Healthy trees growing in their native habitat rarely suffer seriously from insect attack. The trees’ in-built defences and the insects’ natural enemies provide a balance.
The Big Aussie Bird Count is happening again and there's still time to be involved in the nation-wide citizen science event which helps gain a birds' eye view on how our feathered friends are faring.
There is still time to grab a ticket to the Wimmera Biodiversity seminar that is back for its 27th edition with the theme 'Pests, Partnerships and People Power'.
The township of Trentham hosted a celebration late last week for recipients of grants aimed at improving biodiversity and environmental health throughout the Hepburn Shire.
Applications are now open for the City of Ballarat’s third Nature Stewards program, where community members can discover new exciting ways to learn and care for nature.
With Grey-headed Flying-foxes travelling great distances to find food, Victorians may be encountering these vulnerable visitors in backyards and public places, prompting some warnings from DEECA.
Late last month the Victorian Supreme Court granted an injunction to stop VicForests timber harvesting operations in a coupe known as ‘Silver Queen’ in the Wombat State Forest. This replaces the interim injunction that has been in place since September.
Keen local field naturalists, citizen scientists and anyoneone who appreciates getting out in the forest is being invited to join an upcoming wildlife monitoring event being hosted by the Victorian National Parks Association.
Volunteers are needed for the Plains-wanderer song meter program and while Hepburn Shire locals do not live in its habitat they're being invited to get involved to help save the critically endangered species.
From the time Peta and I took over the drought-ridden property that became
our home, we were determined to “practise what I preached” in all my writings and
broadcasts - throw away those chemicals and let nature take its course.
A total of $4.4 million in grants is on offer to help volunteers and the next generation of Victorians in caring for the state’s precious environment and biodiversity.
DAYLESFORD artist and musician Vanessa Craven has just published a children’s colour picture song book, Birds in My Tree: The Magic of Birds and the Joy of Singing.
Australia’s national science agency, the CSIRO, is calling on citizen scientists to find and record egg cases washing up on Australian coasts so researchers can better understand egg-laying sharks, skates and chimaeras.
New research led by scientists at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has shown that future increases in the strength of El Niño may accelerate the irreversible melting of ice shelves and ice sheets in Antarctica.
Led by researchers at Macquarie University and Italy’s National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF), a portion of our Galaxy has been imaged in detail so great, we may be able to answer long-standing questions about the Milky Way’s stars.
Microbial communities already treat the food waste in your compost bin. In the future, could they treat your plastic waste too? A new article released by the CSIRO suggests they may well.
Scientists on CSIRO research vessel (RV) Investigator have made some exciting finds during recent voyages, including collecting a specimen of a new species of shark and discovering a shark graveyard in the deep ocean.
Seed balls consist of the seed of one species or a variety of different species
rolled within a ball of clay.
For the Pollinator Project, we have chosen to add a native plant soil and
compost mix to the clay providing nutrients and protection for the seed during
throwing and sowing!!!
THE Taylor and Sangster Lecture will be held by the Friends of Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens, Daylesford at Stanbridge Hall, Daylesford on Friday, June 17 at 7.30pm.
There are many garden plants, especially vegetables and fruits, with either an interesting history concerning how they came to be grown in our own backyards or, more importantly, how they found their way into our kitchens.
As the seasons change and autumn brings fresh air and an explosion of warm colour to the Victorian landscape, now is the perfect time to get outdoors and discover new experiences across the state.
In our June 21, 2021 edition we looked at the storm damage from the June 8/9 storm that wreaked devastation across the region. Images courtesy of Daylesford Spa Country Railway and Sandy Scheltema.
Recreational anglers will soon have one million chances to reel in a fish at Lake Eppalock with a record stocking for the waterway in the coming months.
The State Government has released its Victorian Recreational Fishing Tourism Strategy showcasing the diverse, year-round fishing opportunities on offer across the state.
The State Government is putting the safety of workers first, with new support for automated technology at a state-of-the-art mushroom farm at the Parwan Employment Precinct.
Victoria’s dedicated Landcare and environmental volunteering champions were celebrated at the 2021 Victorian Landcare Awards ceremony for their outstanding work in caring for the state’s environment and biodiversity.
The Victorian Government is empowering the Macedon electorate to prepare and adapt to the impacts of climate change following the development of a new community-led adaptation strategy.
The Grampians Community Power Hub, led by BREAZE Inc, was officially launched on Friday bringing together community members, those working on the hub and the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council invites residents to join Dr Rob Gordon for a lunchtime webinar reflecting on the six months since the 9 June storm, and the reactions that people may still be experiencing.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council invites residents to join Dr Rob Gordon for a lunchtime webinar reflecting on the six months since the 9 June storm, and the reactions that people may still be experiencing.
Victorians are being called on to take the lead in strengthening their state’s biosecurity system by nominating to join Victoria’s Biosecurity Reference Group.
SANDY Scheltema's Stories of the Storm series is supported by Hepburn Shire Council, Trentham & Districts Community Bank and the Trentham Lions Club. The series showcases stories of courage, tenacity, bravery and resilience within the community from people who experienced the terrifying storm of June 10, 2021.
THE shopfronts of Daylesford and surrounds will come alive later this month with 120 beautiful floral installations designed to celebrate spring and move towards a better future.
Over the past few months, Bushfire Recovery Victoria has been capturing video footage from June 2021 storm-affected properties which have registered with BRV’s clean-up program.
They include Central Highland local Paul Ulrik.
KYNETON resident, and founder and CEO of Sweet Justice, Claire Moore, has received the inaugural Rotary Melbourne Environmental Sustainability Award in recognition of her work to support and protect the honey bee population.
MOST people heading out into the bush for a walk or a mountain bike ride don’t have all day, so the Great Dividing Trail Association has produced a new guidebook, consisting of walks and bike rides within the Daylesford region, all short enough to complete in four hours.
The planning work is continuing on the Creswick Trails Network, a project which will see delivery of 60km of mountain bike paths and a trailhead at Creswick, with council expecting to begin works next year.
Hepburn Shire Council is working with project partners, Mount Alexander Shire Council, North Central Catchment Management Authority and Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation trading as DJAARA, on the proposed renaming of Jim Crow Creek to Larni Barramal Yaluk.
SANDY Scheltema's Stories of the Storm series is supported by Hepburn Shire Council, Trentham & Districts Community Bank and the Trentham Lions Club. The series aims to showcase stories of courage, tenacity, bravery and resilience within the community from people who experienced the terrifying storm of June 10, 2021.
WHEN the Black Saturday Fires ripped through Kevin and Rhonda Butler’s farm at East Kilmore in 2009, their immediate concern was the safety of their sheep.
ONE of the more pleasant things about autumn, once the crowds have evaporated after ChillOut, is taking advantage of the remaining few weeks of daylight saving to head into town in the cool of the evening for a wander.
Making the most of a fruit harvest
If you are among the lucky ones with a good home crop or access to lots of stone fruit this season, there are more ways than making jam to preserve them for long-term use.
DR RAY Spencer has worn many hats over the years. A Creswick local, he travelled the world as a forestry and urban planning professional with his young family and later as an internationally renowned forest industry expert.
AS THE days become warmer, snakes are starting to emerge from their winter hibernation to bask in the sun and search for food and a mate.
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Senior Wildlife Management officer Belinda Cant said sunny weather also meant it was more likely people would encounter a snake.
