We are privileged to have A/Prof Jonathan Plett from the Western Sydney University Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment address our July monthly meeting on the topic of how fungi communicate with their host plants. Jonathan will tell us about his research to identify the protein signals that coordinate symbiosis between soil-borne mycorrhizal fungi and plants […]
Monthly Meeting: Friday 12th July, 7:30pm by Zoom Read More »
This excursion provides the opportunity to appreciate the interesting collection of trees in Goldsmith Crescent and Yandell, Forest, Kennedy and Campbell Streets. Our guides both have botanical expertise and will help us identify at least 20 different indigenous and introduced species, including several forms of Yellow Gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon). Two of the trees are historically
Excursion -Saturday 13th July, 1.30pm “Street trees of Castlemaine” Read More »
The second South East Australian Naturalists’ Association (SEANA) camp for this year will be held from Friday 25th – Sunday 27th October in Marysville. This is an excellent chance to meet fellow naturalists from around SE Australia and explore a new region under the guidance of local experts. The Ringwood FNC is hosting this camp
SEANA Spring Camp – Marysville, 25-27 October, 2024 Read More »
The June meeting will be the first of our 3 winter meetings by Zoom for 2024, with our guest speaker being Dr Don Fletcher, an ecologist with the National Parks Association of the ACT. Don will describe a Citizen Science research project on Rosenberg’s Goanna (Varanus rosenbergi) in Namadgi National Park, ACT that has been
Monthly Meeting: Friday 14th June, 7.30pm by Zoom Read More »
For our June excursion, we will search for fungi with Joy Clusker who will give us tips on identification and where to find fungi. Since autumn has been dry, we will travel south to cooler, damper forests for a better chance to find a good range of fungi. So we will meet earlier than usual
Excursion – Saturday June 15th,10.00am, “Fungi search”, Leonards Hill Read More »
Aquatic ecologist, Dr Peter Rose, from the North Central Catchment Management Authority, will explain this plan at the AGM of Castlemaine Landcare Group (CLG). CLG invite anyone interested to come along to the Castlemaine Community House (30 Templeton St) on Wednesday 22 May at 7.30pm to listen and enjoy the hospitality. Peter will describe the
A Recovery Plan for Native Fish Read More »
Our guest speaker for May will be Dr Greg Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne. Greg specialises in arboriculture. He introduces his talk to us as follows: “Climate change will place new and extra demands on trees growing on both public and private land. There will be
Monthly Meeting: Friday 10th May, 7.30pm, Uniting Church Fellowship Room, Lyttleton St. Read More »
Our May excursion will be along the Coliban Channel starting at the historic outlet of the Back Creek Syphon. We will follow the route described in “Castlemaine Bird Walks” by club member Damian Kelly. As well as birds, we hope to see some early flowers as plants respond to recent rainfall. The walk is mainly
Excursion – Saturday May 11th,1.30pm, “Coliban Channel walk, Taradale” Read More »
Come along and help do our bit for the community. A pleasant walk along some interesting roadside bush. Meet: 9am near Tait’s Decorative Iron, corner of Willy Milly Rd and Pyrenees Highway, Castlemaine. Bring: Gloves, water, sturdy footwear. Garbage bags and safety vests supplied. Contact: Geoff Harris (mob 0418 392 183) if you can
Roadside Clean-up: Monday 13th May, 9am Read More »
Professor Tim Entwisle is an author, botanist and former director of botanic gardens in Melbourne, Sydney and London. He also lived for a few years at Yapeen and completed his final years of secondary school at Castlemaine High School. In 2022, Tim published a memoir called “Evergreen: the Botanical Life of a Plant Punk” (Thames