Calendar

The Current Calendar (below) includes FoG and related activities. To be kept fully up to date with FoG activities, become a member, get the newsletter and if you have email access you'll also get the FoG E-bulletin with all the latest news and information. If you have queries about any of the activities below, contact the person nominated, or Contact Us.

FoG visits many private or public properties during the year to assist in plant identification and management issues. These visits usually do not appear in the FoG program because we may not know what to expect at such sites and because they are usually arranged at short notice. If you are interested in participating in property visits, Contact Us.

Please advertise this information amongst your friends and networks and support our activities.

Non FoG members are welcome to participate in FoG events.

For any FoG activity you should register with the indicated contact, who can assist with directions and possibly car pooling. By registering you assist us to organise any catering and provide you with any other information that you may need, including late changes. For all FoG activities please supply your emergency contact person's details when registering.

Summary of upcoming FOG Events

Fri 6^th-Sun 8^th Sept 9am-4pm, Parkcare Display at Jamison Centre. We would love some FOG volunteers to help. Register:margaret.ning@fog.org.au.
Sat 14 Sept 10am, Visit to Orchids in Hall Horse Paddocks.
Register: margaret.ning@fog.org.au.
Sat 28 Sept 9am-12:30pm, Canberra Festival of Nature, Glorious Grasslands, Lawson Landcare Field Day. Hosted by FOG, Lawson Landcare, Ginninderra Catchment Group & Landcare ACT. Morning tea and lunch supplied.
Sat 26 Oct 2-4pm, Grassy woodland walk at Kowen TSR. Register:margaret.ning@fog.org.au.
Sat 16 Nov 12.30-3pm, SAVE THE DATE for FOG’s 30th birthday party at St Mark’s grassland. Register: margaret.ning@fog.org.au.

Summary of upcoming FOG Work parties

National Lands Group. Register: jamie.pittock@fog.org.au.

Sat 21 Sept 9-12:30pm
Sat 19 Oct 9-12:30pm

Yarramundi Reach

Sat 26 Oct 9-11am. Register:john.fitzgerald@fog.org.au.

Budjan Galindji (Franklin Reserve). Register: margaret.ning@fog.org.au.

Wed 25 Sept 9-11:30am
Wed 2 & 23 Oct 9-11:30am

Hall Cemetery. Register:john.fitzgerald@fog.org.au.

Sat 5 Oct 9am-11am

Top Hut TSR, near Cooma, NSW. Contact: margaret.ning@fog.org.au.

Sun 22 Sept 9:30am-3:30pm

Summary of Notices

NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust - Box Woodland conservation tender, 2-20 Sept 2024: https://www.bct.nsw.gov.au/box.

Details of FOG Events

Fri 6^th-Sun 8^th Sept 9am-4pm, Parkcare Display at Jamison, by nearby Parkcare groups. This is an opportunity to display our FOG posters and photos of our activities, and speak to members of the public about the opportunities out there to mix with our environment. We would love some FOG volunteers to help with this interaction, in two-hour stints between 9am to 4pm on each of those days. Can you spare some time please? Register:margaret.ning@fog.org.au

Sat 14 Sept 10am, Visit to Orchids in Hall Horse Paddocks. Led by local resident Christian, view a number of different Caladenia, Diuris, Glossodia on quite a “compact” walk - together with a lot of forbs in flower (various peas, hop bushes). We may include the nearby Mrs Reynold’s paddock, which, depending on timing, can be even better… Hall Horse Paddocks is a site needing a brighter future than it currently has, as horse agistment continues to undermine its ecological values. Register: margaret.ning@fog.org.au.

Sat 28 Sept 9am-12:30pm, Canberra Festival of Nature, Glorious Grasslands, Lawson Landcare Field Day. Hosted by FOG, Lawson Landcare, Ginninderra Catchment Group and Landcare ACT. Morning tea and lunch supplied:

9-10am Introduction to Natural Temperate Grasslands (NTGs) and why it’s important to conserve them. Break for morning tea. Lawson Landcare Grassland project launch by Senator David Pocock.
10-11am Walk to Reservoir Hill Grassland, discussion re significance of site, grassland management, grassland fauna. Continue to Dawn Street Grassland a floristically rich site incl. Bulbine Lilies.
11am-12:30pm Walk along the southern boundary of Lawson North Grassland, discussion on values and development issues. Then returning to Nevertire Street via another route.
12:30 pm. Lunch at the Nevertire site. There will be several grassland experts at the event from FOG. Grassland Flora & Woodland Flora books will be on sale.

Please RSVP by 20 Sept for catering purposes: https://events.humanitix.com/lawson-landcare-grassland-restoration-project-launch-and-tour.

Sat 26 Oct 2-4pm, Grassy woodland walk at Kowen TSR. Register:margaret.ning@fog.org.au. An original ACT TSR that has retained its values, with a healthy Themeda understorey: https://nativeplantscbr.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Kowen-TSR.pdf.

Early warning of FOG future eventsts

Events and dates are indicative and may be subject to change. Details will be advised as more information is available.

Sat 16 Nov 12.30-3pm, SAVE THE DATE for FOG’s 30th birthday party at St Mark’s grassland. Register: margaret.ning@fog.org.au. Please join us to celebrate FOG’s first 30 years of being. An enjoyable opportunity to combine a beautiful grassland with convivial socialising and a sausage sizzle.

Sun 17 Nov 10am-12pm, Women in Nature, Festival for Nature visit Budjan Galindji Nature Reserve. Women only event. Register: https://events.humanitix.com/women-in-nature-guided-grasslands-walk?hxchl=hex-pfl. The Women in Nature program celebrates women actively caring for nature across the Canberra region, whilst inspiring others to engage in citizen science and environmental stewardship. Landcare ACT is partnering with Ginninderra Catchment Group and members of FOG to facilitate a guided walk through Budjan Galindji. Women only event.

Details of FOG work parties

Registration

Participants need to register for these events at least two days before the event, to confirm details of the starting locations or any last-minute changes. Note: work includes weeding, planting and rubbish removal. Herbicides are often used so these events are not suitable for young children. Tools are provided. You need to wear gardening clothes (including hat) and solid footwear appropriate for the work and the weather, and bring your own drinking water. The work party convener may provide morning tea, making these pleasant social occasions. Events will be cancelled if the weather is unsuitable: a) the forecast is 35 deg C+, b) it is a total fire ban day, c) there is lightning, d) air quality is hazardous, or e) heavy rain.

National Lands Group - Inquiries and registration: jamie.pittock@fog.org.au

FOG’s National Lands Group is responsible for work on National Lands (Gurubung Dhaura /Stirling Park, Scrivener’s Hut, State Circle, Blue Gum Point & Yarramundi Grassland) managed by the National Capital Authority and Blue Gum Point managed by ACT Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS). Work parties with 10 to 30 participants are held on Saturday mornings between 9am and 12:30pm unless otherwise stated:

Sat 21 Sept 9-12:30pm, at Blue Gum Point. We’ll return to Blue Gum Point for a big morning of work to help restore the last bit of weed ridden lake shore. There are four main tasks that we will undertake: a) mulching around our plantings from earlier in the year; b) cutting and daubing small cotoneaster shrubs; c) clearing dead wood weeds and stacking the branches for chipping (which will make space for our contractors to fell and chip the big dead trees); and d) rubbish removal. We will meet at the management gate on Alexandrina Drive midway between Mariner Place west and the rusty ‘DNA’ sculpture. Please register with Jamie Pittock: m. 0407 265 131, Jamie.pittock@fog.org.au. We could use and extra wheelbarrow or two, and a few extra spades or forks for the mulch. Please bring one if at hand and easy to transport.
Sat 19 Oct 9-12:30pm, Yarramundi Reach. Senator David Pocock (and a number of his volunteers) will join us for the first part of this work party, exchanging his fitness regime of carry river rocks for sorting out woody weeds. This is an opportunity to brief David and his volunteers on the opportunity to better conserve the endangered Button Wrinklework and Box Gum Grassy Woodlands in central Canberra. We will focus on restoring the last bit of weed ridden lake shore at Blue Gum Point. There are four main tasks that we will undertake: a) mulching around our plantings from earlier in the year; b) cutting and daubing small cotoneaster shrubs; c) clearing dead wood weeds and stacking the branches for chipping; and d) rubbish removal. We will meet on the lake side of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Centre at 245 Lady Denman Drive, Acton. Please register with John Fitz Gerald at jfg_fog@bigpond.com.
Sat 16 Nov 9-12:30pm

Yarramundi Reach

Sat 26 Oct 9-11am. Register:john.fitzgerald@fog.org.au

Budjan Galindji (Franklin Reserve) - Inquiries and registration: margaret.ning@fog.org.au

The Budjan Galindji (Franklin Reserve) Parkcare Group is organised by FOG and ACT Parkcare. Work parties have largely focused on plant identification and removing weeds, and some planting of grasses and forbs is planned. We are working closely with Ranger Stephen. This is a great opportunity for participants in the group to learn about grassland plants and weeds and their management, and more generally how to restore our precious grasslands, including selecting, growing and reintroducing plants. Work parties are from 9-11.30am on the first and fourth Wednesday of the month.

Wed 25 Sept 9-11:30am
Wed 2 & 23 Oct 9-11:30am
Wed 6 & 27 Nov 9-11:30am

Hall Cemetery - Inquiries and registration: john.fitzgerald@fog.org.au

FOG has held regular work parties at Hall Cemetery since 2009, aiming to remove weeds and restore the native grasses and wild flowers that were once present. Work parties are held from 9am-11am. You need to bring your own working tool, and dress sensibly.

Sat 5 Oct 9am-11am
Sat 2 Nov 9am-11am

Top Hut TSR, near Cooma, NSW. Contact: margaret.ning@fog.org.au

Sun 22 Sept 9:30am-3:30pm

Scottsdale Monitoring. Inquiries & contact: linda@xamax.com.au

Mid to late Nov 2024.

Details of Notices

NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust - Box Woodland conservation tender. 2-20 Sept 2024. NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust has announced information sessions for its upcoming Box Woodland conservation tender. Landholders can use these information sessions to learn about their eligibility and how they can set a price to protect and manage important native vegetation on their land. Key dates:

2 Sept Expressions of Interest - now open
3-7 Sept Information sessions - Register now
29 Sept Expressions of interest close at 11:59pm

For further info: https://www.bct.nsw.gov.au/box.

Please advertise these events among your friends and networks. Non FoG members are welcome to FoG events. For inquiries or if you have an item to include, please Contact Us