Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests

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 the monitoring work as the re-growth due to the recent rains has been extraordinary.

The field work requires agile, fit and enthusiastic volunteers with a good sense of bush safety. No botanical skills are required although a field sheet will need to be filled in. The days may be long and the ability to read a compass will be an advantage. The required period of time is from Monday 31 October though to 9 November 2011 and monitoring will be done in two stints of 3-5 days. The location is the Castlemaine Diggings National Historical Park.

Contact Damian Cook at 0402 127 933 to find out more information and/or to volunteer as a monitor.

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 Country site.

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.

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 way Doug explained the mining and early settlement history of the area.

Walkers with Doug at a mining tunnel. Photo by John Ellis

Doug explaining the significance of an old stone ruin. Photo by John Ellis

The walks have been very successful this year with over 50 people attending both the March walk along the Loddon and the May walk to Muckleford Gorge. The average attendance for other walks was about 25. We are in the process of planning the 2012 program and are keen to hear from anyone who might like to lead a walk. Contact Bronwyn Silver on 5475 1089 or Julie Hurley on 5472 5082 if you are interested. The new walks’ program will be posted on this website in February next year with the first walk taking place on 18 March 2012.