Watershed plans for year ahead
Watershed Landcare remains an active community group driven by members interests and community needs. Feedback on last year's activities has been very positive and we are looking forward to another busy year.
Nineteen landcarers got together last Saturday to review a busy and successful 2015 with another full year taking shape.
The Watershed Landcare Executive Committee and some members were joined by representatives from Mid Western Regional Council, Central Tablelands Local Land Services, Friends of Adams Lead, and the Australian Rural Education Centre for the annual Strategy Planning day.
Highlights from last year included Green Day, the Mudgee Small Farm Field Days lecture series and the Productive Gardens & Sustainable Homes tours, and these activities will continue to feature in Watershed's calendar in 2016.
The Communities of Practice groups, the Mudgee Microscope Group and Grazing Group, also remain a strong focus, bringing together diverse groups of people with similar goals.
The Mudgee Microscope Group are farmers and land managers with a common interest in soil health. They get together to explore various topics which in 2015 included Natural Sequence Farming, Keyline design, and sheep gut biology and how this is linked to biodiversity.
The Grazing Group are local graziers who meet on-farm, 4 times a year for a candid discussion of livestock and grazing management and marketing.
These projects are partially funded though Watershed Landcare, the Australian Government's 25th Anniversary Landcare Grants and the Central Tablelands Local Land Services.
As well as evaluating previous programs, participants brainstormed project ideas and priorities for 2016.
Bees and soil health featured prominently in the workshop and activity ideas for the upcoming year and information, education and field days for small area farmers were also identified as a priority area.
If you would like more information about any of our projects or would like to join one of our special interest groups contact our Coordinator, Agness Knapik, on 0435 055 493 or info@watershedlandcer.com.au
Keep an eye on our Catchment Corner column for news and upcoming events, workshops and seminars.