Last FOBIF walk for the year

Posted on 17 October, 2016 by fobif

Last Sunday (October 16) Alex Panelli led the last FOBIF walk for 2016 in the Fryers Ranges. Alex has led several walks in the area and this time we explored some of the valleys descending from Fryers Ridge and Old Firetower Track.

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The group resting near the end of the walk.

Highlights of the walk were finding at least 30 examples of Mantis Orchid Caladenia tentaculata and Brown-clubbed Spider Orchid Caladenia phaeoclavia and being surrounded by scores of Caper White Butterflies as we ended the walk.

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Spider Orchid, photo by Bronwyn Silver and Caper White Butterflies, photo by Ruth Forbes

Here is a selection of photos by Peter Turner of plants in flower (click to enlarge). The last photo of a hat shows a few of the thousands of mosquitoes that accompanied us.

Unfortunately there were a couple of disturbing sights. Several areas had been churned up by motorbike riding and digging by prospectors had caused extensive damage over a large area.

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Landscape damage caused by prospectors which will encourage further erosion. Photo by Peter Turner

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Presentation on Bushfire at Newstead Community Centre

Posted on 17 October, 2016 by fobif

This Thursday (October 20) there will be a presentation, Protecting from Bushfire, Protecting our Biodiversity, at the Newstead Community Centre starting at 8 pm. All are welcome to attend. Newstead Landcare has sent us the following information on the event:

As the days warm up and the summer approaches, the thoughts of many who live out of town turn to the threat of bushfires. The things that we love about the bush can become sources of anxiety and fear in the hot, dry months. How do we protect ourselves from bushfire and still protect the plants and animals that make our area so special? Questions like these will be addressed at Newstead Landcare Group’s October presentation “Protecting from Bushfire, Protecting our Biodiversity”.

“We are really excited to have Owen Gooding, a leading researcher on vegetation management and fire presenting at our October meeting. Owen is also the Vegetation Management Officer for the CFA, so he is very well placed to help us understand the issues” said Frances Cincotta, Newstead Landcare’s President.

The presentation will cover how to manage vegetation on your property, be it a small holding or larger bush block, to reduce the risk in case of fire and to retain native vegetation. “Owen will also be discussing ways to think about bushfire and native vegetation in the wider landscape and dispelling a few myths” Ms Cincotta added.

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Burnt landscape near Maldon.

 

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Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park survey

Posted on 16 October, 2016 by fobif
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Map from the survey. Click to enlarge.

Parks Victoria is currently reviewing the Heritage Action Plan for the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park:

We want to know about the places you value within the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park, find out about issues of concern and get your ideas about other themes, stories or aspects of the park that could be shared with visitors.

As part of the review Parks are asking people to fill out an online survey which will remain open until Wednesday 30 November.

The survey gives people the opportunity to specify why they value the park, their favourite areas and suggested funding priorities. The FOBIF Committee will be sending its own response and we encourage everyone interested in the future of the Diggings Park to fill out the survey as well. Click here for more information and the link to the survey.

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Local community conversation about fire

Posted on 15 October, 2016 by fobif

Understanding Fire in our Landscape: A Community Conversation is a community event being held on the weekend of the 12-13 November 2016, in Newstead. The project has been initiated by the Muckleford Forest Friends Group and based on one of the activities proposed in the Newstead Community Plan.

screen-shot-2016-10-15-at-4-42-23-pm-copyYou can find out more here and the draft program for the weekend can be found here. The event is free but bookings are required.

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Followup to the launch of FOBIF Eucalypt guide

Posted on 30 September, 2016 by fobif

If you missed the launch of the FOBIF publication, Eucalypts of the Mount Alexander Region, you can now see the morning’s proceedings thanks to Chris Timewell from Connecting Country who filmed the event and put together this terrific video.

The guide is now available for $10 at Stonemans Bookroom, the Information Centre in the Market Building, the Enviroshop (Newstead) and the Guildford Store. It can also be purchased through Paypal ($13 including postage).

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