Author Archives: fobif

A management plan for Forest Creek?

Posted on 13 November, 2011 by fobif

A draft management plan for forest Creek, prepared by Max Shlacter for Connecting Country, in consultation with various community groups [including FOBIF], residents and agencies, is now in circulation. It can be found here The informative and interesting plan divides … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off

It’s hard to like them, but they’re quite at home with us…

Posted on 8 November, 2011 by fobif

The picture below is of a dead Redback spider, Latrodectus hasselti, found in a Castlemaine garden. The species is infamous for its alleged propensity to lurk on toilet seats, but is actually quite shy, though it has made itself comfortable … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Observations | Comments Off

Promises, promises?

Posted on 7 November, 2011 by fobif

Readers will remember our criticisms of DSE’s conduct of the Smutta’s track management burn early this year [see our posts of April 26 and May 2]. Specifically we were concerned by the destruction of a very large tree near Hunter’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Fire Management | Comments Off

Fire management: so what’s new?

Posted on 7 November, 2011 by fobif

DSE is in the process of reviewing its Code of Practice for fire management on public land. The review is being done in the light of the Bushfire Royal Commission’s recommendation 59. This recommendation required that the Code ‘provide a … Continue reading →

Posted in Fire Management, News | Comments Off

Next Moss and Liverwort Group activity

Posted on 31 October, 2011 by fobif

The Moss and Liverwort Group will be holding their third activity on 26 November at 10.30am at 8 Preshaw Street, Castlemaine. Cass Read is going to lead people through this session which will look closely at the 20 most common local … Continue reading →

Posted in Moss and Liverwort Field Guide group, News | Comments Off

Monitoring the Box Ironbark Thinning Trials

Posted on 26 October, 2011 by fobif

A re-monitoring of the Box Ironbark Thinning Trials begun in 2005 is currently underway in four locations across the Box Ironbark estate, including Castlemaine. The company undertaking the monitoring, Australian Ecosystems, is in need of some volunteers to assist with … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off

Eucalypt Identification Workshops

Posted on 26 October, 2011 by fobif

The Eucalypt Identification Worshops organised by Connecting Country are now booked out for Castlemaine and Maldon but spaces are still available for Sutton Grange and Newstead. More details about the course and booking information can be found on the Connecting … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off

Reminder about Chilean Needle Grass Workshop

Posted on 26 October, 2011 by fobif

The Tarrengower Cactus Control Committee is hosting a workshop to help people identify and control the Chilean Needle Grass weed this Sunday 30 October from 10.30am – 12.30pm. More information can be found here.

Posted in News | Comments Off

Last walk for 2011

Posted on 23 October, 2011 by fobif

Doug Ralph led the last FOBIF walk for the year on 16 October. The walk began at the Garfield Water Wheel and followed the water race to Quartz Hill along Sailers Gully. This water race supplied the Water Wheel. Along the … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off

Out and about in the Muckleford Forest

Posted on 21 October, 2011 by fobif

I always find that the call of the Peaceful Dove is enticing, but it can be a hard bird to actually locate. The call seems to move about and getting a fix can be hard. When you do, the view … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Observations | Comments Off