Calendar
The Current Calendar (below) includes FoG and related activities. To be kept fully up to date with FoG activities, become a member, get the newsletter and if you have email access you'll also get the FoG E-bulletin with all the latest news and information. If you have queries about any of the activities below, contact the person nominated, or Contact Us.
FoG visits many private or public properties during the year to assist in plant identification and management issues. These visits usually do not appear in the FoG program because we may not know what to expect at such sites and because they are usually arranged at short notice. If you are interested in participating in property visits, Contact Us.
Please advertise this information amongst your friends and networks and support our activities.
Non FoG members are welcome to participate in FoG events.
For any FoG activity you should register with the indicated contact, who can assist with directions and possibly car pooling. By registering you assist us to organise any catering and provide you with any other information that you may need, including late changes.
Calendar
Thursday 7 September, 1–2 pm: Seminar: From plantings to the paddock: ground-dwelling beetles in a dynamic agricultural landscape
Speaker: Kat Ng. ANU Forestry building #48 room 108 (upstairs), map: https://studentvip.com.au/anu/main/maps/81445
Widespread intensification of agricultural landscapes presents an urgent challenge for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function. Kat’s results suggest that farmlands provide important habitat for a large proportion of beetle species. Maintaining farmland heterogeneity with a mix of low-intensity land-uses can provide seasonal habitat resources and facilitate cross-habitat movement.
Kat is a final year PhD candidate at the ANU Fenner School and CSIRO (and a member of FoG). Her PhD research examined the distribution and dispersal of beetle communities across mixed-cropping areas of the NSW Lachlan Catchment.
Thursday 7 September: Open day: Looking after landscapes for the protection of threatened species, at ‘Wandiyali’, near Queanbeyan NSW
11am – 1pm: expert presentations followed by a property tour. Learn about the management of threatened species in a wonderful mosaic of habitats centred on Critically Endangered Box Gum Grassy Woodlands and the serpentine gorges of Jerrabomberra Creek.
1pm – 3pm: lunch and tree planting.
‘Wandiyali’ is at 732 Old Cooma Rd, Googong.
For details and to express interest, contact Carolyn Larcombe, wandiyali.restoration@gmail.com
Wednesday 20 September, 6.30 pm: Film 'Understorey', National Film & Sound Archive, ACT
This is a film about the fight to save the SE forests, which eventually became the SE Forests National Park. It includes some wonderful wildlife photography, and been well-received at showings in NSW. The film is followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker. It is sponsored by the National Parks Association & will be a fund raiser for the NPA. Tickets $10 each, from https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=304675.
Weekend 23–24 September: 'Showcasing weeding tools, methods and ideas'
10 am Saturday till after lunch Sunday, at Mt Oak, near Bredbo NSW. Saturday will have weeds focus; Sunday morning will be exploring the Mt Oak property.
We have a great opportunity to thoroughly investigate weed-control methods in grassland and other local landscapes at a 1–2 day visit to Mt Oak, near Bredbo in mid–late September. Our host will be Gidja Walker who has huge experience in weed control; see www.mtoak.net and www.gidjawalker.com.au.
We shall be demonstrating and trialling implements and ideas for weed eradication, and you can also bring along samples (with seeds well wrapped of course) or otherwise discuss your problematic weed or weedy area. Bring your good-news weeds stories too!! It is a weeds swap of ideas.
This FOG activity is limited to 15 people (members of FOG or Mt Oak have priority). We shall arrive around 10 am on Saturday 23 September, stay overnight in a camping situation (some non-camping may be available locally), and leave on the Sunday 24 September after lunch. Water and toilets are available for campers. 4WD vehicles would be helpful, as would carpooling. No fees.
Contact margaret.ning@fog.org.au for more details and to register. Margaret will give you address, food, etc info when you register.
Sunday 24 September, 9 am – 12.30 pm: Stirling Park workparty
The September workparty will focus on planting and weed control. For details nearer the time, see the FOG September ebulletin and/or direct email. Please contact Peter McGhie or Jamie Pittock to tell them you will be there. jamie.pittock@fog.org.au, mobile: 0407 265 131; pmcghie@optusnet.com.au, mobile: 0411 126 719
Sunday 24 September: Yarramundi Grassland workparty, maybe!
Our expected workparty on 24 September at Yarramundi Grassland (behind the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Centre, 245 Lady Denman Drive, ACT) may or may not go ahead, depending on the status of work the National Capital Authority has planned there around that time. If you would be available for a FOG workparty, please contact John Fitz Gerald near that time to find out if it will go ahead: john.fitzgerald@fog.org.au.
Sunday 24 September, 9.30 am start: Murrumbateman Landcare Group visit to Yass Gorge
To join this walk to look at the gorge vegetation (grassland with a number of uncommonly seen species), please contact Bob McColl at email mlg_sec@yan.org.au. An account of the FOG visit there in June is given in News of Friends of Grasslands July–August edition. 9.30 am start at Flat Rock Crossing, off Rossi St, Yass NSW.
Saturday 7 October, 9 – 11 am: Hall Cemetery woodland workparty
At this spring work morning we shall return to the control of emerging weeds, especially thistles, and of selected patches of exotic grass. The major action will be spot application of herbicide through the grassy woodland. Some physical removal can also be done, so please bring along your favourite digging tool. Morning tea is provided. Please dress for the weather, and waterproof footwear is recommended.
So that enough morning tea and weeding gear are on hand to match the enthusiasm of volunteers, be sure to register with john.fitzgerald@fog.org.au, before Thursday 5 October.
14 October, 9.30 am (sharp) – 12 noon or later: 46th Black Mountain spring wildflower ramble
At Belconnen Way entry just before Caswell Drive turnoff (look for balloons)
16–19 October: 19th NSW Weeds conference, Armidale NSW.
For details, see http://conferencecompany.com.au/weedsconference/.
21-23 October: FoG visit to northern grassy ecosystems: Bowning, Temora, Forbes and Young NSW
An interest-filled FoG springtime trip exploring the wildflowers and native grassy vegetation being conserved in old cemeteries, travelling stock routes and nature reserves between Bowning, Temora, Forbes and Young over three days in October. Ecosystems to be visited include Grassy Box–Gum Woodlands, Natural Grasslands, Black Ironbark Forests, Grey Box Woodlands and River Red Gum Communities.
Highlights will include Gum Swamp (Forbes, a birdwatcher’s delight), the famous Monteagle Cemetery, and Jindalee National Park (natural habitat of the Cootamundra Wattle). And on the Monday, Dananbilla Nature Reserve and Tarengo TSR (Boorowa).
We’ll camp at Forbes (Saturday) and Crowther (Sunday) at places that have camping and cabins/units. Contact margaret.ning@fog.org.au for more details (e.g. the route), and to register.
25–27 October: 2017 NSW Landcare and Local Land Services conference, Albury NSW.
The theme for the Conference is ‘Sharing our Stories’. Conference topics will focus on agriculture, biodiversity, water and Aboriginal Landcare. Renowned science communicator Dr Karl Kruszelnicki will be the keynote speaker at the conference. This conference is the premier event to showcase sustainability, Landcare and volunteering across NSW and includes the annual Landcare Muster and the NSW State Landcare Awards. Don’t miss this chance to gather with around 300 people from Landcare and community groups, farmers, Aboriginal groups, industry and government representatives from across NSW and Australia. Details and registration at http://nswlandcareconference.com.au/.
29 October: Stirling Park workparty
A workparty continuing to clear woody weeds and maintain new plantings. Morning tea is provided. For details of where to meet, and to register to attend (for catering reasons), please contact Peter McGhie or Jamie Pittock: jamie.pittock@fog.org.au; mobile: 0407 265 131; pmcghie@optusnet.com.au; mobile: 0411 126 719.
Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 November: Call for helpers to promote care for biodiversity
You will be welcome to help promote the work that FOG and other landcare-focused groups do in reducing weeds and supporting biodiversity, by joining the rosters for these two upcoming activities: Joint Parkcare Display @ Jamison Plaza, Macquarie, ACT, during 8–10 September and Weed Swap at Corkhill’s yard, off Mugga Lane, Phillip, and at Canberra Sand and Gravel’s yard at Parkwood, on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 November.
For details, contact ann.milligan@fog.org.au.
Saturday 11 November, 9 – 11 am: Hall Cemetery grassy woodland workparty
Continuation of work begun in October. Morning tea is provided. Waterproof footwear is recommended if there has been recent rain.
Be sure to register with john.fitzgerald@fog.org.au before Thursday 9 November.
12 November 2017: Annual wildflower walk at Stirling Park
The Stirling Park woodland, which has benefited from over seven years of woody-weed removal by FOG and local residents, is known for its range of wildflower species including the endangered Button Wrinklewort Rutidosis leptorhynchoides. The walk is on easy tracks, 2 – 3.30 pm. Contact Peter McGhie for more details and to register: pmcghie@optusnet.com.au; mobile: 0411 126 719.
Tuesday 14 November late afternoon, FoG visit to Conder area grassy landscape
Details to come.
Thursday 16 November, 9.30 am – 3.00pm: Scottsdale monitoring
In November, for the 10th time, FOG will monitor the grasslands of ‘Scottsdale’, the Bush Heritage property near Bredbo. The purpose of our annual monitoring has been to track the effectiveness of various strategies for managing African Love Grass.
I am calling for volunteers for that day. No special knowledge is necessary, although it is useful to have some idea of grasses and forbs. Mostly the tasks involve finding the plots, running out the tape, and recording species.
If you would like to join us, please let me know at least a week before the event so that I can coordinate teams and vehicles: linda.spinaze@fog.org.au.
(Probably) Thursday 23 or 30 November, 10 am – 3.30 pm: Monaro Golden Daisy threatened species field day and seminar
Advance notice that FoG is planning a field day and short seminar in late November to promote a greater community awareness of, and build opportunities for conserving, the Monaro Golden Daisy (Rutidosis leiolepis), a threatened species found in small populations across the Monaro around Cooma and Nimmitabel and the lower ranges of the Snowy Mountains. More information to come.
26 November: Yarramundi Grassland workparty
26 November: Stirling Park workparty
Other Things
Friends of Great Southern Foresttt (SE NSW) are seeking support and endorsement for their proposal and recommendations about the management and logging of public native forests. See their website, http://www.greatsouthernforest.org.au/, which includes a useful summary accessible via the ‘BRIEF’ option in the menu line atop their front page.
Help the Conservation Council
Can you help the Conservation Council by donating? They have their federal funding (which provided 20% of their budget) from May 2014. To donate, the Conservation Council asks you to phone them on 02 6229 3200 with your credit card details, or visit www.conservationcouncil.org.au/support-us/donate//.
Fireweed
An ALERT… Fireweed is now at large across the ACT, as well as in much of eastern NSW. ACT Government media release, on 24/07/2014: Canberrans are again urged to report infestations of the pest plant Madagascan Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) after it was discovered growing in the ACT suburb of Coombs. "Fireweed was discovered on Monday at several locations around a pond in Coombs," Stephen Hughes, Biosecurity Manager, Territory and Municipal Services said. "Unlike the Fireweed infestations found last week on public and private land in Forde, Franklin, Chisholm, Casey, Lyneham and Crace, the recent incursion in Coombs is not associated with imported couch turf. We would like to stress to residents to look beyond areas with couch turf for Fireweed infestations.” It is important that we control Fireweed in ACT, and also in NSW where possible. It is a Class 3 Noxious Weed (must be fully and continuously suppressed and destroyed) widely across SE NSW too. Make sure you know it when you see it! The website at http://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/Weeds/Details/53333 has good photos and more details. Fireweed has daisy-like bright yellow flowers that usually have 13 petals (or 20 green bracts on unopened flowers). Plants can produce thousands of viable seeds, which are fluffy and wind-borne. To pull Fireweed out by hand, first enclose/cover the plant with a strong plastic bag to prevent mature seeds bursting out and flying away. Wear gloves to avoid skin irritation. Double-bag the weed and dispose of the bag with your regular rubbish (NOT in the recycled or green waste). Do NOT spray it with glyphosate. Please note the exact location and report the plant and its condition as soon as you can by email to fireweed@act.gov.au. Include a photo of the plant for confirmation, and report what you have done (pulled it out/left it there, etc).
Please advertise this information among your friends and networks. Non FoG members are welcome to FoG events. For inquiries or if you have an item to include, please Contact Us