Author Archives: fobif

Forests: nature at your service

Posted on 1 June, 2011 by fobif

Local environment groups will mark World Environment Day this year with an ‘expo’ in the Castlemaine Market building on Sunday June 5 between 10 am  and noon. This is the same day as the Castlemaine Farmers market. The theme of … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Forests: nature at your service

Remnant vegetation: some revelations

Posted on 24 May, 2011 by fobif

On April 6 the Victorian Environment Assessment Council released its final report on its ‘Remnant Native Vegetation Investigation.’ As with all VEAC reports, the document is full of useful information and provocative ideas. In spite of its calm and measured … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Remnant vegetation: some revelations

Bridal creeper: getting into practice

Posted on 24 May, 2011 by fobif

As an update to the article below on bridal creeper, the Nuggetty Land Protection Group is inviting interested community members to attend a community workshop at the Bridal Creeper Trial site. This site is immediately behind the Maldon cemetery in the … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Bridal creeper: getting into practice

Muckleford Gorge: a privileged excursion

Posted on 24 May, 2011 by fobif

The May FOBIF walk organised by Deirdre Slattery was through the magnificent Muckleford Gorge on Ian Garsed’s property.  Ian has excluded the gorge from grazing under the Bush Tender system–a good example of what VEAC  has recommended for conservation on … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Muckleford Gorge: a privileged excursion

Uncommon beauty conceals a deadly trap

Posted on 23 May, 2011 by fobif

Carnivorous plants can trap prey in a various ways: pitfall traps, flypaper traps, snap traps and lobster-pot traps. The well-known local carnivorous Scented Sundew Drosera whittakeri uses the flypaper trap method. Insects are captured in the sticky dew exuding from … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature Observations, News | Comments Off on Uncommon beauty conceals a deadly trap

Waterways, floods, vegetation

Posted on 13 May, 2011 by fobif

The January floods caused a bit of angst in our community, with some trying to pin blame on Government bodies or current management practices. At the AGM in July FOBIF members will be able to hear the viewpoint of CEO … Continue reading →

Posted in News | Comments Off on Waterways, floods, vegetation

Smutta’s Track: an update

Posted on 2 May, 2011 by fobif

We have received a reply from DSE District Manager Steve Nicholson to our concerns about the conduct of the autumn Smutta’s Track burning operation [see below Smutta’s Track management burn]. It reads in part: ‘Following the ignition, and through subsequent … Continue reading →

Posted in Fire Management | Comments Off on Smutta’s Track: an update

Bridal Creeper meeting

Posted on 26 April, 2011 by fobif

On April 18 FOBIF and other environmental groups met in Castlemaine with Shauna Potter, national bridal creeper coordinator, to discuss methods of control for this increasingly worrying weed. Conscious of the rampant spread of the creeper, we undertook a small … Continue reading →

Posted in Weeds | Comments Off on Bridal Creeper meeting

Smutta’s Track management burn

Posted on 26 April, 2011 by fobif

Smutta’s track, near Irishtown in the Castlemaine Diggings NHP, was burned by DSE in Autumn as part of the Bendigo Fire Protection Plan. The bush at the time was quite damp, so much so that we wondered at the point … Continue reading →

Posted in Fire Management | Comments Off on Smutta’s Track management burn

After the burn off

Posted on 14 February, 2011 by fobif

FOBIF members have made several visits to the south end of the Diggings Park to monitor the effects of a very severe management burn conducted near the Wewak track in Autumn last year. On our latest visit, on February 7, we … Continue reading →

Posted in Fire Management | Comments Off on After the burn off