Bald Hills Creswick Landcare

13/06/2026

iNaturalist is a great way to learn about what lives in the environment around us. We take photos and upload them. The AI will give a suggestion, and then an expert will come in and have a look to confirm the ID.

The White Cheeked Teddy Bear bee is one example of a native insect found in our area for the first time by one of our members using iNaturalist. Some other finds by our members include freshwater clams in a dam, Satin Azure butterfly, and a native buttercup.

To get started, you just need a smartphone.

12/06/2026

Check out the latest North Central Chat to keep up with the latest Landcare news in the North Central Catchment.

River Detectives is busier than ever, with schools across the region getting out and monitoring their local waterways.

From classroom to creek, students are becoming the next generation of citizen scientists.

Find this and more on the chat - link in the comments.

11/06/2026

Illegal harvesting of firewood from our forests has a big impact on our environment.

People come up with excuses that they can't heat their homes, but they're actually out in the cold under the cover of darkness loading trailers for a quick profit to undercut legitimate sellers. They even cut more than they can carry.

This is happening in our backyard. While we were doing our Yarra Gum Drone Survey in March in the Glen Park Forest, we found evidence of illegal harvesting happening recently. Photos in the comments.

Think twice before you buy firewood this winter, Victoria. We're joining forces with the Conservation Regulator Victoria to tackle the black-market firewood trade that's destroying wildlife habitat across our state. Here's what you need to know: https://bit.ly/illegal-take-of-firewood

11/06/2026

09/06/2026

Want to get on top of weeds on your property?

This upcoming W**d Control Information Evening in Axedale will cover identification, control methods and what it means for landholders.

Book now - link in the comments.

07/06/2026

Nature is infinitely complex. This morning our little backyard nursery plants were capturing the fog. Notably, some plants have hairs (pubescence) on their leaves which captures moisture, but is also used for shade and temperature regulation (insulation), and protection from predation. Cactii are prime examples of extreme pubescence. Not every plant will display the trait, and some do it to different degrees. Purplish Wallaby Grass (C3 grass) needs to protect itself from hot summers and displays it well. Kangaroo grass (C4 type) only displays it around the nodes where the leaves meet the stems as it can handle hot summers well. Take a minute to appreciate the differences between these local grasses, forbs and trees up close.

04/06/2026

This is such a fantastic story, where a single endangered Button Wrinklewort was found and a huge amount of conservation has gone into protecting it and rebuilding it's opportunity for genetic line to continue.

We've been undertaking actions in the Creswick area to do similar for our Yarra Gums locating our remnant trees, sourcing and growing seed from nearby populations with the hope that we can supplement the remnants with more friends to cross pollinate with.

04/06/2026

Gorse Warriors Unite and learn from the best !

A free gorse festival will be held on the 14th of June starting at the Snake Valley
Community Hall.

There will be guest speakers, information on controlling gorse,
property mapping, a paddock ‘walk and talk’, and a fun event to finish it off!
A free lunch will be provided.

A great opportunity to immerse into best practice gorse with people who know a lot about it.

Register now with Lyn Heenan
Upper Mount Emu Landcare Network email: [email protected]

Agriculture Victoria Glenelg Hopkins CMA City of Ballarat Snake Valley News Landcare Victoria Central Highlands Water