It's Landcare Week — and there's a lot to celebrate in Mansfield

This week (3–9 August) marks National Landcare Week, and Up2Us are pausing to recognise the people who make Landcare in the Mansfield Shire what it is: our landholders, volunteers, farmers and affiliated groups who look after the land we all share.

This year's theme is "Experience Landcare," and looking back over the past twelve months, that's exactly what our community has been doing. We've watched revegetation take shape on both private properties and public land, from Howes Creek to Tolmie, and around community sites like Paxton's Reserve and the Mullum Wetlands. We've been building nest boxes for wildlife displaced by the Longwood and Goomalibie fires, running a Women in Ag series that's brought more local women into conversations about land management, and keeping up the fight against woody weeds. Field days, webinars and our education programs have kept us busy right through winter too, with sessions like Earth Kinder at Mullum Wetlands, helping the next generation build a connection to the land early. And we're especially proud to see Delatite Landcare Group release the third edition of their Local plants guide — a brilliant resource years in the making.

None of that happens without the groups behind it. Delatite, Howqua Valley, Fords Creek, Friends of the Great Victorian Rail Trail and Upper Broken River Landcare Group are just some of the local groups doing Landcare work across the Shire, each bringing their own local knowledge to the table — whether that's Howqua Valley members learning to test their river's water quality, or Fords Creek members working to control weeds in their own corner.

Landcare Week is also a good moment to say: you don't need acres of your own or years of experience to get involved. Whether you're keen to join a planting day, come along to a field day, or simply want to know what's happening on the ground near you, there's a place to start. And if you're a landholder, keep an eye out for support like our subsidised tree guards and Paterson's Curse control program — there's often more help available than people realise.

If you're new to the area or new to Landcare altogether, get in touch — we'd love to show you what's happening and help you find a group or project that suits you. Every pair of hands makes a difference, and this week is as good a time as any to lend yours.