat site mapping, development of planting guidelines, multi media case study developmental and two field days.  This is an exciting project and BCLN is privileged to work with all project partners to further understand and protect Southern Gippsland's iconic worm.  

Recently the BCLN team worked alongside Beveridge Williams staff from the Wonthaggi and Melbourne offices to plant 2,800 understorey plants to restore a remnant patch of vegetation on a property in Glen Alvie. Along with the plants, 1,100 guards were constructed around high-risk plants to protect them from wallabies and rabbits. BCLN is grateful for the continued support and ongoing partnership with Beveridge Williams, who have sponsored three planting days over the last three years. This planting was funded through the Beveridge Williams Bronze Sponsorship, with additional funding from  Powlett Project VLG. We would like to acknowledge WGCMA and the Victorian State Government for funding the project, through the Victorian Landcare Grants. BLCN would like to thank Beveridge Williams for the ongoing support and their efforts on Friday, and Brad and Dani for hosting the day and cooking a great lunch for everybody.

Click here to learn more about sponsorship opportunities with BCLN.

We are all very sad to hear of the passing of Michael Bolding, who has done so much for our landscape. Michael was instrumental in the development of the Archies Creek Reafforestation Group in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.  He and his family transformed their bare property into a natural bushland setting over numerous years, and by undertaking these works around his home property, Michael set a great example to others in the Archies Creek valley as to the best ways of improving their surrounding environment.  The initial activities of the ACRG were prior to the development of a co-ordinated Landcare program in the Bass Coast region, so Michael could be considered to be an environmental thinker ahead his time. In combination with a number of other community members, Michael helped drive the development of the Archies Creek wildlife corridor.  The concept was simple – fence out and revegetate the length of the Archies Creek.  The practicalities were a bit more challenging; the engagement of all landholders along the length of the Archies Creek to fence out and plant their part of the creek.  To engage the community, the ACRG helped co-ordinate many community planting activities on numerous properties along the Archies Creek.   As a result of a consolidated corridor of vegetation along the creek, the environmental benefits have been immense.

Click here to read the full article.

Last month we hosted a ‘Regenerative Agriculture for Small Farms’ day at the River Garden in Bass with our special guest speaker, Gerhard Grasser from AgriSolutions. Gerhard led the group through regenerative agriculture concepts including, 100% ground cover, reduced soil disturbance, encouraging living roots year-round, and integrating animals into regenerative agriculture farming systems.  He also spoke about vision, goals, and planning, understanding soils, planning for water needs, composting, zero waste, and practical management tools, with an in-field demonstration of various soil sampling and diagnostic techniques that landholders can use to further understand their soils. This day actively encouraged and empowered our participants who came from all across South Gippsland, to adopt these practices to reduce their footprints and enhance the resilience of their farms. This day was co-funded with thanks through the Highways and Byways Small Grants Program and the Future Homes, Farms and Festivals program funded by the Victorian Government and Bass Coast Shire Council.

Click here for more information about our Sustainable Agriculture programs.

A note to all Bass Valley members that as a part of your membership you are able to receive 40 free plants each year. These plants are available for collection now at Lew's farm, 5 Michie Road, Woodleigh. Call Lew on  0409854933 to organise collection of your plants.

Click here to join the Bass Valley Landcare Group.​

GRANTS, TRAINING, INFORMATION, RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LANDHOLDERS

The West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority wants to hear from Landcare volunteers, committee members and staff to see what training opportunities would be helpful in the future, and have produced a Training Needs Survey so you can have your say.  They would appreciate you taking 5 minutes to complete the survey, as well as sharing it with your fellow Landcare members. 

Click here to complete the survey.​

The Australian National Soil Strategy has developed an incentive program called the Historical Soil Data Capture Payments Program, where the government is calling for historic soil data to increase the national soil data base. If you are a farmer or land manager with historical soil data records captured for agricultural management or other purposes, you may be eligible to receive payments of up to $10,000 in exchange for sharing this data and making it publicly available. Better soil data will lead to improved research, technology and policy outcomes. It will also help land managers to benchmark their soil against regional or type averages. To be eligible to participate, data owners must be an Australian-based farmer, land manager or an entity that owns soil data, be willing to sign data sharing agreements to share soil information and complete a qualitative survey about land and management practices. A panel of data brokers have been selected to engage with data owners, collate soil test data, and share the data with the Australian Government.

Click here to find out more about the program

Listen to this great podcast, where Sally O'Neill chats with Phillip Island local and Landcare Legend, Anne Davie OAM. In this interview Anne chats about how farming practice has changed over 60 years, the importance of community and the exciting chapters that are ahead for farming and Landcare.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

The Victorian Government is providing funding to support Landcare and environmental volunteering groups and networks for on-ground works, education, and capacity-building projects that protect, enhance, and restore our land and natural environment. Project grants of up to $20,000 and support grants up to $500 are available. Applications close July 26th.

Click here for more details and grant guidelines.​

Funding is available for projects that provide young Victorians with an opportunity to participate in hands-on biodiversity projects or educate them in valuing and actively caring for biodiversity the environment. All schools, kindergartens, childcare centers, Scouts, Girl Guides, youth and Junior Landcare groups in Victoria are eligible to apply for grants of up to $5,000. Applications close August 9th.

Click here for further details.

The Victorian Government is providing $1 million in grants to support local partnerships and innovation projects to re-engage volunteers, broaden the volunteer base, and strengthen volunteering in local communities. Applications for grants of up to $80,000 are now open and will close 18 July 2022.

Click here for the guidelines, and links to the application form.​

Our most recent River Garden Blitz on July 9th featured local Permaculture legend Ric Coleman who expertly guided our very interested group through how to prune the various trees we have at the River Garden. There were a lot of questions asked and answered and every participant had a go at chopping and shaping our espaliers, our orchard trees and our nut trees. This is a day we try to run annually and is always a popular one, we even had a visitor from as far away as Toora joining us! We are also needing to put up some shelter around a few of our trees suffering effects of wind and cold, a job for the next Blitz Day on Saturday 13th of August. The topic is yet to be confirmed but we will be welcoming back Ric Coleman again, so it is sure to help you in your food growing journey as well as being interesting, engaging, hands-on and fun! Save the date for now, look out for a further email or on our social media pages for more information on this day.
We have also been busy behind the scenes doing some planning for our soon to be launched ‘River Garden Kids’ and ‘River Garden Little Kids’ programs, which we have held off running due to Covid effects but we are hoping to get this up and running later in this term or early in Term 4. These activities, including our River Garden Blitz days are funded through the VicHealth Reimagining Health Grants, so it’s a great time learn about how you can grow healthy nutritious food at home through our free programs.

Click here for more information on the River Garden and sign up on this page to join our growing River Garden Community!​

The Arborists for Forests Initiative is quickly growing, with positive outcomes throughout the Bass Coast. In 2021, we planted 400 Swamp Scrub plants along the Woolamai Rail Trail to extend an important wildlife corridor. These plants were made up of Bass Coast Tree Care’s partnership for the 2019/20 financial year. The Bass Coast Tree Care crew worked alongside our Works Crew to get the plants in the ground, and we are pleased to see a strong survival result a year later. This year, we will plant 2,500 indigenous plants at a conservation wetland site on Phillip Island, thanks to contributions from our 3 partners for the 2020/21 financial year (Bass Coast Tree Care, South Gippsland Tree Care and ArborZone). If you had any trees removed by our partnered arborist companies, you can check out the map of 2021 planting site to see where your trees have been planted!

Click here for more information about the Initiative.

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 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.