July 2026 Kinglake Landcare News

Winter

Kinglake district is the traditional land of the Taungurung and Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation which is in Waring or Wombat season until July. Shorter days, longer nights, misty mornings, and cooler.

Rare Plants

The Wollemi Pine (Wollemi nobilis) that I planted in my Kinglake West garden is growing well (see photo). It is one of the world’s oldest and rarest plants that outlived the dinosaur and many millions of years ago it was widespread and was even growing in Antarctica. But, in 1994 Wollemi in NSW was believed to be the only location of this species left in the world, so it has been deliberately widely propagated to ensure its survival.

In our own small way Kinglake Landcare Group has been doing similar propagating and distributing local Pomaderris vacciniifolia (Round-leafed Pomaderris) which was close to extinction just a few years ago.

With climate change already occurring it is heartening to know that some species could survive the disruption.

Activities just gone or continuing

In June I attended a conference on Biodiversity across Borders at Federation University, Mt Helen Campus, Ballarat. Over 700 attendees covering ecological research to practical solutions by natural resource practitioners. Climate change effects on our natural environment was a dominant theme including predicted markedly increased fire risk in our Central Highlands if urgent climate action is not taken. This included an urgently needed reassessment of our firefighting practices.

UGLN through Fencers Without Boundaries is still actively seeking volunteers and donations to assist landowners impacted by the 2026 Longwood Fires in the Murrindindi and surrounding shires and is calling out for skilled and unskilled volunteers to assist. For more information contact Chris Cobern on 0413 855 490 or by email ugln.projects@ugln.net

On the fire theme, UGLN is currently working with others to provide assistance with updated post fire landscape restoration information.

Get our free booklet

“Caring for Your Patch” covering backyard garden design, food growing, plant selection, weed and pest animal management and more, is available from Kinglake Library, KRNH, Kinglake Heritage Centre, local garden suppliers, Landcare events, some local shops and servos, or online from our website kinglakelandcare.org.

Membership

New members can contact Landcare through our website kinglakelandcare.org to join for $11 per year. Alternatively, you can be added to our free “friends” mailing list for notification of events.

Coming up

Our KLG National Tree Day planting is on Sunday 2^nd August 10am-12pm at the Kinglake Community Centre, Extons Road.

National Tree Day activities with the three Kinglake schools will be held in July and we have been preparing a special site near the community centre for the Middle Kinglake Primary School planting (more details next MM).

Other activities will be advised by email or on our website.

We will also be attending the Kids Teaching Kids Conference in Yea on 1^st September.

Next meeting: 7.30pm Monday 21^st September upstairs at Kinglake Memorial Reserve Hall. A spring welcome to all after the winter break.