Leap Into Nature

Montrose Environmental Group continues to collaborate with Leap Into Nature to run sessions for young children (typically 2-5 years). These activities include bush walking, bird watching, and frog hunting. They are a fun and accessible opportunity for kids to discover the environment around them and learn about nature. Information about upcoming Leap Into Nature events can be found on their website, or by becoming a MEG member.

Brickworks Reserve working bees

Montrose Brickworks Flora Reserve is a suburban reserve at the corner of Cambridge and Montrose Roads (map). The Montrose Brickworks closed in the mid 1950s, and the site, originally called Tapscott/Milbourne Flora Reserve, was gradually revegetated with valuable native bush including many wildflowers.

Originally in response to concerns about Sweet Pittosporum and other woody weeds, the first MEG working bee at the Brickworks Reserve was held in 2018, and now several working bees are held every year. These include weeding, ecological monitoring, a nature walk, litter collection, and morning tea.

Brickworks Reserve working bee - Saturday 5th December

The easing of COVID restrictions has finally meant we can once again meet to help take care of our local special bushland places. Spring is also a wonderful time to experience the beauty of nature.

Karen Davies will be holding a MEG Brickworks working bee on Saturday 5th December from 10 am to approx. 1 pm.

We are required to put measures in place to ensure all activities are conducted in a COVID safe manner. Please note the following:

• Please RSVP to Karen via text on 0400 385 918 by 8 pm Friday 4th December. We will need to ensure numbers are within Victorian COVID Safe Guidelines. Should the maximum number of attendees be reached, we will take participants on a first-in, first-served basis, confirming with return text as we receive bookings.
• Participants must bring their own gloves and face mask.
• Please bring your own cup if you want to have a cuppa (supplied).
• Hand sanitiser will be supplied.
• Social distancing will need to be adhered to with participants staying 2 m clear of anyone else and face mask worn.
• Obviously do not attend if you are at all feeling unwell, have a cough, fever, headache or runny nose.

Activities are likely to include treating woody weeds, looking for pollinators on any flowering plants or trying to note bird species and enjoying a cuppa. So if you have a spare couple of hours anyone is most welcome to join.

Friends of Bungalook Conservation Reserves

The monthly working bee at Bungalook Conservation Reserves in Kilsyth South is held at 9:30 am on the 2nd Saturday of the month (except January). The meeting place is at the end of Ormond Place, Kilsyth (map). The morning usually consists of an informative walk, weed removal, litter collection and morning tea. Photos from working bees are regularly posted on Facebook.

Changes for COVID-19

Working bees at Bungalook Conservation Reserves are on again, from Saturday, 14th November 2020. It is essential that participants follow these Covid-19 rules:

• You must not attend if you have even the slightest symptoms of a respiratory or gastric infection (e.g. runny nose, cough, diarrhoea, …) or if you’ve had contact with someone like that in the previous fortnight.
• You must contact Graeme Lorimer by 8 pm Friday on 0403 229 862 or graeme@meg.org.au if you wish to attend, to avoid exceeding the limit of ten people. Leave your mobile phone number in case I need to ask you not to come.
• Please bring your own gloves and morning tea, except that if you’re a regular, you can use a pair of the group’s gloves and look after them for use at future working bees.
• You’ll have to keep 1.5 m from other people except anyone you live with.
• You must wear an effective face covering unless an exemption applies, e.g. physical exertion, eating or drinking.

Friends of Heathfield Creek

The monthly working bee at Heathfield Creek is on the last Sunday of the month (except December and January). Meet on Belvedere Drive near the corner of Richards Road, Montrose (map). It runs from 10 am to approximately 12 noon and is followed by a delicious morning tea.

Contact Claire Thomas on 9728 2290 or clairthomas63@bigpond.com.

Spring Bird Walk

Each year MEG conducts a Spring Bird Walk. The guided tour is held by a bird expert who is very familiar with the local environment. The tour provides in depth information and tips to increase your own knowledge. To hear details for the next Spring Bird Walk, become a member and you will be notified in the Spinulosa newsletter. Alternatively, contact us for details.

Informative Bushwalks

Bushwalks led by knowledgeable people are held to involve and engage the community and to pass on knowledge of our wonderful environment. The walks have previously targeted particular ecological events such as the recovery of vegetation after a fire and spring wildflower displays. Become a member to be notified of upcoming bushwalks.

Presentations

Presentations on interesting environmental topics are given throughout the year. They are varied in their content and have recently included topics such as fire ecology, the taxonomy of Flax-lily (Dianella) species, creating habitat gardens, interactive wildlife presentations targeted at children, and the wonderful world of bats.

Annual General Meeting

Each year MEG holds an AGM which includes a presentation from an environmental expert, and a tasty lunch. The event is usually held in August. In recent years the AGM has been held in the Montrose Town Hall, the costs of which are covered by Councillor Len Cox of the Yarra Ranges Council. A gold coin donation covers the entry fee, and the pre-booked lunch costs about $10. The Spinulosa newsletter following each AGM includes an overview of the presentation as well as a summary of MEG's activities over the past year and the Treasurer’s report.

The 2019 AGM included a presentation from ecologist Dr Ella Kelly about the impact of cane toads on threatened quolls. The 2020 AGM was conducted online through Zoom due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Christmas Picnic

Each December the MEG committee and its members are invited to a Christmas picnic for a relaxing afternoon of eating and friendly chit-chat. The picnic is usually held in Montrose or a surrounding suburb, and will be advertised in the preceding Spinulosa with the date and time.

Previous locations for the picnic include Kalorama Park (2018) and Warrien Reserve (2019).