The Bengworden and Toms Creek Landcare Groups have joined forces to host a Landcare Planting Expo on the evening of Thursday, October 30, at the Bengworden Hall.
Both Landcare groups are committed to protecting and enhancing the local red gum plains, increasing biodiversity through improved land management practices, which will positively impact health and that of the local environment, creeks, rivers and the Gippsland Lakes.
“It makes sense for us to work together to support our members and those in our local communities to plant back their properties,” president of Bengworden Landcare Group, Phil Vaughan, said.
“The benefits are many including increasing the shade across the area and moisture retention, improving waterways such as Emu and Toms Creeks, providing shelterbelts for livestock, which improves animal health, linking wildlife corridors for native animals and joining up what remnant vegetation is left.
“The variety of speakers we have presenting on the night covers most people’s motivations for planting trees, whether its for biodiversity or to sequester carbon and provide potential off farm income. It’s a win-win all round.”
The evening also includes a free barbecue dinner and an opportunity to ask questions of the presenters in a Q&A style session.
Guests will hear from expert speakers:
– Trees on Farms Program with Callam Reynolds (Re-gen Ecosystems)
– Bush Bank Program with Cassinia Environmental
– Landscape Scale Regeneration with Trust for Nature
– Carbon Farming Outreach Program with Gippsland Ag Group
– On-Farm Emission Action Plan with Nick Blandford
If you would like to attend, RSVP to assist catering by October 27 (details in advertisement).
Landcarers and other like-minded groups that surround the red gum plains are also most welcome to attend.
A Walk and Talk session will run the following day by Cassinia for the BushBank Program on the morning of Friday, October 31, from 10am until 12.30pm with morning tea provided.
If you want to become a part of this program register by scanning the QR code.
WHAT ARE THE RED GUM PLAINS?
Victoria is split into 28 Bioregions, and the Red Gum Plains landscape is within the Gippsland Plain Bioregion.
This bioregion spans from Traralgon in the west, to Lakes Entrance in the east.
The Red Gum Plains landscape comprises around 325,000 ha, where seven per cent is public land and 20 per cent has native vegetation cover.
These forests were once a continuous grassy woodland, covered with massive Forest (Gippsland) red gums.
Trees from 20-50 metres in height were a common part of the forest structure with a broad canopy spread of 15-35 metres. They had a diverse understorey of perennial native grasses, herbs and wildflowers.
Rivers and creeks flowed within the woodland providing a haven for native animals, plants and people.
Some of these trees can still be seen in paddocks or on roadsides, providing important habitat for native animals.
With more than 95 per cent of the original Red Gum Plains ecosystem removed, it’s time to get involved and be part of something bigger to bring back the plains.
The expo will give landholders and farmers the necessary information and contacts with agencies to be able to access grants to plant across their properties and neighbourhoods, linking up the Red Gum Plains.
