It’s time to attack blackberries.
Blackberries are a major problem in the Muckleford area but they can be easily controlled with good planning and a little persistence.
Many of the infested areas are along secondary roadside reserves and fences. These are the responsibility of landholders. Other areas of concentration occur along drainage lines and creeks.
Now until mid-late March is the optimum time to have blackberries sprayed.
Leaving them now will only add to the difficulty (and expense) of removing them in the future.
Landcare can only assist materially if your action is part of a holistic, funded project, usually involving revegetation.

Here are the facts and some advice. Please read it and think seriously about taking action.

BLACKBERRY – THE FACTS
European Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus agg.) is a Weed of National Significance (WoNS) in Australia because of the magnitude of its negative environmental impacts and its cost to landholders. Originating in Europe, North America and Asia and first introduced to Australia in the 1830s, Blackberry species have now become naturalised and infest land from south eastern Queensland to southern Tasmania.
It grows vigorously; is prickly and able to propagate vegetatively from cane tips; effectively spreads seed through fruit-eating birds and mammals; and is relatively unpalatable to most livestock. The plant can also quickly smother other vegetation under a dense canopy. Once established, blackberry causes major problems including reduced primary production, degradation of natural environments, restricted access to land and water, harbour for vermin and can be a fire hazard.
BLACKBERRY CONTROL PRACTICES: THE CHALLENGE
Blackberry is able to reproduce and spread both by seed and from the cane tips. It has a perennial root system that is capable of producing new canes (and then new plants) year after year and can produce root suckers from a depth of at least 45 centimetres. Regrowth of blackberry post-control is a common occurrence as it takes time to effectively kill or remove the root and crown. Follow-up treatments are essential.
AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY
Year 1.
Have your blackberries sprayed by a qualified contractor. They will appear to have been destroyed, but because of its tough root system and other features outlined above, blackberries will need follow-up attention in order to be eradicated.
At this stage it is recommended that you prepare a revegetation plan. You should include planting that will fulfill the same ecological function that the blackberries have provided. High density is best practice. The landcare group is happy to provide guidance.
Year 2.
The blackberries will need to be re-sprayed. This will usually be approximately 10% -20% of the cost of the initial treatment. It will ensure that no further growth begins to emerge from the roots and remaining tips.
Year 3.
It should now be possible to deal with spot regrowth yourself with a pump-up spray. The landcare group will be happy to assist you at this stage with advice and we hope, some equipment. You will need to use a good woody-weed herbicide. Garlon is expensive but fast. Brush-off is cheaper but slower.
CLEARING THE REMAINS
Burning
Blackberry debris can be burnt to clear them from the site and facilitate revegetation. It is not recommended that burning take place in under 18 months after treatment because the herbicide will still be working its way through the system. Once again, the landcare group is happy to assist with advice.
Grooming
The treated blackberries can be mechanically mulched with a groomer attached to an excavator or bobcat after 12-18 months.
LOCAL CONTRACTORS
Spraying:
Matt McEachran (bushtech 0427 297 270).
Pat Mansbridge (Bush Co 0427239563)
David Griffiths, Whole farm planning, landscape function analysis (Geometree 0418591267)
Grooming:
Jason Williams. (0408 373 289).
Further advice can be found at the Weeds of National Significance website…. http://www.weeds.org.au/WoNS/blackberry/docs/blackberry-control-manual-intro.pdf
http://www.vicblackberrytaskforce.com.au/
The case studies in this manual are worth a read.
Persistence wins the day.

Connecting Country has announced its Autumn workshops.
These workshops are particularly useful for those new to the area. They cover a lot of the basic know-how one needs to care for and enhance rural landholdings in this part of Victoria in an environmentally appropriate way.
They are taught by engaging and knowledgeable experts. They are also very pleasant social occasions – a great opportunity to meet other people with similar interests and investments.
They usually book out quickly. We recommend making a booking in the coming week or you will almost certainly miss out.

CONNECTING COUNTRY AUTUMN 2015 WORKSHOP SERIES
Sunday 1 March – “The Big Picture”, 10am – 3.30pm, Sutton Grange – understanding where your property fits in the local landscape, identifying its land use history and cultural heritage and the implications for managing your property.
Friday 27 March – “Making Connections”, 10am – 3.30pm, Sutton Grange – exploring landscape-scale ecology, developing habitat diversity and connectivity across properties, especially for woodland birds.
Sunday 19 April – “To Plant or Not To Plant”, 10am – 3.30pm, Elphinstone – assessing and undertaking revegetation projects; what methods to use (tubestock, direct seeding, natural regeneration); what species to plant, when and how.
Friday 8 May – “Nature’s Stocktake”, 10am – 3.30pm, Taradale – monitoring and measuring the outcomes of your restoration project using biodiversity indicators (eg. photopoints, plant & animal surveys).
You may choose to attend one, some, or all of the sessions.
All sessions include morning tea, lunch, session notes and handouts, and follow up web-based resources.
COST: Single workshop – $30 per person (or $20 for Concession and Connecting Country members)
Series (all 4 workshops): $100 per person (or $70 Concession and Connecting Country members)
TO REGISTER: Download an application form from the website, http://www.connectingcountry.org.au, or contact Janet on janet@connectingcountry.org.au or 5472 1594.

Muckleford Forest – An Important Bird and Biodiversity Area!.

News like this should spur us to greater efforts to both explore and protect this precious local fragment.

Last Thursday evening members and friends of Muckleford Landcare gathered amongst the garden beds and chooks in the garden of The Hub in Castlemaine to celebrate the achievements of 2014 and to begin planning for 2015.

We have the beginnings of a to-do list for the year:
• Attack Wheel Cactus that is making its way into the valley.
• Blackberry control work.
• Construction of nest boxes.
• Check the nest boxes in the Walmer Nature Reserve.
• Liaise with Council regarding the protection of the roadside reserve at the northern end of Muckleford-Walmer Road.
• A field day on the geology of the catchment.
• Information session on bush tucker.
• A Junior Landcare project in association with Castlemaine Steiner School.
• Investigating possibilities for another enhanced roadside corridor following the successful example of Creasy’s Road.

Already in place is the planting day for the vegetation corridor as part of the Chinaman Creek Project. Weather permitting, this should take place in late autumn.

Would you like to add to our list? At this stage all ideas, big and small are welcome.

The committee will look closely at the list, conduct further discussions with members and begin to put a detailed plan in place in the next month.

A comment to this post is all that is needed.

Get your thoughts to us now so that we can make sure that we have a productive, varied year.

A reminder that our end-of-year get-together is on this Thursday.
We particularly welcome new-comers and recent members to join us.
Muckleford (and Muckleford Landcare) is undergoing a generational and social change.
What are the challenges and opportunities now emerging from this change?
What do you expect from Landcare in the immediate future?
We need your ideas.
Please join us for a pleasant early evening social gathering.
When: Thursday, November 27, 5.30 – 7.00 pm.
Where: Garden at the rear of The Hub, corner of Barker and Templeton Streets, Castlemaine.
Light refreshments from The Good Table. Drinks can be purchased.
Please RSVP (return email) by Tuesday morning.

We would like to invite you all to our end of year gathering.

It will take place on Thursday, November 27, 5.30 pm in the garden at the rear of The Hub in Castlemaine.

We will provide finger food from The Good Table and you can buy your own drinks from the same venue.

Paul will give a brief summary of our work this year and we will have some informal discussion about ideas for the next 12 months.

We are interested in any thoughts you may have for Landcare work on and/or near your property. We are particularly hopeful that we can have some representation from all of the local pockets that make up the Muckleford catchment: Walmer/Ottreys Scrub, Chinaman Creek, Bassett Creek, Muckleford South and other parts of the valley.

We would like to develop a long term children’s project, so kids are welcome to join us.

This is a lovely venue for an informal, early summer gathering: good food, drink and good company.
We hope you can join us.

Please RSVP with a return email if you want to attend.
When: Thursday, November 27, 5.30 pm.
Where: Garden at the rear of The Hub, corner Barker Street and Templeton Street, Castlemaine.

It has been a busy and productive weekend for Muckleford Landcare and we have another small working activity planned for next Sunday. Please read on…

Chinaman Creek
On Saturday afternoon the property owners who participated in the first stage of the Chinaman Creek Community Landcare Plan gathered for afternoon tea at Brett Tyler and Liz Caffin’s property to mark the end of the initial work. The five participants were presented with a laminated poster showing a map of the project area and five key bird species to monitor in the future. They also received information on follow up blackberry control work from contractor Matt McEachran of Bushtech. Thankyou to everyone who attended. We hope to start planning the next step of this long- term project in the next few weeks.

Mucklefest
On Sunday we set up an information stall at the annual Mucklefest at Muckleford Railway Station. It was a warm sunny day and there were large crowds of people enjoying the varied attractions, many of whom stopped by to inquire about landcare, buy plants supplied by Newstead Natives and pick up information brochures and pamphlets.
We enlisted five new members, most of them new to the area. Muckleford is starting to undergo a fairly radical social transformation and Muckleford Landcare is keen to engage newcomers in our projects and vision.
Thanks in particular to Frances Cincotta of Newstead Natives for helping set up and providing the plants which were a major attraction and to Beth Mellick and family for meeting, greeting and engaging with the many visitors.

and…Sunday Weed on Bassett Creek
Next Sunday, November 2 at 11 am, we will be gathering to remove some weeds at the point where the Bassett Creek crosses Golf Links Road. This is the site of a major past project of Muckleford Landcare and we want to ensure that locals stay aware and engaged in the long-term care of the area.
This is a short 1-2 hour session and we hope that people who live in this distinctive locality will turn up and participate. You will need to bring secateurs or some other pruning implements and gardening gloves. We will be employing the cut-and-paste technique – very hands-on, effective and satisfying.
If you want any more information ring Beth or Nev on 54724609.

Our blog, Twitter and Facebook
At the moment we send direct emails to members and friends and also duplicate the notices on this WordPress site. I plan to rationalise this system soon so that people only receive one or the other. I assume that people who subscribe to our blog don’t need a direct personal email as well. Please let me know if you wish to receive both.
We also Tweet on a fairly regular basis. Tweets are largely of broader environmental interest and if you are keen to access information and debate on wider issues this may suit you. Go to Twitter, join if you need and then search and follow Muckleford Landcare.
We also have a Facebook page which is currently languishing. If someone is keen to moderate this site for us please let me know.

All the best,
Paul Hampton

The annual Mucklefest is on this Sunday, October 26 from 10am – 4pm at Muckleford Railway Station. There are lots of activities to entertain and interest everyone and it is a great place to meet people.

Muckleford Landcare will be setting up an information stall at the event, so if you plan to attend, drop by for a chat. If you would like to help take care of the stall for an hour or so that would be appreciated.

Even more useful would be for someone to help Paul set up the stall at 9 am. Ring Paul at 0408 566 909 if you can help.

Afternoon tea on Chinaman Creek

An afternoon tea to mark the first stage of the Chinaman Creek Community Landcare Plan. An opportunity to spend an hour or so on a successful creek-line re-vegetation site. This should be of particular interest to those who live in the Chinaman Creek valley. We need to start talking about ‘What next for Chinaman Creek catchment?’

Saturday October 25, 2.30-4.00 pm. See the previous post for further details.

Muckleford Catchment Landcare would like to invite you to an afternoon tea and creek walk on Saturday October 25 to mark the end of first stage of the Chinaman Creek Plan.

Five landowners on the creek have contributed to blackberry control work and the establishment of a habitat corridor. This is a significant achievement and the afternoon tea is in part to thank them for their participation.

We will be meeting at Brett Tyler and Liz Caffin’s property on Lewis Road. This should be of great interest to anyone who would like to see close-up, the dramatic changes brought about to the environment of the creek as a result of a successful revegetation project and dedicated weed control. It is a place of great beauty and diversity these days.

There will also be a short address from a Connecting Country representative on their Woodland Birds Project. Connecting Country is partner with Muckleford Landcare in the Chinaman Creek Project. Enhancing the biodiversity of the creek will help create new habitat and aid the survival of their priority ‘Feathered Five’.

We will offer tea, coffee and light refreshments but you may like to bring your own folding chair.

Where: Lewis Road at the point where the road crosses Chinaman Creek. Our banner will be hanging on the fence. Simply step over the fence to enter the property. Parking space is limited on Lewis Road. You might prefer to park on Woodbrook Road and walk the 100 meters west along Lewis Road to the creek crossing. (*Please do not enter the Chinaman Creek House gate further west on Lewis Road as they have guests in residence for the weekend).

When: Saturday October 25, 2.30-4 pm.

We would appreciate a RSVP if you intend to come along. Call Paul at 0408 566 909.

We hope you can join us for this relaxed, informative spring community gathering and creek walk and information session.