Up2Us Landcare Alliance

11/06/2026

Did you know slime moulds are neither plants, animals nor fungi? These fascinating organisms are nature's recyclers, helping break down organic matter and return nutrients to the soil.

Up2Us Project Officer Jess recently spotted a White-footed Slime Mould (Diachea leucopodia) in a paddock affected by the Longwood fires earlier this year. While tiny in size, this remarkable organism is a reminder of the rich diversity of life that exists in our local landscapes.

Head to our website to read more about this fascinating find. 🌱
https://www.up2us.org.au/resources/meet-the-white-footed-slime-mould

10/06/2026

The Howqua Valley Landcare Group has been out in the field — rain and all! 🌧️🌿

Five dedicated members recently got hands-on with water testing, learning from Sue Kosch at GBCMA how to monitor the health of the beloved Howqua River 💧🔬 Each month the team will now be tracking pH, turbidity, dissolved salts and water temperature at fixed points along the river 🌡️📊

It's exciting work and the group couldn't be more committed to keeping this special place healthy for generations to come 🙌❤️ Watch this space — there are even bigger plans in the pipeline! 👀🌊✨

09/06/2026

Don't miss out!

We still have a few subsidised stock proof tree guards available, but registrations close soon. Guards must be pre-purchased through Eventbrite and collected tomorrow (Wednesday 10 June). Secure yours today before they're gone! 🌱

Purchase them here https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1989360800707?aff=oddtdtcreator

Up2Us are once again offering the subsidised stock proof tree guards. 1.8m high weldmesh guard that comes with a eucalypt seedling.

05/06/2026

🐖🌿 Three Years of Learning Through Partnerships Against Pests 🌿🐇

On 28 May, Up2Us Landcare Alliance had the opportunity to present to the Victorian Invasive Species Advisory Board (VIPA) as part of the Partnerships Against Pests (PAP) program.

Over the past three years, we've worked alongside landholders, community groups and agency partners to tackle feral pigs, rabbits, willows, Paterson's Curse and other invasive species across Mansfield Shire.

The project delivered some significant outcomes, including:
✅ 35 landholders completing accredited chemical use training
✅ The establishment of a dedicated DEECA Pest Invertebrate Officer in Mansfield
✅ A new community engagement hub at the Bonnie Doon Community Centre

But our presentation wasn't just about celebrating successes. We also shared what we've learned along the way.

One of the key insights was that awareness events alone are often not enough to drive long-term behaviour change, particularly when landholders face barriers to implementing on-ground works or when pest management isn't coordinated across neighbouring public and private land.

These lessons have helped shape our current Round 4 project, Rooted in Resilience, which focuses on building a community of practice among Landcare facilitators across the Goulburn Broken catchment using the Arthur Rylah Institute's Nature-Led Community Resilience framework.

We're grateful to the VIPA Board for the opportunity to share our journey — achievements, challenges and all.

Read the full blog here:https://www.up2us.org.au/resources/up2us-presents-to-vipa-honest-reflections-on-three-years-of-pest-management

On 28 May, Up2Us Landcare Alliance presented to the Victorian Invasive Species Advisory Board (VIPA) as part of the Partnerships Against Pests (PAP) program — sharing three years of hard-won experience tackling feral pigs, rabbits, willows, Paterson's Curse, and more across Mansfield Shire.

04/06/2026

🌱 Engaging Landcare in BushBank: An Internship with Cassinia Environmental 🌱

Over the past three months, Project officer, Rhiannon Quigley, had the opportunity to complete an internship with Cassinia Environmental, exploring how the BushBank Program can better connect with Victoria's Landcare community.

The project included:
✅ Developing a case study on local landholder Penny Roberts and her BushBank restoration project within the Cobaw Biolink.
✅ Interviewing 20 Landcare facilitators and network coordinators across Victoria to better understand awareness of BushBank.
✅ Creating a practical Landcare Engagement Strategy and Action Plan to strengthen connections between BushBank and Landcare networks.

One of the strongest messages from facilitators was the importance of building genuine relationships and having direct points of contact to support landholders interested in conservation opportunities.

Alongside the research, I also spent time in the field with the Cassinia operations team, assisting with revegetation, w**d management, monitoring, direct seeding, cool burns and sustainable farming activities across central and western Victoria.

🌿 Interested in seeing BushBank in action? Read the case study on Penny Roberts' restoration project in the Cobaw Biolink and learn how decades of Landcare involvement helped shape a large-scale conservation project:
https://cassinia.com/bushbank-newham/

A huge thank you to Theo McCoy, Krista Patterson-Majoor, the BushBank team, and every Landcare facilitator who generously shared their knowledge and time throughout the project.

Read the full internship blog here: https://www.up2us.org.au/resources/engaging-landcare-in-bushbank-an-internship-with-cassinia-environmental

Penny Roberts grew up in the inner city. She had no farming background, no family history on the land, and no particular plan to become a conservationist. Then, more than 30 years ago, she and her husband bought a weekender property near Newham...

02/06/2026

🌱 A few subsidised stock proof tree guards are still available! 🌱

Looking to give your seedlings the best chance to thrive? We have a limited number of 1.8m weldmesh stock proof tree guards left, available for just $35 each with a seedling included.

✔️ Protect young trees from stock and wildlife
✔️ Strong 1.8m weldmesh design
✔️ Limited to 3 per landholder

Pick-up is next Wednesday, so now is the time to secure yours before they’re gone.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1989360800707?aff=oddtdtcreator

This project is supported by the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority through funding from the Victorian Landcare Grants and the Victorian Landcare Program. 🌿

Up2Us are once again offering the subsidised stock proof tree guards. 1.8m high weldmesh guard that comes with a eucalypt seedling.

01/06/2026

🌱 Soil Health Webinar – This Thursday 🌱

Got questions about your soils? Here’s your chance to have them answered by one of Australia’s leading soil scientists. 🌱

Join us online for an interactive Soil Health Webinar with Dr Cassandra Schefe, Soil Scientist and co-owner of AgriSci Pty Ltd, Principal Scientist with the Cool Soil Initiative, and Adjunct Associate Professor at Charles Sturt University.

This webinar is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about:
✔️ Soil health
✔️ Soil constraints, fertility and carbon
✔️ Interpreting soil tests
✔️ Soil structure and physical issues
✔️ Optimising pastures through nutrition
✔️ The importance of soil testing

Bring along your questions and gain practical insights to help you get the most out of your land.

📅 Thursday 4 June
🕢 7:30pm
📍 Online

👉 Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1988449190055

This project is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.

Join Dr. Cassie Schefe online for a chill chat on boosting soil health and growing green!

28/05/2026

https://landcareaustralia.activehosted.com/index.php?action=social&chash=c06d06da9666a219db15cf575aff2824.741&s=f91d62c943c7fd551174a8a40503b759

Young landcare leaders,...

27/05/2026

🌳 Subsidised Stock Proof Tree Guards Available Again! 🌳

Up2Us Landcare Alliance is once again offering subsidised stock proof tree guards and indigenous eucalypt seedlings to Mansfield Shire landholders.

These sturdy 1.8m weldmesh guards help protect young paddock trees from livestock while they establish — supporting wildlife habitat, biodiversity, and healthier farming landscapes for the future.

✔️ $35 per guard (includes seedling)
✔️ Limit of 3 per property
✔️ Mansfield Shire properties only
✔️ Pickup from Mansfield on Wednesday 10 June

Numbers are limited, order them here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1989360800707?aff=oddtdtcreator

This project is supported by the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority through funding from the Victorian Government and Victorian Landcare Program.

Up2Us are once again offering the subsidised stock proof tree guards. 1.8m high weldmesh guard that comes with a eucalypt seedling.

25/05/2026

🔦 Eight Greater Gliders and a Hidden Gem — What a Night in Boorolite!

Last Saturday evening, 26 hardy community members gathered on a property in Boorolite to spotlight along the bushland-farmland interface as part of Delatite Landcare Group's ongoing wildlife survey program, guided by local ecologist Bertram Lobert.

The night's standout? Eight Southern Greater Gliders spotted high in the Eucalypt canopy — each one found by the bright flash of eyeshine in the torchlight.

Encouragingly, this is consistent with surveys at this site over the last few years, pointing to a relatively stable and healthy population using this landscape.

But the night had another treat in store. A Krefft's Glider — formerly known as the Sugar Glider — was spotted tucked into a wattle tree.

There are still plenty of questions to answer — about the full extent of this population, the feed trees they rely on, and whether they're connected to glider populations elsewhere in the region. That work takes time, and it takes people.

🌿 Want to get involved? If you're a landholder in the Boorolite, Howqua or Merrijig area and curious about what wildlife might be using your property, we'd love to hear from you.

In the meantime — keep looking up. You never know what's gliding overhead. (Just don't forget to watch where you put your feet! 😄)