The Bellarine Rail Trail Fellows Rd Revegetation and Environment day was recently held. Soaking rain the night before proved the perfect preparation for soft soil for planting.
Groundplane Opera will land in McLeod Street North Geelong
There will be more than Lights On in the Industrial area of North Geelong as you walk this land Friday night 4 May as a part of Mountain to Mouth.
Walking this Land: explore the Songline Stations Art
As you know, Mountain to Mouth is an 80km extreme arts walk. The 2018 theme, Earth, is reflected in all art installations along the walk. Each of the Songline Stations represent the local community in which the Stations are located.
The Sum of Many Parts: Bellarine Communities Come Together to create Mountain to Mouth 2018
Greening the Songline
Top 5 reasons to go to Mountain to Mouth 2016 this weekend
1 - Art like you've never seen it before!
From beaches to farmlands to wetlands to ancient mountaintops, prepare to experience extreme arts in extreme and unexpected environments. The ephemeral art installations at Mountain to Mouth 2016 vary dramatically in style, genre and aesthetic.
They reflect the history of the area as well as addressing issues facing the environment of their setting. Mountain to Mouth 2016 is an unmissable chance to view these unique works which exist so temporarily.
2 - Help us replant the land!
50% of tickets sold to Mountain to Mouth 2016 go towards funding an indigenous revegetation program across the Geelong and Queenscliff region.
This initiative will help retain the regions natural beauty, its biodiversity and ecological future. By walking this land, you're helping to preserve its future.
3 - Discover the land!
This is an opportunity to experience and discover the Geelong and Queenscliff regions in a very personal yet communal way.
The diversity of this region will startle and move you, with iconic coastal beaches, rural farmlands, industrial ports and more all along the route of the walk. This walk allows you to forge a bond with the land and its various intricacies.
4 - Get fit!
What better way to motivate you to embark upon a significant physical challenge than to see Extreme Arts, protect the environment and discover the land?
The same question with the different aspects of it rearranged can be posed to just as great of an effect. That is what makes Mountain to Mouth so special and unique. You can choose the distance, and you can choose the challenge.
5 - Connect with history
Discovery is a large component of this event. By witnessing the different areas of the region, you discover more about the nature of its past, its present and the reality of its future through the narratives told by the artists, local historians and indigenous elders.
One final reason: Mountain to Mouth only occurs every two years, don't miss out!
Mountain to Mouth (6-7 May) is Geelong's multi-award winning journey of discovery, an 80km walk over two days and 11 stages. Register Now
Green Corridor Strategy kicks off!
Half of all tickets sold at Mountain to Mouth 2016 go towards funding a planting program of indigenous species along the 80km walk, called the Green Corridor strategy. It is a long term vision focused on connecting local communities and revegetation organisations together, in order to help revegetate local habitats and retain the regions natural beauty.
Today the Mountain to Mouth team, Karingal Foundation, Parks Victoria and an entourage of over 40 volunteers successfully conducted the first major planting at Big Rock in the You Yangs, an important site for indigenous heritage, ecology and the starting point for the Extreme Arts walk.
650 indigenous flora were planted over two sessions, helping the ecology of the You Yangs to get back on track. Matt Crawley, one of Mountain to Mouth 2016's district coordinators and part of the Bellarine Landcare Group, said the area contained a lot of biodiversity but the ground-level plant life has become sparse due to pests like rabbits.
The planting has seen 150 bidgee widgees, 50 snowy mint-bushes, 250 pots of kangaroos grass and 200 pots of basket grass reintroduced to the area, which will initiate a positive chain reaction for the local environment, including giving natural wildlife such as kangaroos the ideal plant life to graze on.
Suzette Jackson is the Green Corridor coordinator, responsible for overseeing this very important aspect of the Mountain to Mouth project. She has been instrumental in numerous regional sustainability initiatives in the Geelong region and is a director of Innate Ecology. With a strong focus on sustainable living and healthy regions, she is excited to have initiated the project with such success and enthusiasm from partners and volunteers.
Suzette Jackson addressing the planting team.
Tamara Karner, a team leader at Parks Victoria who is responsible for the You Yangs regional park, says they are ecstatic to have plant life reintroduced to the area after so many years without it. A rabbit-proof fence is being installed to ensure the new plants are not decimated by the pests.
Esther Konings-Oakes, the district coordinator for the Songline Station at the You Yangs will coordinate volunteers to maintain the planting in the lead up to event. This team will also clear the ceremonial circle of noxious weeds and debris in time for Mountain to Mouth 2016's indigenous dance and welcoming ceremony, "Gathering of the Elders". She is in the process of organising regular days where volunteers get together to maintain this important and treasured environment.
The upcoming installation of Mountain to Mouth walking maps and signage at a number of sites will encourage year-round walking of the Contemporary Songline.
Mountain to Mouth is Geelong's multi-award winning journey of discovery, an 80km walk over two days and 11 stages. Register now.
