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

With one of the wettest and coldest starts to winter for a while in Bass Coast, the tree planting season is well underway! There are lots of Community tree planting days coming up which we hope to see you at, after a few years of not being able to gather on these days. This edition has lots of good news to share, some completed plantings, interesting events, lots of grant opportunities and much more.

We hope you enjoy this month's edition of the Enews!

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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.

• 25th June, 4,000 plants in Kilcunda contact 
  [email protected]
• 25th June, 1,250 plants in Ventnor, contact
  [email protected]
• 25th June, 1,600 plants in Korumburra, contact 
  [email protected]
• 2nd July, 750 plants in Cowes contact [email protected]
  
• 10th July, Korumburra planting at Richie's Reserve, contact 
  [email protected]
• 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 Korumburra, contact 
  ​[email protected]

These two separate sessions are based on rural and urban properties, to help you learn to effectively control rabbits wherever you live. Both sessions will involve visiting either an urban or rural site, to show some potential control techniques. Learn about the subsidy being offered for discounted rabbit control and how to sign up!

Click here for the registration links and event flyers.​

A circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. Do you wish to find out more about circular economies?  How can landholders benefit from a society-wide shift to recovering, recycling and re-using materials that previously were disposed of as waste? If you are interested in accessing opportunities from the emerging circular economy, this exciting webinar will help you understand WHY you need to transition and HOW you can start your journey. This Zoom webinar will be held on Thursday 23rd of June, 10am-12:30pm 

Click here for more information and to register.​

Have you noticed an increase in rabbits and the damage they cause? With a few wet summers, rabbit numbers have rapidly increased. The Bass Coast Landcare Network are starting a two-year rabbit control project on Phillip Island – Teaming Up to Tackle Rabbits. To kick the project off we have a presentation from Feral Scan, running through how to use the Rabbit Scan phone app to quickly and easily record rabbit activity. A map of rabbit activity will greatly assist in rabbit control over the next two years. So please join us, and whenever you are out and about record rabbit activity. This event will be held over Zoom, 7pm on June 23rd.

Click here to join via Zoom.​

Our July Blitz on Saturday 9th of July from 930am - 1230pm will again feature local Horticulture legend Adrian James, who will be showing us the best ways of doing our winter pruning in our orchard, our espalier trees, and our nut trees as well. Registrations are now open on our River Garden web page at the link below.

Click here to register your place and become part of our River Garden Community of growers!

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 23 to Thursday 25 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.

GROUP AND NETWORK NEWS

Phillip Island is recognised for its sensitive and unique landscapes, and it’s important they are protected and enhanced. To further this cause a newly formed group has developed, named 'Phillip Island Land Alliance' (PILA).  PILA’s vision is ‘A connected community who respects and protects the unique and biodiverse environment of Phillip Island’.  The inaugural alliance members include all 9 coastal community volunteer groups that manage their respective areas of the Phillip Island coast, in addition to Phillip Island Landcare Group and Phillip Island Conservation Society.  
Individual community group membership varies from 10 to 100 people.  As an alliance PILA’s membership voice totals around 400, providing a significantly stronger platform to achieve its objectives.

Click here to read all about the PILA.​

The first planting of the year at Corinella Foreshore saw 1,300 plants put into the ground to expand a coastal biolink, creating habitat for the Swamp Antechinus and other fauna species. A big thanks to the volunteers for putting in a big day! This project was funded by the Bass Coast Shire Council Biolinks program.

Shortly after, Bass Valley Landcare group planted 2,500 plants at Macca's Farm. Big thanks to all volunteers who came along to this cold and windy planting, and to the Victorian Landcare Grants and the Bass Coast Shire Council Biolinks program for funding the project.

The sun made an appearance for Three Creeks Landcare Group's first community planting of the 2022 season in early June, ‘Biking the Biolink’, contributing to one of the Bass Coast's most important wildlife corridors. The group first met at the Powlett River Caravan Park, planting 1,500 indigenous plants, before hopping on bikes and riding along the scenic Bass Coast rail trail to the old Kilcunda station, where a further 1,500 indigenous plants were put into the ground. A big thank you to everyone who came along and made it a fantastic day! This project has been funded through a grant from Landcare Australia and Nature's Own, as well as the Bass Coast Shire Council ‘Biolinks’ Program.

Click here to read a little more about this planting in a great article by the Sentinel Times.

Late in Autumn, French Island Landcare together with Vermont Secondary College year 9 students planted 400 tubestock on the South Coast of French Island down at the Slipway. This is the final section of revegetation along the South Coast. Plants included Coast Banksia (Banksia integrifolia), Drooping Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata), Boobialla (Myoporum insulare), Scrub Sheoak (Allocasuarina paludosa), Coast Saltbush (Atriplex cinerea), and an assortment of grasses. The rainy weather held off and they managed to get the plants guarded as well. The Perserverance Primary School students also attended and threw their seed bombs that they had previously made into the long grass, with some making it onto the beach, which then had to be thrown back into the grass. The students then went for an informative walk lead by the Nursery staff along the beach to look at the previous plantings along the South Coast that have been completed  over the last 15 years.

Click here to learn more about French Island Landcare Group.

The Coronet Bay Ratepayers & Residents Association (CBRRA) commissioned a Fauna Survey at Wang toolome Parnung (Norsemens Lake Reserve) primarily as research to inform and educate the local community. Excitingly, the 'vulnerable' Swamp Antechinus has been found, along with many other species. These findings will be helpful in planning, preservation, maintenance and enhancement of the reserve and surrounding areas, as well as educating the community on the importance of small pockets of native vegetation.

Click here to view the report.​

The West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority in partnership with local Aboriginal groups have been developing and delivering Cultural Heritage engagement programs, including workshops, resources and On Country Cultural Heritage training session for the local volunteer community for many years. Check out the video to learn more about the programs.

Click here to view.​

GRANTS, TRAINING, INFORMATION, RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LANDHOLDERS

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.

This program aims to to support projects aligned with the priority areas of conservation, grazing management and feral exclusion. Grants of up to $8,000 (excluding GST) are available towards electric fencing materials - with costs to be determined in consultation with the local Gallagher Territory Manager. A total funding  pool of $132,000 (exclusive GST) is available in 2022.

Click here for more information and to apply.​

Applications are now open for the annual Nuffield Scholarships. Nuffield encourages farmers with a desire to drive their knowledge and businesses forward to consider applying. There are approximately 15-20 scholarships on offer annually, each valued at $30,000. Applications close June 30th.

Click here to find out more.

The Victorian Gorse Taskforce (VGT) is calling for grant applications for their 2022-23 Small Community Grants Program. These grants are available for Landcare and environmental volunteer groups, and private landholder groups of two or more may also apply.  Grants of up to $5,000 are available for gorse control projects on private land. Applications close June 24th.

Click here for grant guidelines and further information.​

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.​

This program offers sponsorship for community groups, projects and events within Westernport Water's service area that are associated with the key themes of healthy people, healthy communities and a healthy planet. They have committed $35,000 to the 2022-23 Community Support Program. Not-for-profit community groups including incorporated community groups, management committees, volunteer groups, sporting clubs or schools/kinders may submit eligible applications. Applications are open and close 15 July 2022. 

Click here for more info and to apply.

With Winter well and truly upon us, growth has slowed right down at the River Garden, we are however lucky to have got our broccoli crops in early and they will be ready and have been harvested by the time this newsletter hits your inbox. We have been busy turning our swales area into a perennial-based food forest and had a great start on this at last month’s Food Forest workshop with Ric Coleman where 36 people learnt the ins and outs of establishing this type of system. Our June blitz was replaced with our ‘Regenerative Agriculture for small farms’ day on June 18^th  with Gerhard Grasser where we explored the principles and how they applied to small farms, as well as looking at our soils across the River Garden. Our July Blitz will again feature local Horticulture legend Adrian James, who will be showing us the best ways of doing our winter fruit tree pruning in our orchard, our espalier trees, and our nut trees as well. Mark down the 9^th of July in your diaries for that one, registrations are now open on our River Garden web page at the link below, with more information to come over our social media as well.

Click here for more information on the River Garden and join our growing River Garden Community!​

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.