Excursions

Excursion: Saturday 9th August 2025, 10.00am,“Grassland treasures”, Baringhup

At our July Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club meeting, Adrian Marshall (Grassy Plains Network) reminded us that less than 1% of Victoria’s native grasslands remain and they’re rapidly disappearing without recognition and protection. Small patches remain, often with just a few plants, but knowledge of grassland species and locations is limited.  Our first of three roadside stops […]

Excursion: Saturday 9th August 2025, 10.00am,“Grassland treasures”, Baringhup Read More »

Leader: Kerrie Jennings

Reminder:  CFNC weekend at Wedderburn, 12-14 September 2025

As advised earlier, there will be no regular monthly meeting or excursion in Castlemaine in September. Instead there will be a weekend of events at Wedderburn.  Registrations (see below) are required by August 8th to confirm attendance and organise car-pooling. Speakers and excursion leaders – ecologist and Mt Korong fauna expert Professor Michael Kearney from

Reminder:  CFNC weekend at Wedderburn, 12-14 September 2025 Read More »

Excursion: Saturday 12th July 2025, “Fungi search”, Mt Alexander; NOTE 10.00 am start time!

Rain at last! So for our July excursion we will go on a fungi search with Joy Clusker, co-author of the excellent guide to identification of the “Fungi of the Bendigo Region”.  Joy will give us valuable tips on identification and where to find fungi. Since the light drops early at this time of the

Excursion: Saturday 12th July 2025, “Fungi search”, Mt Alexander; NOTE 10.00 am start time! Read More »

Leader: Joy Clusker

Excursion: Saturday 14th June 2025, 1.30pm, “Street trees of Castlemaine – part 2 and Forest Creek revitalisation project”, Greenhill Ave.

In July 2024, arborist Sue Luke together with Rosemary Turner led a Castlemaine street trees walk taking in Kennedy Street and Goldsmith Crescent. Sue will lead a second walk along Greenhill Avenue, from Greenhill Place to the Pyrenees Highway, looking at over thirty Australian tree and shrub species. In addition, the Forest Creek Revitalisation Project

Excursion: Saturday 14th June 2025, 1.30pm, “Street trees of Castlemaine – part 2 and Forest Creek revitalisation project”, Greenhill Ave. Read More »

Leaders: Sue Luke, Cathrine Harboe-Ree, Jon Leevers

Excursion: Saturday 10th May 2025, 1.30pm, “Photographing flowers, grasses and insects for effective iNaturalist identification”, Red White and Blue Mine

An opportunity to join with expert field naturalists to gain experience in photographing fauna and flora species including key characteristics to maximise the likelihood of getting your observations identified from photos submitted to iNaturalist. Whether you prefer to use a smart phone, a point and shoot digital camera or a digital SLR camera with interchangeable

Excursion: Saturday 10th May 2025, 1.30pm, “Photographing flowers, grasses and insects for effective iNaturalist identification”, Red White and Blue Mine Read More »

Leader: Jill Williams

Excursion – Saturday April 12th, 1.30pm, “Forest Creek Restoration by Castlemaine Landcare Group”

This excursion is rescheduled from March due to the high temperature. Christine will take us for a walk along the Great Dividing Trail path beside Forest Creek (now named Leanganook Track) to see first-hand the remarkable transformation of a gorse-infested, tree-less valley to a productive native riparian strip following over 20 years of work by

Excursion – Saturday April 12th, 1.30pm, “Forest Creek Restoration by Castlemaine Landcare Group” Read More »

Leader: Christine Kilmartin (President, Castlemaine Landcare Group)

CANCELLED: Excursion – Saturday March 15th, 2025, 1.30pm, “Forest Creek Restoration by Castlemaine Landcare Group”

Unfortunately, due to the high temperatures forecast for Saturday, we have decided to postpone our walk along Forest Creek with Christine to 12th April 2025. However, members and visitors are reminded of our AGM and Monthly Meeting as detailed in our previous update. Friday 14th March, 2025, 7.30 pm, Uniting Church Fellowship Room, Lyttleton St

CANCELLED: Excursion – Saturday March 15th, 2025, 1.30pm, “Forest Creek Restoration by Castlemaine Landcare Group” Read More »

Leader: Christine Kilmartin (President, Castlemaine Landcare Group)

Excursion – Saturday March 15th 2025,1.30pm, “Forest Creek Restoration by Castlemaine Landcare Group”

Following Christine’s talk the previous evening, she will take us for a walk along the Great Dividing Trail path beside Forest Creek (now named Leanganook Track) to see first-hand the remarkable transformation of a broom- and gorse-infested valley to a productive native riparian strip following over 20 years of work by CLG and supporting agencies. 

Excursion – Saturday March 15th 2025,1.30pm, “Forest Creek Restoration by Castlemaine Landcare Group” Read More »

Leader: Christine Kilmartin (President, Castlemaine Landcare Group)

Excursion – Saturday 9th November, 1.00pm. “Trentham area – Habitat restoration for the Bright-eyed Brown”

What are the habitat features that aid survival of the rare Bright-eyed Brown Butterfly? Brian will take us on a walking tour to inspect some sites around Trentham where habitat restoration has been carried out to support this special butterfly. We will then drive to Lyonville and follow the Domino trail east for about 700m

Excursion – Saturday 9th November, 1.00pm. “Trentham area – Habitat restoration for the Bright-eyed Brown” Read More »

Leader: Brian Bainbridge (Biodiversity Officer, Hepburn Shire Council)

Excursion – Saturday October 19th,1.30pm, “Walmer biodiversity site”

Our October excursion is to a private property in Walmer that has uncommonly rich biodiversity and is not generally available to the public. The site is one of the few places where Bitter Cryptandra (Cryptandra amara) is in good numbers in the district. Our guide will be local environmentalist and plant expert Ian Higgins, who received

Excursion – Saturday October 19th,1.30pm, “Walmer biodiversity site” Read More »

Leader – Ian Higgins