What's New in January 2023 BCLN E-news Hello to all of our Landcare Members, Partners, Sponsors, and Friends throughout the Bass Coast Landcare Network and welcome to the January edition of the BCLN Enews. We hope that you had a safe and enjoyable holiday period. This month's Enews features some exciting and interesting events, news, grants, and more. We hope you enjoy this edition of the Enews. For all the latest updates, follow us on Facebook and Instagram... just click the links above! UPCOMING EVENTS CoastCare's Summer by the Sea - On Now! CoastCare's Summer By The Sea is on now, with lots of free events happening across the state with environmental experts. If you live along the Victorian coastline, chances are there will be something on near you. For those of us in Bass Coast, there are Rockpool Rambles and Dinosaur Discovery in Inverloch, and Sea Slug Exploration in San Remo, as well as a Coastal Saltmarsh walk in Newhaven. There are also plenty of online events, including videos and webinars, which can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home. Click here for further details and to book Mangrove Planting at Tenby Point - January 28th You're invited to come and plant mangroves with us in Tenby Point! Learn about the importance of mangroves while getting your hands dirty preparing and planting this awesome species. This event will be held on January 28th, from 10am-2pm, meeting at the Tenby Point foreshore. A BBQ lunch will be provided, please make sure any dietary requirements are noted. Gumboots and gloves are recommended, as well as sun protection and a water bottle. RSVP to
[email protected] Kongwak Hills Landcare Group Bird ID Session and Meeting - February 4th Kongwak Hills Landcare Group will be holding their first meeting for the year on Saturday February 4th at the Kongwak Hall, starting off with a Bird ID session with Jane Taylor from 10.30am-12.00pm. Jane is a self-confessed 'bird nut' and is helping with the nesting box project bird surveys. After lunch (please bring something to share) and photos from photographer Robyn Bolding, the KHLG meeting will begin at 1pm to deal with outstanding business and set the agenda for 2023. Please send any items of new business for discussion to
[email protected] Click here to learn more about the Kongwak Hills Landcare Group Bass Coast Edible Gardens - February 4th and 5th Bass Coast Edible Gardens is back, with a trail of 15 edible gardens open across Bass Coast ready for you to explore. From community gardens, to 5-acre blocks, small suburban patches and everything in between, you're sure to be inspired and maybe a little surprised at what types of food plants thrive in Bass Coast conditions, and how many different varieties you can squeeze into a small space. This year some gardens will be selling produce, seedlings, gardening-related items and refreshments, while others will offer demonstrations including flow hives and mead tastings. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets Woody Weed ID and Control with South Gippsland Landcare Network - February 11th Come and join South Gippsland Landcare Network in Meeniyan to learn about woody weeds, why they are a threat to our landscape and how to control different species. The workshop will run from 10am-1pm, and will finish with a BBQ lunch. Click here for further information and to RSVP Lake Naming and Smoking Ceremony at Coronet Bay - March 12th The Coronet Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association (CBRRA) has been fortunate to receive a Grant under the Bass Coast Shire Community Grants program to conduct a Naming and Smoking Ceremony for the previously unnamed small coastal freshwater lake at Coronet Bay, to now be officially known as Wang toolome parnung (Duck Waterhole) Earlier project grants have enabled Fauna and Flora Surveys identifying a wealth of indigenous animals, including vulnerable species in the vegetative area surrounding Wang toolome parnung. These are identified on the recently installed educational signage at the lake. CBRRA invites you to join us on Sunday 12th March 2023 at 11am in Coronet Bay when a Bunurong Elder will perform a Smoking and Welcome to Country to officially introduce Wang toolome parnung to the Community. The CBRRA gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the Bass Coast Shire, Melbourne Water, Bunurong Land Council and Bass Valley Lions Club in support of these events. Click here for more information , or contact Kev Brown (secretary) at
[email protected] GROUP AND NETWORK NEWS Three Creeks caps and beanies for sale Three Creeks Landcare Group have got a fresh batch of caps and beanies available, for just $10 each! Please email
[email protected] to order yours. Click here to learn more about Three Creeks Landcare Group A nice surprise in Inverloch Gippsland Threatened Species Action Group members recently had a welcome surprise while setting up audio monitoring equipment at a member's property at Inverloch, with an endangered Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) sunning itself on a log near the wetland. This is the second sighting this year at the same property. Lace Monitors are found in hollow logs or up in tree branches and can travel up to 1km per day. These reptiles are not often seen in Bass Coast due mainly to tree clearing for urban development as their habitat consists of mature trees and large hollow logs. Their diet consists of a variety of insects, reptiles, small mammals and birds. Click here to learn more about the Gippsland Threatened Species Action Group Now is the time for Summer blackberry control Blackberry is one of the most problematic weeds in the Bass Coast Shire, growing vigorously and smothering native vegetation. It is easily dispersed, growing from seed spread by birds and foxes, as well as reproducing from root suckers and tip rooting. A small patch of blackberry can turn into a nasty infestation very quickly, so it's important to control it as soon as possible. Summer is the best time of year to spray your blackberries, while they are actively growing. The Victorian Blackberry Taskforce has produced this Blackberry Control Manual which gives you all the info you need to understand blackberries, various control methods and even information on creating a management plan. If you need assistance with your blackberries, click here to go to our Works Crew page, and request a free quote. GRANTS, TRAINING, INFORMATION, RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LANDHOLDERS Motivating Volunteers - Survey Social researcher Tracey Schultz and Dr Angela Dean of the University of Queensland have put together a survey on volunteerism. We welcome you to fill in the survey, whihc aims to identify what motivates volunteers. “You are invited to participate in an online study to identify what motivates volunteers to participate in environmental stewardship programs, and what factors support the valuable contribution of people like you. The study is completely anonymous and takes approximately 10-12 minutes to complete. Everyone that completes the survey will be offered the chance to win one of two vouchers worth $300. The survey is being run by researchers from the University of Queensland with support from the NSW Environmental Trust." To complete the survey or to find out more information click here. Apply for a grant from Planet Ark's Seedling Bank Grants are open now until 24 February 2023, for Planet Ark's Seedling Bank. Planet Ark’s Seedling Bank empowers schools and community groups to undertake regeneration projects by providing financial support to buy native seedlings. Since launching in 2019, over 90 groups have received funding to plant over 39,000 seedlings around Australia. This next round of grants will be the biggest yet – with funding for over 50,000 seedlings. Click here to learn more and to apply PROJECT UPDATES River Garden Update Our fantastic Interchange volunteers were ready to help us the very first week of the New Year, pulling weeds and moving fruit tree prunings to our compost heap, all whilst enjoying a few fresh strawberries straight from the patch! The seedlings planted before Christmas are doing well, with corn, purple beans, beetroot, zucchinis and sunflowers among other things all thriving, despite the heat and without much supplementary watering over the break. We will be starting our monthly River Garden Blitz days in February, with the first session being held on the morning of Saturday 11th... details to come! Click here to check out our River Garden page, 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. donate today 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
