Author Archives: fobif

Scottish, but not Scotch

Posted on 20 December, 2011 by fobif

The plant below is Spear Thistle, Cirsium vulgare, the most widespread plant in Victoria and, according to naturalist Ern Perkins, by far the most common thistle in this region. It’s commonly but wrongly called Scotch thistle. That ‘honour’ belongs to … Continue reading →

Posted in Weeds | Comments Off

The uses of fire

Posted on 17 December, 2011 by fobif

FOBIF has written to Parks Victoria to clarify some questions arising from the Quartz Hill, Chewton, Asset Protection management burn of a few weeks ago. What interested us was that the burn was pretty severe on native undergrowth [as was … Continue reading →

Posted in Fire Management | Comments Off

Remnant Vegetation: the State Government responds to VEAC

Posted on 14 December, 2011 by fobif

The State Government has released its response to the Victorian Environment Assessment Council’s Remnant Native Vegetation report [see our May 24 Post on this]. VEAC made 13 recommendations, all designed to improve ecological connectivity between small parcels of land, encourage … Continue reading →

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VCAT decides on Diamond Gully subdivision

Posted on 11 December, 2011 by fobif

Local residents supported by FOBIF went to VCAT to review a Council decision to grant a permit for a 7 lot subdivision in high conservation bush at Diamond Gully (on the western edge of Castlemaine). The development will involve the … Continue reading →

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Sharing the same nesting area

Posted on 9 December, 2011 by fobif

Eroded creek banks, although a blot on the landscape in some ways, also have their upside. At this time of year two quite different species utilise the eroded walls to build their nests at the end of tunnels in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Observations, News | Comments Off