Torquay and District Landcare Group

09/09/2026

Join us on Friday 9 October for a planting day at Dewing Creek, our first nature-based carbon sequestration site, located east of Barwon Downs.

We’re reforesting around 150 hectares of previously cleared farming land with native vegetation. The project will support our net zero emissions target by 2030, improve water quality in the Dewing Creek catchment and create habitat for threatened local species.

We’ll run a bus from Geelong and lunch will be provided. Bus pick up locations is as follows:

🚍 Ryrie Street, Geelong: 8:50 am
🚍 Cafe La Hoot, Winchelsea: 9:25 am
🚍 Royal Mail Hotel, Birregurra : 9:45 am
🚍 CFA shed, Barwon Downs: 10 am

Places are limited, so grab your free ticket 👉 https://events.humanitix.com/dewing-creek-planting-day-october

04/09/2026

From then (2017), to now 😍 🌳

The Greenfields Reserve project in Moriac has been a wonderful collaboration between TDLG, Surfcoast Shire, Moriac PS and the local community!

04/09/2026

Upcoming Events:

Saturday 12th September. TDLG - Gorse Workshop
Gorse Workshop flyer - 12sept(2).jpeg

With Spring here we are enjoying some blossoms but others will provide us with a future headache, as we know them as aggressive invasive w**ds. Join us in learning more about how to control this tough spiky evergreen shrub.

NOTE The Eco Blade was used by the SCS in Grasstree Park Nature Reserve.
They commented “At Grasstree Park, the Ecoblade was successfully used to cheaply treat large areas of woody w**ds. The blade height was able to be set to remove the w**d species while avoiding the native understorey."
SCS Environment and Community Safety Division

Friday 2nd October - Ashmore Arts planting. PLEASE NOTE this event is being rescheduled. More information to follow.

Saturday 3rd October - TDLG - Bunnings BBQ fundraiser.
If you are able to join us in this fundraiser we would certainly appreciate hearing from you. If we are successful in grant applications we can organise events/workshops but there is no guarantee of success, and these fundraisers provide a base from which we can then organise our program for the year.
Contact [email protected] Thank you.

Wednesday 11th November TDLG AGM Venue Torquay Community House. More details to follow.

Victorian National Parks Association - Nature Stewards
“Nature Stewards is a multi-week course that connects curious people with their local and wider habitats. It’s a great way to gain knowledge, learn practical skills and meet like-minded others in the local community. You’ll discover all sorts of ways to help nature at home and through local volunteering.”


Best wishes from
your TDLG Committee

03/09/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19TksvLx91/?mibextid=wwXIfr

No Spray Spring is back! No Spray Spring is our national campaign that encourages gardeners across Australia to put down the insect spray and instead learn a bit about the invertebrate life in their gardens, as well as how to manage pests naturally and encourage beneficial bugs. We'll be sharing some tips throughout spring, but in the meantime, we'd like to know what questions you would like answered this year..? Comment below

01/06/2026

A huge thanks to the Bitmead family and all the volunteers who worked hard to get 500 seedlings into the ground yesterday afternoon!

Any other local landowners who would like some
support to revegetate their property, please reach out to us 🌳

15/05/2026

Upcoming community planting day. All welcome! Sunday 31st May, Paraprap 🌳

23/03/2026

16/03/2026

Upcoming events for 2026

Funds from our Surf Coast Shire Environment grant mean that we have Craig Castree return for two workshops,
Sunday 26th April and Saturday 16th May. Times and venue to be confirmed.
· Craig’s presentations will be on w**ds in general that are found in the paddock, and garden. We know that w**ds are 'indicator species’ and signal specific soil conditions ie fertility, pH, moisture levels, structure and compaction. Find out more, and also how we can control/manage them.
2
There will be a specific workshop focusing on Serrated Tussock, Chilian Needle Grass and other plants in the Nassella genus
3
Another will cover gorse and the strategies used by a local landowner, and information provided by the Victorian Gorse Task Force.

NOTE - These events are free and open to all so if you have a family member or friend who is experiencing a w**d problem or is seeking further information, please pass on the workshop details, once everything is confirmed.

4
Sunday 2nd May, TDLG will be operating the Torquay Bunnings BBQ and we will certainly be aiming for our best result.
If you can help for any part of the day we would love to hear from you. TDLG supplies all the food and equipment you only need to be wearing closed toed shoes and a smile!
Contact – [email protected] and please include your time preferences. Thank you

5
Alison Pouliot returns to Coastal Forest Lodge to inform us about fungi and what they tell us about soil and plant health.

Friday 12th June - “Reading the Fungal Landscape’

Saturday 13th June ‘ The Fungal Garden’

Sunday 14th June ‘ Mushroom Rendezvous’

Please note our Surf Coast Shire grant only covers part of our 2026 program so for the first time we are having to charge members for the Fungi workshops.
Priority until 31st March to TDLG members.
Numbers are restricted for these events so please reserve your place.

6
Re our 2026 plantings we have found ourselves in an interesting position. We have previously organised three (3) events. Two with local Primary Schools and another with Boardriders. At this point in time, it looks like we can schedule one planting, but to work with the Primary Schools we need for each, at least 700 seedlings. This figure is calculated on the schools involving a year level rather than individual classes.
We have reached the stage where there is no more public land within the Surf Coast Shire for such a number. If you are planning a large planting or know of someone who is considering one, TDLG would certainly be interested in being involved.

Other events for your calendar

1
Sunday 8th March SCEG Working Bee at Ashmore Arts 10am - 12 noon
55b Ashmore Road Torquay
RSVP: here
BYO hardy footwear, protective clothing, sunscreen, hat and a drink bottle of water

2
Saturday 11th April Australian Plant Sale 8.30am - 4.00pm

3
Tuesday 21st April, Wednesday 22nd April, Thursday 23rd April The Upper Barwon Landcare Network - The Grounded Festival 2026
Location Yan Yan Gurt West Farm
Talks & Panels Featuring over 40 international, national and local speakers, all curated by GROUNDED director, writer and farmer Matthew Evans.
On-Farm Demonstrations
Get hands-on in the field with demos, tours and workshops.
On-Farm Marketplace
Trade exhibitors alongside Landcare and community organisations.
Local food and beverages Celebrate local producers with great food stalls and GROUNDED's 'Lazy Springtail' Bar
Live Music & Camping On Site
Unwind with live music plus stay on-site.
GROUNDED Festival 2026 | 22-23 April 2026 | Yan Yan Gurt West Farm, VIC - GROUNDED Festival

16/03/2026

The next instalment of our soil series. Come along to this workshop to learn to read your soil with w**ds as indicator species for soil health.