Practical: Microscope work

Session 1: Introduction to the soil food web.

Session 2: Soil microbiology

Western Port Biosphere

The Biosphere’s Water Stewardship Project Officer Lance Lloyd will provide an overview of the Water Stewardship Program and how you can be involved

Water Stewards

Hear from current Biosphere Water Stewards including Lisa Brassington (Peninsula Fresh Organics) who will share how water stewardship activities have benefited their properties

Keynote Presentation

Professor John Langford AM, Chair, Alliance for Water Stewardship – Asia Pacific and Honorary Professorial Fellow, School of Engineering, University of Melbourne “Water Stewardship in an International Context”

This will be followed by the 2017 Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve Foundation Ltd Annual General Meeting

• 9.30am Water Stewardship Forum Registration
• 10.00 am Water Stewardship Forum Start
• 11.00am AGM Registration & Morning Tea
• 11.30am Keynote Presentation
• 12.15pm Lunch
• 1.00pm AGM

We hope that you can join us for this special day

Date: Thursday 16 November, 2017

Time: 9.30am to 2.30pm

Where: Tarnuk Room, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, Botanic Drive, Cranbourne

Cost: Free, however bookings are essential

RSVP: admin@biosphere.org.au by Wednesday 8 November 2017. Please advise of any dietary requirements when you RSVP

Music on the Grass

• Live music
• Market stalls
• BBQ
• Children’s activities

Featuring Bec Hance — Country music artist

This trial began as a conversion of an inter-row to native grasses and following this, a mix of native groundcover species were added to improve coverage and weed suppression.
In addition to being a perennial native groundcover they can also provide habitat for beneficial insects.
Come along and hear Karen Thomas and Red Hill Cherry Farm’s Trevor Holmes discuss the pros and cons and how these have been adapted throughout the trial.

Wildlife Victoria are running a free educational session for local community.

We hope that local community members will come along and learn about the wonderful wildlife in our backyards. We also have Jen from the local Mange Management Group joining us to talk about a very concerning issue for local wombats – mange, and how it can be treated and prevented.

Jean Paul and Johanna have managed their farm with the same level of detail that has given their famed restaurant France-Soir so much success.  Over the past 11 years, Jean Paul, Johanna and Grant Bennett have improved the property layout, focusing on healthy soil with the extensive use of the Soilkee pasture renovator.  Also planting extensive shelter belts and tree corridors for the improvement of stock conditions and providing warmer pasture.

They are opening their farm for the day to share their story and a passion for the land and animals.

Refreshments and afternoon tea at the end of the day.

BBQ at 6pm