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Timeline Detailing Important Achievements

  • 2025

    Year in progress...

    • Received bad news re success of last years Bryan’s Swamp SPA planting where less than 30 banksias survived from about 350 – various possible factors including drought and crickets to blame). SPA replanted in July with over 20 vounteers helping over the 2 days.
    • Approximately 2700 plants were grown and distributed. Plantings included a new kangaroo proof guarded banksia SPA near Bryans Swamp north form Dunkeld.
    • Collected seed also distributed to other nurseries and Seed Bank. This continues on from previous year – 4 nurseries received seed.
    • March Committee met at Penshurst to discuss and makes plans for this years activities including possible expenditure of current landcare grant, planting sites  (including Brown’s Swamp SPA, Hume City Council, Mooramong, CCMA, Budj Bim, SPA replacements and about 15 other possible locations), successful seed collections for all 3 keystone species at several of the SPA sites, upcoming research projects including Tony Mahony’s  donation which is to be used to investigate genetics comparisons of the Dreeite banksias and other ‘central survivors’.
  • 2024

    More Successful Grant Applications, Plantings and Forums.

    • Just over 3,300 plants were grown – FoFW planted 966 at 15 different locations and we also distributed 2,319 to 31 locations for planting.  Plantings included a new kangaroo proof guarded banksia SPA near Bryans Swamp north form Dunkeld with approximately 350 ot the 500 required banksias planted. To be completed next year.

    • Successful LANDCARE VICTORIA GRANT APPLICATION ($19,308 in total) submitted in April. Budget items include requested funding for more research into genetics of Climate Matching impact on SPA plantings; continued upgrading of our Data and Mapping files and also for materials and other costs to continue propagation and planting activities.
    • FOFW BANKSIA FORUM conducted May 2nd at Mt Sturgeon Woolshed, Dunkeld. This was the second such Forum conducted by FoFW. This Forum updated members, supporters and other interested individuals and businesses about FoFW activities over the past 5 years. With over 60 attendees this was another very successful event. The morning and early afternoon program included speakers about Banksia drought tolerance research trial, Banksia Pollinators, Use of cuttings in Banksia marginata propagation, Climate matching and other current FOFW research projects, GIS mapping of FOFW project plantings, Lessons learnt along the way and a Q&A – Open Forum session. The rest of the afternoon included visits to two planting site – firstly the Dunkeld Pastoral Banksia SPA first planted in 2014 and then the Long Point planting based on old paintings by Von Guerard and also Chevalier.
  • 2023

    A Year of Consolidation and Continued Growth.

    • Landcare Grant of $5,934 received providing funds for genetic profiling, materials and other costs for propagation and planting activities and for a Banksia Forum.
    • More than 13 working bees were conducted for a variety of purposes (eg cutting wire netting guards, planting and sorting trees) across many different locations (eg Yatchaw, Stockyard Hill and Glenelg Hwy near Wickliffe) See 2023 Presidents Report. The Purdeet planting was another example of one of last year’s successful working bees.
    • The replacement of plants that have died in both SPA’s and other Seed Orchards continues to be an annual priority. This year In excess of 800 spots have been planted across 8 different locations. GPS data and GIS Mapping allow these to be replanted with the same provenance where possible and always recorded in our ever expanding data base. Sheoak, Bursaria and Banksia are all subject to replacement plantings.
    • Frank continued to propagate remnant banksias from cuttings and encourage others to join his ‘Cuttings Group’. See story about the Pomborneit Remnant Banksia Protection.
  • 2022

    Drought Tolerance Data Collection, Remnants, Wire Guarding, Bus Tour.

    • Banksias SPA planted at Moreland, on the Melton plains.
    • Conducted bus tour of orchard sites in May … included Mt Elephant SPA and also Tiverton (Dundonnell) to take cuttings from the remaining Banksias that were planted as a special orchard in 1989.
    • Sadly, of the 16 Banksia originally planted only 3 are surviving. This is a very common tale that so many of the remnant Banksias that were alive in 1990/2000 are now dead – such as Dreeite, Mt Noorat, Terrinallum South, Stonyford etc, etc, etc.
    • Several more remnants we had not been aware of have been located recently, hopefully there are more to emerge.  Sadly the new remnants are also just sole survivors.
    • Wire guarded all 740 trees planted last year just west of Lake Bolac. This was required to protect trees from kangaroo grazing. This was a huge job. All required replacement trees were also planted – as at other sites including Mt Elephant SPA.
    • Stockyard Hill planting area was extended to include Black Swamp and other sections of the old stock droving route.
    • Applied for another State Government grant through Landcare funding for $5934 – and we estimated our own collective volunteer contribution of time and other inputs for 2022 at close to 10 times that figure.
    • Drought tolerance trial run at Deakin University by Adam Miller and third year honours student Maddy Twomey is completed but still lots of collected data to be analysed before final report is made available to FoFW – hopefully in first half of 2023.
    • Maddy applied for her PhD based on the extensive level of data collected from the Banksia Drought Tolerance Trail established for FoFW.
    • Article about FOFW project printed in CCMA publication ‘Plains Facts’ Summer 22 edition.
  • 2021

    13 Working Bees, New Planting Sites, Drought Tolerance Trial.

    • FoFW planted just under 2000 trees across new and old sites and distributed a further 2730 for planting at interested landowners.
    • As usual replacement plantings occurred at all SPA’s as well as at selected Seed Orchard plantings such as the Glenelg Highway planting west from Skipton.
    • A major planting of 740 trees of all 3 keystone species was in the Glenelg Highway road reserve just to the west of Lake Bolac.  VicRoads were again the supporting partner.
    • The Yatchaw rail reserve planting (860 planted) is the first time we have planted an area with a significant remnant Banksia population.  It is worth recording that there was discussion about whether we preserved the genetic integrity of that remnant, or brought in more diversity, or even added climate match capability.  We planted Yatchaw and Pierrepoint Banksias within the area of the existing remnants, and these and four other local provenances were predominantly planted throughout.   A smaller number of VVP Banksias from drier areas were scattered through the rest of the planting, and Climate match genetics was added towards the two ends of the planting.   So the potential for genetic contribution exists, but the genetics of the remnant cannot be swamped.   There were no Sheoaks or Bursarias present, and we added some of both species for greater ecological diversity and capacity.   
    • Other new planting sites included:
      • Roadside at Stockyard Hill – with the support of Pyrenees Shire staff
      • Hopkins Hill near Chatsworth.
      • Partnering with Nature Glenelg Trust at Long Point near Dunkeld.   200 trees were planted in kangaroo proof guards during a working bee.   This is an exciting project restoring the three species to a landscape painted in the 1860s by von Guerard and Chevalier. Sheoaks and Bursarias are shown clearly in the paintings, and next year we will replant the Sheoak groves depicted.
    • The Corangamite CMA again are great partners in our project, with 968 trees going this year to 17 sites.   As well, they have alerted us to several remnant populations, and we are propagating one for use in 2022. 
    • FoFW have been asked to propagate 500 Banksias for an SPA planting at Moreland, on the Melton plains in 2022.   We are pleased to help and be involved with this project in the driest sector of the VVP. 
    • Successful application for another CVA grant, to run until September 2022.  We were given the $22,199 we applied for – including provision for 400 kangaroo proof guards to use at Long Point, and a tablet to use in the field to access our database on site, and add records on site.  The grant also provides for the expected expenses in propagation and planting, and the project in general.
    • Commenced a Banksia Drought Tolerance Trial run at Deakin University by Adam Miller and third year honours student Maddy Twomey.  This was funded, with approval, after we asked to use some grant funding allocated to propagation and fencing in our original CVA 2017 grant.  We were able to engage Deakin University to conduct drought tolerance trials across a number of selected Banksia provenances.  Several of us helped set this up, and then helped with gathering the data.  A number of provenances were propagated, and then grown under two watering regimes.
    • We anticipate that this trail will provide a very good picture of the differences in drought tolerance of Banksia remnants across a wide geographic area.  This is very useful knowledge as we plan future plantings, giving us confidence that we are doing the best to ensure survival of the species in the face of a drying climate. 
    • We also give a shout out to Maddy in particular – there is much more work than anyone envisaged even to this stage.
    • Chris Wilson continues to build and maintain our database.  We are steadily getting the records in and updating them, but it is not complete at present.  When we have the database up to date, we will be able to to revue what we have done towards securing the genetics of the remnants and also potentially have the capacity to communicate with public land authorities and other interested parties regarding these remnants on public land.
    • Intuitively we have started moving focus to broadening the style of plantings to consider landscape and ecology,  and incorporating other Forgotten Woodland species.
    • FoFW have also started GPSing and building a database for the remnants.
    • Nothing happens without volunteers and great partner organisations/landowners. This year we had 13 working bees – 10 planting and 3 at Deakin University for the drought tolerance trial.
    • Received the annual GHCMA Landcare Grant to support our administrative costs.
    • We are grateful to Jane Calvert who was instrumental in a donation of $5000 to us from the local landcare (Hopkins Hill/Chatsworth) group.  This is an extremely helpful donation.
    • FoFW article in CCMA ‘Plains Facts’ newsletter.
  • 2020

    GPS Provenance Recording & Database Setup, Signage & Plantings.

    • Started the planting season with close to 8000 trees to plant ourselves and also to distribute to other interested landowners.
    • Covid arrived and restrictions had an impact on ability to collect seed and organise volunteer activities during the year.
    • Successfully applied for a Wannon Electorate Communities Environment Program grant of $8250. These funds have been used to reimburse out of pocket seed collection, propagation and planting costs. Significant amounts have been used for the verbally contracted nursery propagation, workshop, signs, research and database costs.
    • Chris Wilson contracted to set up a database for us, and install our GPS records. This provides security of our records for FoFW, including detailed maps of our planted sites.  In the future, the ability to share our records with other relevant organisations eg VicRoads, CCMA’s and LGA’s is also seen as highly desirable.
    • BOGA Grant final report submitted and accepted. FoFW over achieved on initial grant application objectives.
    • During 2020 we established major plantings at Yatchaw and Stoneleigh, new SPAs at Mt Sturgeon and Mt Elephant, a new Banksia seed orchard at Yurnga, Dunkeld, and replaced all deaths in all orchards and SPAs.
    • FoFW planted and GPS and provenance recorded close to 3800 at 15 locations.  We now have 34 separate orchards or SPAs planted, with all trees provenance and GPS recorded.
    • 17 of these are on public land, and 17 on private land.
    • We were able to also distribute more than 3800 for planting at 43 sites.
    • We have 6075 planting spots GPS and provenance recorded, with 3281 to add for 2020. So at present we have 9356 recorded trees growing, and in addition have distributed 10,250 trees to 55 landowners.
    • The Mt Leura committee collects first banksia seeds from its Seed Orchard which commenced planting in 2014. Bill does likewise at the Lake Bolac 2014 planting.
    • These achievements are extremely significant when you consider the estimated remaining VVP remnant numbers for each of the 3 keystone species:
      • Approx. 1350 Banksia … BUT the Banksia numbers are misleading. Apart from the large but declining population of about 1000 at and near Colton’s Road (Hawkesdale), only about 100 old parents are represented in all the other populations.
      • Approx. 200 Sheoak
      • Approx. 1000 Bursaria
    • Removal of remnant Banksia stand at Ballan Rail Reserve for track upgrade highlights the need and value of FoFW activities. Fortunately FoFW had propagated and planted some at a few sites from seed collected from the old trees before they were removed. Collected. Great work Bill.
    • FoFW signage installed at Glenelg Highway planting near Skipton, at Mt Leura, Mt Elephant and other locations.
  • 2019

    Banksia Forum, Building Knowledge Bank, Volunteer Base & Plantings.

    • During the planting season, 2420 trees were planted by FoFW in 15 locations plus  a further 3388 across 22 private landholder sites.
    • The Mt Elephant SPA was commenced with 500 Banksia and the first 250 Sheoak. Once again, such a planting was only possible due to the support of the land manager (the Mt Elephant committee) and the willing volunteers who prepared the site and also attended the planting days.
    • The Bursaria SPA at Mt Sturgeon, Dunkeld was also added.
    • FoFW were Highly Commended in the Glenelg Hopkins CMA Environmental Achievers Awards.
    • Research grant obtained from the Wettenhall Environment Trust to cover costs of a genetic analysis of continuous Banksia populations, investigating extent of gene movement through the population. This research, undertaken by Adam Mill (Deakin Uni, Warrnambool) is highly relevant to our work, and to work also being undertaken at present by researcher Graham Jury on pollination of Banksia.
    • FoFW continue to build the knowledge bank which is also part of our aim and purpose, and also underpins the effectiveness of any plan for propagation and planting, and planting design. 
    • Conducted a Banksia Forum held at Dunkeld Pastoral with approx. 60 in attendance. Keynote speakers included Adam Miller re the banksia genetic research undertaken and Martin Driver from Bring Back the Banksia organisation about other happenings in other parts of Victoria.
  • 2018

    Developing SPA's, Seed Orchards & Building Connections.

    • Some of our seed collected was placed with the Creswick Seed Bank (Seeding Victoria) and also to five nurseries to spread to load of growing for the 2019 planting season.
    • Some previously unrecorded populations were made known – widening our VVP genetic pool.
    • Adam Miller completed development of SPA design guidelines. ‘Guidelines for developing of Banksia seed orchards’ in consultation with other experienced geneticists, and using the invaluable experience learned from establishment of other Banksia plantings.
    • Presentation given to Forum at the Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI) along with several other BOGA grant recipients.
    • Dr Sacha Jellinek from Greening Australia spoke at our AGM, on climate change and assisting adaptation of plants to rapid climate change through deliberate introduction of adapted genetics from areas where predicted climate already exists. Our scientists moved a resolution that we proceed with climate matching introductions (which requires that we introduce plants from beyond the VVP), and the motion was passed unanimously. This is a significant change (development) from our collection and conservation of VVP genetics within the VVP.
    • In August we started the planting of two large 500 tree Seed Production Areas at Mt Sturgeon, Dunkeld.  The first SPA of Banksias required the additional expense and labour of having all trees guarded with kangaroo proof wire guards.
    • The SPA also includes 100 Banksias Climate Matched for 2050. This is the result of much work and planning. We have learned valuable lessons in the process. We believe this is the first SPA planted for Climate matching Banksias as part of a wider program across Victoria.
    • Several new seed orchard plantings were also undertaken including 625 trees on the Glenelg Highway west from Skipton – another of our Vic Roads sites. Exiting seed orchards had dead plants replaced and in some cases extended. Additional plants were again distributed to private landowners.
    • Overall, more than 4,500 Banksia, Bursaria and Sheoak were planted in 2018.
    • Approximately 6,000 FoFW trees have now been added to the VVP landscape.
  • 2017

    Grants, Analysis and Plantings.

    • Follow-up workshop held at Lake Bolac to continue process of sharing information. Dr Steve Sinclair (ARI and FoFW member) presented a detailed history of the distribution of Banksia marginata across the VVP. Steve’s research and modelling enabled him to prepare maps of early pre European distribution of banksias which provides us with a clear understanding of where these species existed in the landscape, how dense some populations were and reasons for their decline compared to current distribution. See Steve Sinclair Presentation at Lake Bolac FOFW 2017.
    • Successful application for a three (3) year $50,000 BOGA grant (Biodiversity On Ground Action) from Victorian Govt. Grant largely for expenses required to establish 33 seed orchards of Banksia, Drooping Sheoak and Sweet Bursaria.  Informative signage was also included in the grant over the next 3 years.
    • Glenelg Hopkins CMA ($30,000) and Corangamite CMA ($10,000) provided funds for genetic analysis of remnant Banksia populations, in particular those on the VVP. Research was led by FoFW member Adam Miller at Deakin University (Warrnambool) – ‘Summary- Genetic analysis of VVP Banksia marginata’ was published in late 2017 which found that this project is acting in just the nick of time to save these species..
    • First annual AGM conducted September 4th
    • During 2017, 1314 Banksia, Bursaria and Sheoak were planted by FoFW in 11 sites eg Foxhow Rd near Mt Myrtoon, Camperdown. All 1314 were individually GPS recorded with provenances recorded at the same time. An additional 525 plants were distributed to landowners- these were not GPS recorded.
    • During the year there was also a focus on establishing not just seed orchard sites but also establishing more scientifically established Seed Production Area plantings. With advice and input from practitioners and other geneticists, Adam Miller has taken on the task of setting up guidelines for Seed Production Area (SPA) design.
  • 2016

    Friends of the Forgotten Woodlands became incorporated.

    • Meetings conducted to establish a ‘friends of’ group and other relevant activities.
    • Friends of the Forgotten Woodlands became incorporated on 12 October 2016.
  • 2015

    LAKE BOLAC WORKSHOP

    • Workshop conducted at Lake Bolac to map out known remnants across the VVP. About 50 attendees from a wide range of organisations as well as other interested people. Meeting conducted under the banner of other newly created groups Bring back the Banksias and Save the Sheoaks.
  • 2014

    AGREEMENT TO ACT & FIRST PLANTINGS

    • Initial meeting (November), to begin concept of a friends group, recognise need to map out remnants of three keystone species of banksia: GHCMA, PV, DELWP, CCMA, Seeding Victoria, VicRoads, Pyrenees Shire Council, and groups listed above eg Mt Leura and Mt Sugarloaf Management Committee.
    • Agreement that we needed to act immediately to collect seed, propagate and start establishing seed orchards from the few isolated remnants on the VVP.
    • Early plantings for seed orchards using a mix of different banksia provenances were undertaken at the edge Lake Bolac and at Mt Leura, Camperdown.
  • PRE 2014

    MEETINGS HELD

    • Prior to the early meetings held in Hamilton to discuss the issue of loss of keystone species, especially Banksia marginata, Allocasuarina verticillata and Bursaria spinosa, across the Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP). There were numerous individuals/farmers, and many different groups – Mt Leura/Mt Sugarloaf Management Committee, Hamilton Field Naturalists, etc. – doing excellent works around this theme. These individuals and groups were collecting seed from known remnant populations of three key species, especially of Banksia marginata, and incorporating them into farm plantings, revegetation plantings (Mt Leura) or augmentation plantings (Yatchaw Rail Reserve, Twomey’s Bridge Rd for example). However, there had been no central group to bring/link all this collected information together.