Coastcare Summer by The Sea Educational Walk
2026-01-08 09:15 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Koonya Beach lower carpark
Join Blairgowrie Friends of Mornington Peninsula National Park to celebrate 30 years of Summer by the Sea!

We will explore Koonya Beach, Mornington Peninsula National Park and the habitats of Hooded Plovers, southern long-nosed bandicoots, Blue-tongued skinks, and many other iconic local native birds, animals, and plants.
The walk will follow the historic Peninsula Life-saving Track over the undulating coastal dune landscape from sheltered grasslands and protective scrub to the exposed cliffs and Koonya Ocean Beach.
Hosted by volunteers from Blairgowrie Friends of Mornington Peninsula National Park and Friends of the Hooded Plover, who will provide expert guidance. These groups and volunteers are dedicated to helping the local birds, animals, and plants face modern-day challenges.
Lunch will be provided following the walk, with an opportunity for questions, conversations and gathering further information.
Meet: The walk will start from the public toilet block near the Koonya Beach lower carpark.
Please bring:

weather protection, including sunscreen, hats and raincoats
walking shoes, closed toe no slip shoes
a water bottle
insect protection
binoculars

Contact:
Norm O’Brien – 0419290857
Age restrictions:
Open to all ages.
A guardian must accompany children under the age of 16. Please be advised that every person attending this activity (including the guardian accompanying the child) must have a ticket to attend this activity. If the guardian is yet to register for a ticket, please register for a ticket immediately.
Cancellations:
If you can no longer attend an activity you are registered for, please cancel your ticket so our activity leader knows and does not wait for you to arrive, and the ticket can be allocated to the waitlist.
This activity may be cancelled at short notice due to extreme weather conditions or changes in Victorian Government public health guidelines. You will be contacted if the activity is cancelled.
About:
Now in its 30th year, Summer by the Sea offers fun, educational activities along Victoria’s coastline. With the 2026 theme ‘The coast, the sea, and our community’, the program gives people the chance to explore our coastal and marine environments and learn how to help protect them for future generations.
Proudly supported by Coastcare Victoria and the Victorian Government, activities are delivered in partnership with environmental organisations and led by friendly, experienced, first aid–trained hosts.

RESCHEDULED- Working Bee in Greens Bush National Park
2026-01-10 09:00 - 12:00
Starting the year with our annual Ragwort control, see details below.

Cultural Awareness Training with Jillian West
2026-03-19 09:15 | Balnarring Community Hall, 3035 Frankston-Flinders Road, Balnarring, Victoria, Australia

Women's Weaving Workshop
2026-01-23 00:00
Join us for a dedicated Women’s Weaving Workshop in Bernie’s Biolink with Skyla Lauch of Living Culture

The Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network, through it’s “Learning from the past – Looking to the Future” project, funded by Landcare Victoria, is delighted to offer this Women’s Weaving Workshop to our wonderful (female) Landcarers.
Learn the art of basket weaving from Skyla, including traditional and modern weaving techniques, suitable for beginners to experienced weavers.
We will gather in the weaving paddock on a lovely private property, Warrak Farm, which was planted in 2021 as part of Bernie’s Biolink from Greens Bush to Arthurs Seat.
While weaving, we will foster healthy and respectful conversation, based on the following topics:

How can Landcare be more inclusive of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters while respecting their right to self-determination
Women in Conservation as drivers of change
Environment and Climate Change, the issues and opportunities

Morning tea and all weaving materials provided.
Cost: $20
Places are limited and bookings are essential, book your place here: Women’s Weaving Circle Tickets, Fri, Oct 9, 2026 at 9:30 AM | Eventbrite
Please BYO sunscreen and water bottle, and please wear suitable closed toe footwear, dressing to the conditions.

Our Survival Day with Our Songlines
2026-01-26 12:00 - 16:00 | The Briars, 450 Nepean Highway, Mt Martha, Victoria, 3934, Australia
In solidarity with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters – join Landcare at the Our Survival Day event on the 26 February, from 12pm

World Wetland Day Celebrations at Coolart
2026-01-31 09:30 - 16:00 | Coolart Wetland & Homestead, 40 Lord Somers Road, Somers, VIC, 3927, Australia
Come and say hello at the Landcare stall at the World Wetlands Day Event at Coolart Historic Wetlands and Homestead on Saturday 31 January 2026.
We will be hosting a special wetland themed puppet show. Come met Estelle the Short-finned eel and learn about her migration all the way from Coolart to the Coral Coast.
Landcare Puppet show times:

11.30am and
1.30pm (near the Coolart homestead)

World Wetland Day Program
9.45am
Welcome to Country
10.15am
We are extremely excited and proud to present the internationally renowned Ganga Giri and the Djarlo Dance Group
A powerful outdoor dance performance drawing on ancient rhythms, movement and connection to Country in the Coolart Gardens
Tickets $15 kids under 15 for free

10.00 am
Join Bunurong Land Council representatives and Western Port Biosphere Foundation and artist Gidja Walker OAM to celebrate the launch of a new guide supporting saltmarsh restoration and climate resilience in Western Port.
Free to attend but ticket required
11.00 am – 12.30 pm
A whimsical meander with artist and ecologist Gidja Walker OAM onsite at Coolart.
Tickets $15 – numbers limited to 20
11.30 am – 2.00 pm
Creative, wetland-inspired making for kids — hands-on, playful and educational – 5 yrs and above. Two sessions run for 45mins – sign in on arrival at the info centre.
Tickets $10 numbers limited to 10 per class
12.00pm – 1.00 pm
Lance Lloyd – Wetlands, Water & Restoration Science
Join Restoration Scientist, Lance Lloyd, from the Western Port Biosphere Foundation as he shares learnings from decades of wetland repair and aquatic ecology,
Tickets $10
1.00 pm
Walk 1: Guided Wetland Tour
Discover the plants, birds and local wetlands with Ash Clinch, and learn how this living landscape has been shaped by people,water and time.
Tickets $15 – numbers limited to 15
1.00 pm
Walk 2: Collaborative Wetland Projects
Join a Lance Lloyd to learn about collaborative wetland projects improving water health and biodiversity across Western Port, and how restoration efforts are bringing these fragile ecosystems back to life.
Ticket $15 – numbers limited to 15
1.00 pm
Ian Wisken Walk : guided exploration of the Balbirooroo Wetlands, (meet at the carpark at Civic Court Balnarring) focusing onland stewardship and ecological renewal.
Tickets $15 – numbers limited to 20
1.00 to 3.00pm
Kate Gorringe Smith’s art quilt making workshop in the shearing shed. Participants are invited to add stitching and small contributions to a communal quilt – a shared symbol of care and comfort that grows across the weekend.
FREE: 10 places per half hour ticket required
3.00 – 4.00 pm
Members only Wetlands complementary drink by the Homestead
2.00 – 4.00 pm
Learn to Draw with Bruce Baldwin. Slow down and learn to draw Coolart’s animals and wetland life in this relaxed, nature-based drawing session.
Tickets $45 – numbers limited to 12

Koonya Grassy Bowl Working Bee with BFMPNP
2026-02-01 09:00 - 11:00 | Koonya beach lower carpark, Koonya Ocean Beach (lower carpark) Hughes Road, Blairgowrie
Join the Blairgowrie Friends of Mornington Peninsula National Park for the first working bee of the year.
They will be revisiting the Koonya Grassy Bowl (aka Koonya Calcareous Swale), to remove some cut polygala and scope out our weeding and revegetation work programs for 2026.
Please bring sun protection, water, boots and gloves. Morning tea follows.
Meeting at the Koonya Ocean Beach lower carpark.

Propagating Native Plants Workshop
2026-02-21 09:30 - 11:30 | Shoreham Bush Nursery, 39-45 Blake Street, Shoreham
Kate Skvor will present this workshop at her nursery in Shoreham.
This workshop is for a limited number of participants and there will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions and explore Kate’s vast knowledge and experience growing indigenous plants.
There will be information on demonstrations of:

various methods of sowing seed i.e. broadcasting, in cell trays, direct sowing
labelling and recoding planted seeds
propagation using cuttings

Tea, coffee and morning tea provided
Cost: MP Equine Landcare Members $10, Non-members $15
For further details and to register please email: mpequinelandcare@gmail.com

Red Hill Show
2026-03-07 08:30 - 16:00 | Red Hill Recreation Reserve, 184 Arthurs Seat Road, Arthurs Seat, VIC, 3937, Australia
The 98th Red Hill Show, proudly presented by the Red Hill Agricultural & Horticultural Society will be held on SATURDAY, 7th MARCH 2026 from 8.30am-4pm.
Come and say hello at the joint MPLN and MP Koala Conservation Landcare stall.
Early Bird Tickets are available at 98th Red Hill Show

Womin Djeka Festival
2026-03-14 10:00 - 17:00 | Emu Plains, 54 Coolart Road, Balnarring, VIC, 3926, Australia
A great family day out honouring and celebrating First Peoples Culture, Come and say hello to Merricks Coolart Catchment Landcare at the Caring for Country area, where we will also be presenting the ‘famous’ Landcare Puppet Show.

'Focus on Trees' Photography Workshop with Alison Pouliot
2026-03-15 09:00 - 15:00 | Endeavor Fern Gully, 195 Arthurs Seat Road, Red Hill, VIC, 3937
Trees provide intriguing yet challenging photographic subjects. Photographing them for their aesthetic or scientific qualities requires both an understanding of photographic techniques and an intimate knowledge of the subject.
Large old trees are also vital keystone structures in rural and urban landscapes. However, the value of these trees is often overlooked in planning such as road and fire management.
Documenting trees visually is important both as a scientific record and in garnering interest in their conservation.
This highly interactive workshop combines theory, critique, practical sessions and fieldwork to assist participants to improve both their technical and creative skills.
Suitable for arborists, park managers, landscape architects, conservationists, Landcarers, botanists, ecologists, and anybody who is interested in or loves trees!
People with all levels of knowledge and skill are welcome.
The workshop is presented by professional environmental photographer, author and ecologist, Dr Alison Pouliot.
Morning tea will be provided.
What to Bring

Lunch (as this will not be supplied)
Camera or phone – if you have one (optional) for use during the practical filed trip
Wear closed toe, sturdy footwear, and dress appropriately for the conditions
Sunscreen, hat

There is the possibility to pre-submit an image of a tree that we can collectively critique together during the workshop. By having your own shots and knowing how you took them, then receiving constructive and sensitive feedback can really help people advance their photography. Once you have enrolled, a PDF with instructions for submitting images will be emailed to you.
COST: $129
Bookings Essential: “Focus on Trees” Photography Workshop with Alison Pouliot Tickets, Sun, Mar 15, 2026 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite
Please note: This workshop is capped at 20 participants. In the event that we must cancel due to low registration numbers, refunds, minus a small booking fee payable to Eventbrite will be offered. The Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network cannot offer refunds for cancelled tickets.
