Are you the owner of a small bush block?
What does land stewardship look like to you?
SOLN together with the Corangamite CMA are bringing you the Small Blocks Big Dreams program this spring and summer, with a workshop series on Bush or Lifestyle Blocks.
The program aims to support small landholders to learn about environmental best management practices and create ‘land stewards’ who can provide guidance to others in their communities.
Landholders participating in the workshops will learn about a range of topics including soil health, biodiversity, pest plants and animals, healthy waterways, and cultural heritage.
You'll also be eligible for a $2,000 grant for works on your property to improve environmental outcomes!
Register your interest HERE now.
This program is funded by the Corangamite CMA and the Victorian Government's Our Catchments Our Communities initiative.
Winter is meant for hibernation, yet rust never sleeps...
So it is for SOLN!
Did you know that we have:
• over thirty funded projects currently underway
• seven active grant applications under review
• six part-time facilitators on board
• revamped our calendar of events and activities.
• refined our finances and moved our accounting in-house.
Lots going on, enjoy all updates in our Winter '23 News.
Autumn has seen us continue to provide educational workshops on marine and terrestrial
lifeforms and deliver an extended course in birdwatching. Renovations have continued at the
Support Centre kitchen, and whilst seed collecting has finished for the season, various weekly
SOLN excursions are planned, including returning our attention to fungi and other great
decomposers in the landscape. If you’re looking for ways to spend the next six months, you
could get involved in surveying, species monitoring, assessing native vegetation, propagating
native plants, making collections, restoring habitat, or attending a raft of workshops to
increase your understanding of the biodiversity that surrounds us. Keep your eyes and ears
on SOLN as we share how you can landcare and oceancare in the Southern Otways.
Click here to read our Autumn 2023 News.
SHRUBLETS: An Enchanting Day in the Nursery for Little Growers
SATURDAY 22nd OCTOBER 2022, 10am-1pm, FREE but bookings eseential.
Bring along the special child/children in your life to learn about growing native plants and how they can enjoy & contribute to the biodiversity of the Southern Otways.
It's an opportunity to connect your child or grandchild to nature in a morning of fun activities including:
-the potting up of a seedling to take home
-nature craft activity
-a magical puppetry journey with Georgie Rose Puppetry to discover nature's secrets.
Lunch is provided (please advise of any special dietary needs).
Children's Week is brought to you by the Victorian Government to celebrate children and highlight the importance of every child’s right to a standard of living that supports their wellbeing and healthy development. All Children’s Week events are free of charge to Victorian families with children under 12, ensuring all families can participate in fun, engaging and educational experiences.
This event will be delivered in line with the Victorian Government COVIDSafe settings.
Suited to children aged 6 to 12 years.
Come learn about Landcare and the work we've been doing in the Southern Otways. And check out our nursery and the plants we have for your revegetation projects.
It will be a wonderful afternoon celebrating the work of our volunteers with music, cheese and wine.
Registrations not essential but will help with catering.
See you at SOLN's Support Centre, Piggery Lane, Apollo Bay.
1pm for music, 2pm AGM begins. 🌱🌱🌱
National Science Week is approaching and SOLN has received funding from the Australian Government to put together a brilliant week-long programme of activities to engage the public in the wonder and excitement of science!
Which plants are right for my home?
What are ecological vegetation classes & which one(s) best describes my property?
Join SOLN’s plant specialist Oliver Kerr for a hands-on workshop learning about plant species native to the Southern Otways, how to grow them from seed and cutting, and why diversity of vegetation is important.
SUNDAY 14 Aug 2022, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Apollo Bay P-12 College library, Pengilley Ave, Apollo Bay, 3233
The rich soils and wet forests of the Otways are crawling, creeping and flying with invertebrate life. Come & learn about land snails, butterflies and other native invertebrates of the region with threatened species ecologist Georgie Custance. This workshop consists of an indoor presentation, followed by a visit to the Apollo Bay Community Garden to identify different specimens, as well as the opportunity to learn about how you can contribute to citizen science & conservation projects in the region.
Dress to be out in the weather, & please bring along a torch and magnifying glass if you have one.
MONDAY 15 Aug 2022, 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
The Project Space, 2-4 NOEL STREET, APOLLO BAY, 3233
Are you a keen cloud-spotter? Do you commonly photograph clouds or wonder at their shape and breathtaking beauty? If yes, this workshop is for you! Join us as we look at different cloud types & the conditions that cause them with Phoebe de Wilt from the Bureau of Meteorology. Part lecture, part sharing of favourite atmospheric suspensions & amazing weather events, and part outdoor viewing of the sky and oceanscape to discuss what causes the different phenomena we see; this is a workshop not to be missed!
Participants are invited to submit photos of clouds that they’d like to know about (prior to the workshop if possible) and should bring warm waterproof clothing for the outdoor component. Light supper provided.
TUESDAY 16 Aug 2022, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Apollo Bay Community Hall, 4 Whelan Street, APOLLO BAY, 3233
Australia is home to over 20% of the world’s freshwater crayfish, including the largest and smallest species in the world, and the Southern Otways are fortunate to have several unique species.
If you’re not sure how Apollo Bay’s famous Southern Rock Lobster differs from crayfish found in the region, this workshop is for you!
Aquatic ecologist, Ryan Francis (Pinion Advisory), brings our attention to the humble freshwater crayfish: looking at their place on the taxonomic tree, their lifecycle & and the ecosystems they’re found in, as well as how to study endangered species and help conservation efforts.
This workshop is composed of an indoor presentation, hopefully with locally collected specimens (& if not, lots of wonderful photographs!), as well as an outdoor component to view these fascinating crustaceans in situ (weather-permitting).
Light supper provided; please bring suitable clothing for the outdoor component & a torch if you have one.
FRIDAY 19 Aug 2022, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM and Saturday 20th at 10am
Apollo Bay Community Hall, 4 WHELAN STREET, APOLLO BAY, 3233
The Otway Ranges and coast has an incredible geological history. Fossilised remains of marine and terrestrial life found along the coastline reveal how our continent and landscape has changed over time.
Join geologist & palaeontologist, Mike Cleeland, as he explores some of this history with an indoor presentation on Friday night (light supper provided) and a beach walk on Saturday morning to view geological features, dinosaur footprints and fossilised remains along our spectacular coastline.
Please wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the outdoor component, some rock surfaces are very slippery.
SUNDAY 21 Aug 2022, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Apollo Bay Community Hall, 4 WHELAN STREET, APOLLO BAY, 3233
Eucalypts are Australia’s most iconic trees, but many people cannot tell different species apart.
And what’s the difference between Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora?
Come along to this workshop with botanist Ian Clarke (Name that Flower: The Identification of Flowering Plants, Name Those Grasses) for a botanical exploration of Eucalypts. Ian will share his knowledge of floral structure, features of the plant to use for identification, and take you through some of the species found our region.
Bring along a pencil for annotating your handouts and magnifying glass if you have one.
Morning tea will be provided at 11am, so please let us know if you have any particular dietary requirements.
Autumn has seen us continue to provide educational workshops on marine and terrestrial lifeforms and deliver an...
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Southern Otway Landcare Network is supported by Landcare Victoria, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, Colac Otway Shire and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.
