Landcare Activities

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03f8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <B>          <IMG SRC="0a66e2c0.jpg" border=0 width="110" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Landcare Activities"><U><B>Landcare Activities Calendar</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Landcare"><U><B>Landcare Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0408dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>BYWONG COMMUNITY</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BYWONG COMMUNITY"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> Landcare Activities </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="0408dfc3.jpg"> <bR> <div> <B>Calendar of activities 2007</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="727" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="247"><div> <B>Date</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="460"><div> <B>Event</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="0"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="0" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 553 WIDTH="247"><div> <B>Monday 10 September</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="460"><div> <B>Monthly meeting: </B></div> <div> Our speaker will be <I>Jacqui Stol</I> from CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems. Jacqui will discuss: <I>The role of soil fungi in the restoration of agricultural landscapes</I>.</div> <div> Fungi are among the many organisms needed to sustain ecosystems. Like many of the less charismatic ecosystem components, they operate mostly out of sight and consequently are out of mind to casual observers. That is unfortunate, because fungi or their absence can make or break restoration programs as they are extremely important to plant survival, providing greater access to nutrients and water and protection from pathogens and disease. Using the example of fungi that form mycorrhizal symbiosis with local eucalypts, Jacqui will outline a recent project with Emeritus Professor James Trappe from Oregon State University which investigated whether any mycorrhizal fungi is left in local paddocks where we undertake our revegetation work and a number of simple restoration techniques we can use, when propagating plants for revegetation, to help bring local fungi and all their benefits back into our landscapes.</div> <div> Jacqui has been involved in ecological research at CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems for 17 years working on a diverse range of projects throughout Australia that investigate how we can conserve our native plant and animal biodiversity and maintain farm productivity in agricultural landscapes.</div> <bR> <div> Meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at Bywong Community Hall – Birriwa Rd (Off Macs Reef Rd) at 7.30pm</div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="0"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="553" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="0" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="247"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="247" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="460"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="460" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="0"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="0" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="247"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="247" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="460"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="460" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="0"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="0" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>Note </B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" >Landcare Meetings are held at the Bywong Community Hall, Birriwa Road, Mac's Reef Road on the second Monday of the month at 7.30pm.   Contact - Kathy Cook (6236 9153) -</FONT> <A HREF="http://kj.cook@bigpond.net.au" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://kj.cook@bigpond.net.au"><U>kj.cook@bigpond.net.au </U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" > or Roger Good -  President (6236 9048)</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Propagation activities are held at Geoff Butler's place - 38 Birchmans Grove, Wamboin - Contact - Geoff Butler - 6236-9158</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>MURRUMBATEMAN LANDCARE GROUP UPDATE MAR/APR</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>March Meeting - Indian Myna Survey </B></div> <div> Chris Davey and Bill Handke attended the meeting which covered survey results and lessons learned from trapping in placeCityCanberra. The Myna project began with a communication campaign involving, notices, by email, poster and via the Messenger. From this there were 28 replies 12 from outside the village.  Chris visited all to confirm sightings. Next Chris with help from Jacqui conducted a bicycle survey from around the village at least once a month. At the same time a survey based on the placeCityCanberra ornithological survey was sent to interested people.  </div> <div> The community participatory Survey had 17 replies and 12 returns.  Mynas were confirmed at 8 sites but uncertain at 4.  2,3 or 4 birds sighted in all cases.  All respondents noted that the birds had appeared about 3-4 years ago which may be linked to the big increase in numbers in placeCityCanberra as noted by the Canberra Bird Survey. Both survey methods confirmed that birds flock in Autumn and Winter and spread out in Spring and Summer. Chris spoke of the importance of trapping in winter - June/July - particularly because birds congregate, numbers are low and all birds are potential breeders. At this stage we are aiming to start trapping in the first week of June. Chris suggests that 3 trapping sites to be implemented.  Jenny Langridge, Jacqui Stol, John Gelling, Hugh Lawrence and Chris Davey expressed interest in coordinating further work.</div> <bR> <div> The next step is a working bee to construct 8 - 10 traps to be held on the weekend April 21<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >st</FONT>/22<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >nd</FONT>.  </div> <bR> <div> <B>Café Schonegg Dinner and Speaker</B></div> <bR> <div> A great get together for our various groups and a provocative and thoughtful presentation from Maarten Stapper, who controversially appeared the following week in the Canberra Times. Thanks to all those who came and to Jacqui for her last minute assistance. Also thanks to Richard and Evelyn of Café Schonegg.</div> <bR> <div> <B>April Meeting- note change of date</B></div> <bR> <div> <I><U>Disturbance, vegetation condition and ecological function </U></I></div> <div>  </div> <div>  <A NAME="ole_link1_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>After Easter on the <B>second</B> Thursday in April, the 12th  at 7.30 pm at the Murrumbateman Country Inn. Our guest speaker will be Dr Elizabeth Lindsay who is a research scientist within the Managing Ecosystem Services group at CSIRO Entomology.  placeCityElizabeth is a plant ecologist and most of her  research has been field based in both coastal and inland N.S.W. She is broadly interested in how ecosystems respond to change after disturbance (e.g. grazing, weed invasion, nutrient addition). Interactions between plants and soil fascinate her, as do the litter dwelling invertebrates that mediate some of these interactions. She will talk about her current research project on `Disturbance, vegetation condition and ecological function'. This work centres around remnant woodlands and dry sclerophyll forests within agricultural landscapes and some of PersonNameMLG members have had research plots on their farms. This is one of many projects within the Better Knowledge Better Bush initiative that aims to develop new techniques and guidelines for managing native vegetation for biodiversity and production outcomes. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Nursery</B></div> <bR> <div> Thanks to all those who came and collected plants - if they were planted on the Canberra Day weekend they have at least had a reasonable start. We have consolidated the remaining plants and have carried out an inventory. If you wish to pick up plants - ring placeCityLynn.</div> <bR> <div> There have been some requests for plants from the Murrumbateman Recreation Grounds Committee and there is a proposal for some landscape plantings on the Field Day site to compliment plans for a cross country course.</div> <bR> <div> The next propagation day is to be held at the nursery on Sunday 15<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> at 10am.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Bob PersonNameMitchell</B></div> <bR> <div> Unfortunately, due to other commitments, Bob has resigned from the PersonNameMLG Executive. We will miss his input and would like to thank him for his support of PersonNameMLG and also as one of our representatives on the Project Liaison Committee for the Yass River Salinity and Water Quality Project.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Sutton Landcare Group - Natural Sequence Farming</B></div> <bR> <div> Many of you have talked about Peter Andrew's book - Back from the Brink. Now is your chance to learn more! At 8pm on Tuesday 17 April, after the Sutton AGM at <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="TTE1A20EF0t00" >PersonNameRay Malam's property, 2448 Sutton Road, a DVD of a recent field day on Natural Sequence Farming at Mulloon Farms will be shown to illustrate both results on this local farm and hear from many eminent speakers on this topic. David Vincent will also present a review Peter Andrew's book. Ring Ray Malam on 6230 3663 for information and directions.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>CMA drought recovery project.</B> Expression-of-Interest forms are available on the website <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>www.murrumbidgee.cma.nsw.gov.au</U></FONT> or by calling Rebecca Glasgow, Community Support Officer, ph 02 6118 6014, Mob 0429 153 522.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>List of vegetation suitable for Wamboin Area</B></div> <div> Kathy Cook recently had a site visit to herproperty by Lori Gould from Greening Australia. Lori has supplied two lists of plant species suitable for re-vegetating our block, both general areas and riparian areas (ie dam). While these are reasonably site-specific to her place at Wamboin, you may be interested in these lists as a general guide. There are two lists -</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id88.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reparian Vegetation List Wamboin"><U>Riparian Reveg</U></A><A HREF="id88.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reparian Vegetation List Wamboin"><U>etation List for Wamboin Area</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id89.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="General Vegetation List for Wamboin Area"><U>General Revegetation List for Wamboin Area</U></A></div> <bR> <div> The March meeting focussed on landscape design using sustainable materials.  Further information of this topic may be found on the following websites:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Sustainable Landscape Materials brochure <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/materials-01.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/mater"><U>http://www.aila.org.au/environment/materials-01.htm</U></A></FONT><A HREF="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/materials-01.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/mater"><U> </U></A></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Other related information<A HREF="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/DEFAULT.HTM" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/DEFAU"><U> </U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/DEFAULT.HTM" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/DEFAU"><U>http://www.aila.org.au/environment/DEFAULT.HTM</U></A></FONT><A HREF="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/DEFAULT.HTM" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.aila.org.au/environment/DEFAU"><U> </U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Report on Meeting February 2007</B></div> <bR> <div> During February's meeting on Wildlife and Woodlands, Rebecca Montague-Drake discussed ‘Wildlife Friendly Farms’. Rebecca noted that Wildlife Friendly Farms have the following features:</div> <div> ·<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Woodland remnants;</FONT></div> <div> ·<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Paddock trees;</FONT></div> <div> ·<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Native vegetation plantings;</FONT></div> <div> ·<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Native tussock grass;</FONT></div> <div> ·<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Large trees (with hollows);</FONT></div> <div> ·<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Fallen timber;</FONT></div> <div> ·<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Riparian vegetation;</FONT></div> <div> ·<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Standing dead trees; and</FONT></div> <div> ·<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Other ground features such as rocks.</FONT></div> <div> Custodians of ‘Wildlife Friendly Farms’:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Prevent clearing of remnant vegetation – <I>plantings are not a substitute, they are complementary</I>; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Conduct fox-baiting – <I>consider conducting a coordinated fox-baiting program with your neighbours</I>; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Manage woodland remnants – <I>e.g. weed control, enhancement plantings, and management or exclusion of grazing pressure so as to ensure the regeneration of native grasses, shrubs and trees;</I> </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Think beyond ‘production’ and ‘conservation’ areas – <I>include features of ‘Wildlife Friendly Farms’ (e.g. fallen timber and standing dead trees) in paddocks – not just in woodland remnants;</I> </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Have a range of different vegetation types present – <I>e.g. old growth, regrowth, plantings</I>; </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Look to the future – <I>when today’s trees grow old and die – what will be there to replace them</I>? </div> <div> Members may be interested in two books Rebecca referred to during her talk:</div> <div> <I>Wildlife on Farms, How to conserve native animals</I> by David Lindenmayer, Andrew Claridge, Donna Hazell, Damian Michael, Mason Crane, Christopher MacGregor and Ross Cunningham (CSIRO publishing; 2003); and </div> <div> <I>Woodlands: A Disappearing Landscape</I> by David Lindenmayer, Mason Crane and Damian Michael (CSIRO publishing, 2005). </div> <div> At the meeting, Rebecca kindly donated the Woodlands book to our Landcare Group.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Note </B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" >Landcare Meetings are held at the Bywong Community Hall, Birriwa Road, Mac's Reef Road on the second Monday of the month at 7.30pm.   Contact - Kathy Cook (6236 9153) -</FONT> <A HREF="http://kj.cook@bigpond.net.au" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://kj.cook@bigpond.net.au"><U>kj.cook@bigpond.net.au </U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" > or Roger Good -  President (6236 9048)</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Propagation activities are held at Geoff Butler's place - 38 Birchmans Grove, Wamboin - Contact - Geoff Butler - 6236-9158</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>