Clean Up Australia Day Sunday March 1 Another successful Clean Up Australia Day (always on the first Sunday in March.) We managed to clean up a large part of Main Rd in Romsey and Main St in Lancefield. Also, a couple of members cleaned up along Tooborac Rd and another couple cleaned up two  streets in Romsey. In addition, we carried out our regular commitment to clean up the Lancefield-Kilmore Rd out to Doggetts Bridge. The event was followed by a lovely morning tea in the annex of the Mechanics Institute in Lancefield. It was terrific to see members of the public join our group, making a total of 26, to help carry out the task which, unfortunately is still necessary to keep our neighbourhood beautiful.

Dung Beetles

You may have read our article on dung beetles in the July editions of the Lancefield Mercury and Romsey Rag. "In Australia, the CSIRO commissioned the Australian Dung Beetle Project (1965–1985) which, led by George Bornemissza, sought to introduce species of dung beetles from South Africa and Europe. The successful introduction of 23 species was made, which has resulted in improvement of the quality and fertility of Australian cattle pastures, along with a reduction in the population of pestilent Australian bush flies by around 90%. Each cow pat can produce 2000 to 3000 flies. Imagine trying to dine outside without dung beetles doing their thing!"

Karen Doggett, a member of DCLG has purchased some dung beetles and has established a nursery. Her aim is to have a population of active dung beetles on her property throughout the year. If you share her passion, she would love to hear from you on 0408 353 953. 

Community concern resulted in Deep Creek Landcare contacting Josh Gomez (Roadside Conservation Officer) from the Macedon Ranges Shire Council. Josh responded by organising the Community Led Rabbit Workshop held in Lancefield on Wednesday, July 24. The workshop was free of charge and fully booked.Tim Bloomfield from the Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN) presented the initial session in the mechanics Hall. He covered the history of rabbits in Australia. We may never get rid of them but if landholders have the knowledge and will and are able to work with neighbours, their numbers can be controlled. The steps required are to

·       Locate all of their burrows and entrances and clean up potential hiding places

·       Reduce rabbit numbers through fumigation and poisoning

·       Destroy burrows through ripping and/or implosion

·       Keep rabbits out through appropriate fencing

Attendees then travelled to a local property and were shown how to

·       use a smoker to detect burrow entrances

·       to lay bait such as 1080 and Pindone

·       fence paddocks and buildings

·       rip burrows and use explosives to destroy burrows

Dowie Court, Five Mile Creek

On Saturday, September 13 2025 we returned to Dowie Court to continue our part in rehabilitating Five Mile Creek in Romsey. Over the last three years the landholders have worked with Melbourne Water to remove the willows and replace them with indigenous trees, shrubs and grasses. On Saturday we added another 500 mainly grasses (poa and lomandra) to the site. We planted the Tee trees in the photo (below left) during the first stage in 2023. 

This year we will be returning to plant another section on Sunday, September 13!

We sell nest boxes for kookaburras, phascogales, bats and ringtail and brush tail possums from $25 for members. ($30 for non members)

We have installed nest boxes on many sites around our area and we have also been involved in installing chainsaw hollows to be used as nests. The chainsaw hollows are expected to last longer and have better thermal qualities than traditional nest boxes.

Working Bee: July 2026 For our July working, a small hard working contingent (4) returned to Lancefield Park to mulch some of the indigenous plantings along the eastern border of the park (photo). Along with St Mary and Lancefield P.S we worked with Emma Stevens (Junior Landcare Facilitator) and the Parks Committee  to plant the border over the last couple of years. Another contingent of four weeded our August, 2025 planting site on Five Mile Creek in Romsey (see Projects).

Working Bee: June 2026 Our June 21 working bee in Lancefield Park saw a dozen volunteers turn up to weed, rake and trim the indigenous garden along the eastern flank. We were also able to remove the guards from many of the plants. The garden is coming along well. Thanks again to our hard working members, most of whom were able to stay back for an enjoyable morning tea. 

Anniversary Garden In Lancefield Park. We have established the Anniversary Garden In Lancefield Park which is now reaching maturity. The many natives attract a myriad of birds and insects. We are also working with the park committee, local schools and the girl guides to plant indigenous trees and shrubs along the eastern boundary. On Wednesday, November 13, nine volunteers assembled in Lancefield Park. The group carried out maintenance work in the Anniversary Garden and completed planting the new section on the eastern boundary that St Mary's PS and Lancefield PS pupils started off at a recent working bee.

October 2025

Our Junior Landcare Facilitator, Emma Stevens worked with us on two plantings in October. At Bolinda PS, with help from staff and students we planted over 100 indigenous shrubs and grasses with an emphasis on providing food for pollinators.  The working bee kicked off an initiative to significantly add to the biodiversity of the school’s garden.  On October 31 we worked with St Mary’s and Lancefield PS to extend previous plantings along the eastern boundary of Lancefield Park. We added 113 indigenous shrubs and grasses to the site. Good follow up rain will help the new gardens get off to a good start.

We source seeds of indigenous plants from The Tree Project in spring and grow the grasses, trees and shrubs over summer with the aim of planting in autumn. This year we have grown in excess of 5,000 seedlings in tubes. We use the seedlings to complete regular projects in the area. Members can purchase seedlings at a very economical rate. Orders need to be in by the end of September. Contact our Treasurer, Ken Allender (0404 886 580)

Find out more about the great work of Tree Project and consider becoming a volunteer grower!  We are looking for more volunteer growers. New growers will be supplied with a kit comprising of seeds, boxes, tubes, propagation instructions and support from experienced growers. Most growers will grow 7 boxes of plants with 48 tube stock in each. Growers will need a sunny spot, water supply and the time to water the young plants consistently over summer. Kits will be supplied in November with plants going out to projects in March. A workshop will be held on Saturday, September 5 from 10:00 till noon. If interested contact Ken Allender on 0404 886 580 or ken.allender@bigpond.com

Doggett’s Bridge is a site that the Deep Creek Landcare Group has been working on since the group’s beginning.

Deep Creek Landcare Group was one of the earliest groups formed and as such this site is one of the earliest worked on.

It has taken many years for this exposed and degraded site to be established and in more recent years it has improved significantly. Tree growth has improved and the Deep Creek Landcare Group is attempting to increase species diversity. This includes the planting of a threatened species Dianella amoena. Also, nest boxes have been put up and monitoring has shown birds and sugar gliders reside in this area. A recent bird survey, in partnership with Macedon Ranges Shire Council, has shown a quite diverse bird population. This area is culturally significant to the Wurundjeri People. This particular location of the creek supports the threatened Yarra Pygmy Perch. Our group's aim is to make this area a waterway corridor and to align with the Macedon Ranges Shire biodiversity strategy. 

In October we will be conducting a working bee at the site to improve the biodiversity by adding to the understorey vegetation.

Working Bee:  Sunday, 5/10/25

The original planting at the streamside reserve at Doggetts Bridge site was done by our group in 1995. In the interim we have carried out some plantings and added nest boxes. Today we returned to the site and planted 525 indigenous trees, shrubs and grasses to improve the biodiversity of the site which is an important corridor for our wildlife.

Trees included Blackwood and Golden wattles. Shrubs included Prickly and Woolly tea trees, Hedge wattle, Cassinia, Gynatrix and River bottle brush. We also planted 28 Lomandra and 300 poa -these grasses provide habitat and food for birds and insects which are important pollinators. 

Fourteen volunteers made the transition to Daylight Saving and worked industriously to finish by 11:30 and enjoy a well earned morning tea. Once again it was nice to be able to give away some plants to our volunteers to improve their own backyards.

Nine volunteers returned to the site on October 23 to give the plants a much needed drink!

Photos: Before planting on the left and after below.