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.

Calendar

Summary of upcoming FOG Events

Sat 18 Nov 9:30 am, FOG’s return visit to the Tinderries. Register:margaret.ning@fog.org.au

Sat 2 Dec, Shoalhaven River property visit (Wyanbene area). Register: margaret.ning@fog.org.au

Summary of upcoming FOG Work parties

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

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

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

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

Summary of Notices

Volunteers to assist with insect pollinator surveys Nov 2023-Mar 2024. Contact: Emma Collins (woyapp@hotmail.com)

Nov 2023 Canberra Festival of Nature Yoga event facilitated by the Griffith Woodland Volunteer Group.

Mon 8 – Sun 14 Jan 2024 Snakes Alive

16 Jan 2024 FOG members Andrew Zelnik and Margaret Ning on 2XX, Radio Landcare.

West Majura Grasslands Reserve will be closed from 9 October 2023 for up to six months to allow contractors to conduct safety and remediation works.

Details of FOG Events

Sat 18 Nov 9:30 am, FOG’s return visit to the Tinderries. Not much was flowering when we visited in May, but this time we shall get a much better idea of what is there. The views are amazing, the walking is reasonably easy most of the time, and it is a beautiful, peaceful place to be. Come along and enjoy the flora, views and the company. (Sun 19 Nov is our back up day if the weather lets us down on 18 Nov.).  Register: margaret.ning@fog.org.au

Sat 2 Dec, Shoalhaven River property visit (Wyanbene area). Come along and the enjoy the sandstone flora.  Casual lunch and a cuppa provided by our hosts and maybe a river swim if it’s hot.  Register: margaret.ning@fog.org.au

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.

Tasmania visit

We are looking at travelling to Tassie on Friday 19 January and returning on 29 January.

The program is not cast in stone.  Initially we shall spend a few days in the NW area visiting various grassland conservation sites, including on an annual orchid survey with Threatened Plants Tasmania, led by ecologist/botanist Mark Wapstra, about 20-21 Jan. Then we would travel across to south of Launceston, for some time in the Tassie Midlands for Midlands Conservation Partnership property visits facilitated by the Tasmanian Land Conservancy. Time permitting, we hope to also fit in some key public grassy ecosystem sites from FOG's Jan 2004 trip (e.g. the iconic Tunbridge Lagoon NR). We may also go to the east coast to Okehampton where a FOG grassy ecosystem grant project was completed a couple of years ago, and possibly see the results of grassland burning experiments.

Contact: margaret.ning@fog.org.au

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 held on Sunday mornings between 8:30 am and 1 pm unless otherwise stated:

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.

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.

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

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

Details of Notices

Volunteers to assist with insect pollinator surveys Nov 2023-Mar 2024

The ACT Government, in collaboration with Nature Mapr, is seeking nature-loving volunteers to assist with insect pollinator surveys in urban green spaces around Canberra. Volunteers spend approximately 45 minutes photographing insect pollinators on flowers within a designated survey area to provide information on the diversity of pollinator species and floral resources in ecosystems of varying condition. This is repeated once a month from November to March.  Mandatory training will also be needed to ensure we are all surveying in a similar manner. Volunteers can sign up, find more information, and access the survey methodology at this link.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Emma Collins (woyapp@hotmail.com)

Canberra Festival of Nature Yoga event facilitated by the Griffith Woodland Volunteer Group. There will be Dru Yoga sessions run by Dru Australia on the following dates and times:

Tickets can be bought through the festival calendar, and cost either $10 or free. Places are limited, so get in early to reserve a place. https://www.landcareact.org.au/festival

Snakes Alive, Mon 8 – Sun 14 Jan 2024.  Bookings open soon, so put the dates in your diary.

16 Jan, 9-10am 2024 FOG members Andrew Zelnik and Margaret Ning on 2XX (98.3FM) Radio Landcare. FOG members Andrew Zelnik and Margaret Ning will join Queanbeyan Landcare’s Tom Baker and FOG member Margaret Piper to discuss what is happing in the FOG world, including activities and issues.

West Majura Grasslands Reserve will be closed from 9 October 2023 for up to six months to allow contractors to conduct safety and remediation works. For more information about the closures or to find out about parks and reserves in your area, visit the ACT Parks website.

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