Natural Resources Conservation League

WHAT'S HAPPENING
IN THE WINTER WONDERLAND OF WARBURTON

Warburton is full of surprises at this time of year.

Not only do we have the luxury of providing the tourists with the closest snow for Day Trippers at Mt Donna Buang but the town seems to awake to a new season.

The 26th Annual Warburton Film Festival took place on 12th-14th June 2009 at the Warburton Arts Centre. The theatre was jammed packed for the three day event capturing the imagination of young film makers through the hugely successful SHOW US YOUR SHORTS Film Competition (NRCL is the proud sponsors of the Environmental Film Awards Category) right through to include discussions with film makers about their films, an assorted box of tasty Australian and Overseas films together with fine dining opportunities at the Gala Dinner on Saturday night.

Student Visits

The Autumn quarter has seen 2316 students experience forest life first hand with our hands on approach to Environmental Education here at Warburton's Environment Discovery Centre.

Arbor Week 2009

Congratulations to the following schools who have been chosen to participate in Arbor Week

CHUM CREEK Primary School
DIXONS CREEK Primary School
WARBURTON Primary School
MILWARRA - EAST WARBURTON Primary School
YERING Primary School

WARM UP WITH SOME WINTER WOOLIES FROM OUR ECO SHOP

While you are in Warburton and feeling the cold why not take a look at the new arrivals in our Eco Shop. There is now an array of stylish accessories that will make you stand out when you are enjoying the snow or taking a leisurely walk along the Yarra river while looking out for the platypus that live there.

Over the winter season enjoy a 10% discount on wearable garments. If this is not for you then our Eco Shop has many other trinkets that you can purchase and take back home to remember your time here at Warburton.

EDUCATION WEEK 2009

NRCL applied for and was successful in obtaining a grant from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. This grant enabled NRCL is provide two free environmental education programs to two lucky schools.

The two schools that came to Warburton and participated in our Inside Forest Programs were Tintervale Primary School and Mt Waverley North Primary School. NRCL provided these schools with a free excursion program and free travel too and from our centre here at Warburton. Much was gained by these schools on the day and Tintervale was impressed so much that it brought up and extra 75 students on the day to explore the forests of Warburton and learn about ecosystems.

WILD WARBURTON ECO TOURS

Our Eco Tours have finally kicked off and we have recently seen the first of hopefully many with The Shire of Stonnington providing a coach load of senior citizens to come and experience one of our many tours into the superb surroundings of the Skywalk Gallery in the Yarra Ranges National Park.

Our Tours can be catered to meet the needs of your group and for the affordable price of $10.00 per person with a minimum of 20 people this certainly provides for two hours of nonstop entertainment and education both for young and old. The Shire of Stonnington group was so impressed that they have now booked for a second tour in July this year.

FLORA of the MONTH

Blanket Leaf

A tall shrub to 7m high with large, drooping, soft lanceolate leaves with loose clusters of small yellow daisy heads in late spring and early summer.

It is a common component of the wet sclerophyll forests, particularly in fern gullies and on rainforest margins.

This plant is also known as 'Bushman's Dunny Paper' for the quality of its leaves.

FAUNA of the MONTH

Boobook Owl

Smallest of the Australian Owl species, and renowned for its acrobatic skills when hunting its prey. The entire prey is swallowed and indigestible parts are regurgitated as a pellet at a later date.

The call sounds like 'boo-book'. Their small, soft feathers eliminate the sound of their wings flapping, allowing them to successfully swoop unsuspecting prey. Nests are built in tree hollows.