Author Archives: fobif

Rubbish plague reaches Castlemaine town boundary

Posted on 3 June, 2011 by fobif

The plague of rubbish dumping which can be seen all over our bushland has reached the Castlemaine town boundary with the dumping of a pile of junk in Kalimna Park, only a hundred metres from Kalimna Point [and a few … Continue reading →

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Autumn ends

Posted on 1 June, 2011 by fobif

One sign of autumn is the prolific seeding of the local coffee bush [Cassinia arcuata]. Cassinia is one of the good soldiers of ruined land, which is why you see it recolonising mining sites. This is what the Cassinia flower … Continue reading →

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Advance of the micro kingdoms

Posted on 1 June, 2011 by fobif

Alison Pouliot delivered a lively and informative Connecting Country presentation last Thursday to an audience of about 75 people on ‘Fungi: the mysterious kingdom’. No one leaving the Campbell’s Creek Community Centre that night could be in any doubt about … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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Fungi season is under way

Posted on 8 May, 2011 by fobif

Good rainfall in the last eighteen months has seen an amazing proliferation of fungi in our woodlands.The moist gullies and sheltered hillsides of the shire are already showing signs that this year will be as good as 2010 in fungi … Continue reading →

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