U3A GIG LaGerche Walk and Seedbank visit 7th February 2023.

 

La Gerche Gully Circuit Walk, Saw Pit Road, Creswick.  Morning Visit

The La Gerche Gully Circuit Walk takes you on a journey through time.  Sawpit Gully Plantation reveals the story of John La Gerche, Creswick’s first forester and one of Victoria’s first Landcarers.

Using his own initiative, La Gerche created a large and unique experimental plantation with a diverse range of conifers and deciduous trees.

John La Gerche’s vision for the future and enduring efforts were formally recognised when Sawpit Gully Nursery and Plantation area was listed as a Heritage Place in the Victorian Heritage Register, 14th November 2014.  



A BYO lunch was enjoyed by the group at Calembeen Park, Creswick.  The two beautiful lakes there are home to birdlife and waterlily displays.  Chinese miners first mined here for shallow alluvial gold between 1850s and 1860s.  Many walked the lakes, enjoying locals fishing, birdwatching and walking the local tracks.

Seeding Victoria Creswick Visit, Saw Pit Road, Creswick.  7th February afternoon visit.

The afternoon was spent at Seeding Victoria, Creswick, which is a not for profit organisation.  Elle is the manager of the former Ballarat Regional Seed Bank (BRSB) which was established in 1994 at the Victorian Landcare Centre, Creswick.  With its many years’ experience in the seed industry the seed bank has consistently demonstrated its ability to deliver appropriately sourced indigenous seed revegetation works through the state.  In February 2009 the organisation changed its name to Seeding Victoria Inc. to reflect the changing focus of the organisation.

Elle covered the history of Seeding Victoria then taking us on a tour of the dry house, the plantings, as well as the cool room that house all the seeds.  What an eye opener to many of our group understanding the painstaking work involved in the collection, processing and holding of seeds ready for sale to local councils, VicRoads, large private acreages and catchments.  Thanks so much to Elle for her knowledge and enthusiasm. 




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