Fungi, Flora and Fauna

Highlights from a great start to 2025

Fungi: Poster organisms of the natural world

We began the year with a popular event at the Batesford Hotel, attended by around sixty people. Our guest speaker, Alison Pouliot – an international expert on fungi – delivered a fascinating and entertaining talk.

The evening attracted both members and the general public. BFS Landcare and Geelong Landcare Network co-hosted the event, and we appreciated the hotel’s hospitality.

Mycorrhizal network - what's happening in the soil beneath our feet

Once overlooked, fungi are now emerging as the new poster organisms of the natural world (with a kingdom of their own). Alison explained how they are reshaping our understanding of ecology. This knowledge opens new ways of caring for the environment.

You can watch Alison’s talk here and visit her website. If your curiosity is piqued, explore the ABC Big Ideas programme on the fungi kingdom, recorded at the Melbourne Museum: Watch here.

Kangaroo mother and joey on periurban Batesford property

Landcare Victoria event at Queen’s Hall, Parliament House

Last month, we joined environmental groups from across the state at an event hosted by Landcare Victoria at Queen’s Hall, Parliament House. It was a great opportunity to showcase our work, make new connections, and see the dedication of so many skilled volunteers working to protect nature.

Echidna

Volunteers are priceless

In a recent very moving and compelling US documentary film — Every Little Thing — by Australian director Sally Aitken, hummingbird rescuer Terry Masear remarked:

“Volunteers seem to be regarded as useless, when in fact they are priceless.”

A timely reminder.

Thursday mornings with Covenant College

Covenant College students in the Moorabool River Reserve

Each school term on a Thursday morning, Cathryn Clift organises a varied and interesting schools program for Year 9 students from Covenant College. Thanks to her – and to all who generously volunteer – for this valuable contribution.

eBird Australia Checklist

Little Eagle

We’re excited by recent bird observations at the Moorabool River Reserve and the Dog Rocks Flora and Fauna Sanctuary. Thanks go to expert Craig Morley (Geelong Field Naturalists) for guiding the work.

The results show a healthy diversity of birdlife in and around the riparian zone, including small woodland species.

This highlights the importance of our collaborative efforts with the City of Greater Geelong, Golden Plains Shire, local landowners, and Trust for Nature to preserve these habitats.

Tawny frogmouth and young

Threats to our native flora and fauna

Australia’s native flora and fauna are disappearing.

Cats are the leading threat to wildlife.

Land clearing without wildlife corridors, degraded rivers, invasive species, poorly planned developments, and road deaths are compounding the crisis.

Even from space, Earth’s forests are vanishing, and the planet is visibly warming.

What does Biodiversity mean and why we should care about it?

This is not the legacy we wish to leave future generations.

National Tree Day in the Red Gum Reserve

In response, we will be planting along the Moorabool River:

• National Tree Day for Schools: Early August (with City of Greater Geelong, below Dog Rocks Rd.)
• National Tree Day for the Public: Last Sunday in July (with Golden Plains Shire, below Riverstone Estate)

Our Vice President, David Clift, will promote these events through Planet Ark. We hope you’ll join us!

Nest Box Workshop 2025

Nest Box Workshop in the Batesford Hall (2024)

Finally, we’re excited to co-host another of our popular nest box workshops with Geelong Landcare Network in the newly renovated Batesford Hall, just before the school holidays in August. There will also be a guest speaker. Details to come via Humanitix.