08/05/2026
Learning on the grasslands: field work edition.
Last week students from Federation University travelled to Woorndoo as part of their Landscape restoration and mine site rehabilitation subject to learn about native grasslands in the region.
While there is not much to see at this time of year, the group were able to see grasslands in their dormant state and post-burning to encourage species regeneration.
Students heard from John Delpratt and Susan Bosch about what the Woorndoo- Chatsworth Landcare group do, focusing on the grassland restoration work they have been doing for over 13 years.
The students visited the first restoration site, completed in 2013 by the Woorndoo Chatsworth Landcare Group, learning about species sown, and the difficulties around seed harvesting which have been refined in the years since.
The group also visited David Franklins Grassland Flora nursery where students saw the Saving 17 species threatened species seed production area, and the CMA's Ben Zeeman spoke about the species and how their seed is being used in projects across the VVP now.
The final visit was to a restoration sites on Penshurst Dunkeld Rd where a low diversity seed mix used on these sites and students could see how the restoration area had been scalped to remove the topsoil to reduce fertility levels and w**d seed burden.
It was here students learned about the monitoring program in conjunction with La Trobe University, and the tile grids which are used for fauna monitoring and providing refuge for animals when the cracks in the soil close up in the cooler months.
All the project sites visited by the students reiterated the important of partnerships between individuals, communities, Landcare, and government organisations.
Federation University Australia
La Trobe University
Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Woorndoo Chatsworth Landcare Group
