COMING UP...
ABOUT ABUZZ!
- Come on your own or with a team!
- Everyone is welcome - whether you know nothing about our area or are a taxonomical scientific name nerd, you will learn and laugh!
- You don't need to prep!
- Don't be nervous - it's a wonderful community!
- You don't have to live in Nillumbik!
- This is going to be a hoot!
Read on for further details...
We've been very busy behind the scenes - advocating for better environmental outcomes via mechanisms connected with Nillumbik Shire Council (including budgets, pollution reduction, threatened species and reserve management, and various substantial policy documents), as well as State and Federal government. Although there are some wins, the work never ceases.
What we really love doing is learning and sharing, celebrating the wonderful flora, fauna, and fungi, and collaborating broadly.
So we have decided to dial up the energy and host a trivia night like no other.
It's Abuzz!
We'd love to see you there.
Spaces are limited so we ask that you book. We promise it'll be fun, informative, memorable, and hum with great community vibes.
We are still building our 'prize' pool which currently includes indigenous plants, artwork, books, and various quirky surprises.
This event is a funraising fundraiser.
Yes, you read that correctly.
It'll be fun, and we are also hoping to raise some much needed funds to pay for Nillumbio's raw running costs and other exciting conservation projects as funds allow.
We have held well over 50 events and actions which have been attended by 100s of people. All of them have been free for our community, and open to everyone. To date, we have covered all associated costs and put in enormous amounts of work.
It isn't sustainable... we need to prevent burnout.
Funds raised will covers costs such as this website (well used by the community), and communications platforms (so we can continue to hold events and webinars, discuss environmental issues and organise associated actions), and more.
We have many ideas for conservation projects and would love to hear from you if you have any thoughts or queries.
So, whether you are a botanical boffin, a faunal aficionado, or an incredible ignorant, smiles are guaranteed at Abuzz! Come along :-)
some RECENT EVENTS...
Friends of Biodiversity Hohnes Hill is hosting a night time
insect survey with the Entomological Society of Victoria.
SATURDAY novemBER 15, 8pm
Supported by Nillumbik Shire Council, the event has limited places available to better protect the environment and ensure a lovely evening for those who come... Please register - CLICK FOR LINK
tuesDay april 8 2025
magical moths & more
On Tuesday evening, Friends of Biodiversity Hohnes Hill will conduct a survey of night-flying insects. This has not been done in that area for quite a while, so it's rather exciting...
We have borrowed a fancy light that attracts insects for such surveys, and we have a very sophisticated white bed sheet on which the insects will rest. We will admire them, photograph them, and record other relevant details. Then we will turn off the lights and the lovely creatures will go about their usual business!
Why are we doing this?? Not only are insects spectacular in appearance, they're also brilliant indicators of ecosystem health.
Insect surveys can guide best management by providing information about what lives where.
What plants do these insects rely upon and are they in good health? What insects should be present but are not, and therefore what might our ecosystem be missing?
PLEASE NOTE:
Places are limited for this evening and registration is essential in order to attend. Details of precise time and location will be given after registration. We are doing this in order to care for the place and the creatures.
If you have any questions please email us.
Tadema Reserve is one of Nillumbik's special places and needs more of our attention. Tucked away in a residential area, it protects a small population of Eltham Copper Butterflies and important remnant vegetation.
Our weeding and planting efforts last year made significant difference to the reserve, and this time we are joining forces with Friends of St Helena Bush Reserve and Friends of ECB.
Come along, 10am - midday for another productive and fun morning.
Meet at the northern end of Eucalyptus Rd.
Questions? email friendsofbiodiversityhh@email.org.au
march 23 2025 10am
ACTION
AT
TADEMA
SATURDay FEBRUARY 15 2025
WETLAND WONDERS
Come along and explore the bounty and beauty of a local wetland and its connection to the broader landscape. Learn and observe its plants and creatures, their relationships and changes in seasonal cycles.
Focusing on indigenous insects will tickle your antennae. We’ll also discuss how simple actions can support better outcomes for our environment.
We are always thrilled by what we see here..
All ages and levels of knowledge are welcome.
If you have specific accessibility requirements please email us.
While we take all care to ensure your wellbeing (and encourage you to do the same for others), you remain responsible for yourself :-)
The night was Abuzz with brilliant talks, music, drawings, documentaries, poetry, photos, fabulous conversation and tasty treats. A beautiful evening. Deep gratitude for all our brilliant presenters and the eager crowd.
For details read the article in September's Manningham & Nillumbik Bulletin, page 19​
To see Fabian Douglas's slides, click here
To read poems by B Woodland Walters, click here​
To see photos of Stephanie Mortlock's beautiful drawings click here
Videos shown by Deb & Rob Oliver and Michael Smith can be seen on Nillumbio Youtube here
Local musicians Rodney Waterman, Tristan Pierce, and the Chocolate Lilies Choir also enriched the evening.
James' photos coming soon.
Nillumbik Council Elections 2024
Candidates & Biodiversity
candidate responses
CANDIDATE BIODIVERSITY SURVEY
We conducted a survey to give Nillumbik voters a window into Candidates’ preferences and promises for safeguarding the unique biodiversity of this beautiful Country we live on.
The survey was sent to all Candidates with publicly available contact details.
Click above to view results.
Click below to see survey questions.
We thank Zenith Psychology for providing the survey platform and support.
WHY?
Nillumbio seeks to enable a more informed community.
As such, we are partnering with Nillumbik Climate Action Team (NCAT) for an online candidate forum.
This forum will provide an opportunity to engage with candidates, learn of their objectives and pose questions.
We have also undertaken a candidate survey - with input from our community and a panel of 'assessors' - and will be sharing results in coming weeks. If you are on the mailing list you will receive details via email. We will also publish information on this webpage.
Local council elections are our chance to choose who represents our community on the issues we care about. Nillumbio believes that protecting and re-establishing biodiversity should be a top priority for all candidates.
​
We are non-partisan, and do not endorse any individual or political party. ​​​
SUNday AUGUST 4 2024
ENHANCING INSECT HABITATS IN YOUR BACKYARD
Discover the secrets to creating thriving insect habitats in your backyard.
Michael Smith invites the Nillumbio community to observe & participate in the transformation of his garden into a haven for local insects.
Learn and share strategies and techniques that enhance insect diversity. With the right conditions, these support birds, lizards, antechinus & more!
- Effective weeding techniques
- Thoughtful plant selection & optimal plant spacing
- Rock and log placement
- Importance of leaf litter and decomposing material
- Propagation of plants
- Restoration work in action - apply what you learn on site!​
We welcome all ages and levels of knowledge.
If you have specific accessibility requirements please email us.
While we take all care to ensure your wellbeing (and encourage you to do the same for others), you remain responsible for yourself :-)
Join our seasonally responsive walks where we'll focus on indigenous plants and animals, often sharing a strong relationship. Discover details of the Nillumbik bush, and simple ways you can make a difference.
for all
Join our online forums to learn about wombats, orchids, avian bone pins, relationships between plants and animals, how special Nillumbik's biodiversity is and much more...
WILD
ABOUT
WEEDS
Learn about local weeds, take part in their eradication and replace with indigenous flora. The health of our environment is in our hands.
We're developing a weed-mapping project to enable better outcomes. Contact for info
join
share
learn
We're keen to hear from you! Do you have some knowledge to share? Want to make a suggestion? Email us nillumbio@email.org.au
Register to receive updates. We respect your privacy and never share your details. We do our best to keep our emails brief and not send too many!
Our community, our responsibility,
OUR OPPORTUNITY!
Join the community collaboration to develop local plans for advocacy and action to achieve reversal of biodiversity decline in Nillumbik.
We come together to ensure better outcomes for biodiversity - we understand the true costs if we continue with business as usual...
Nillumbik Shire Council is in the final stages of preparing the Urban Tree Canopy Strategy.
They have received written and verbal submissions from the community. You can see the verbal submissions via this video link. The Submissions were the focus for the June 11 2024 Planning and Consultation Committee Meeting.
Keep up to date with what is happening via the Council website.
Community awareness, participation, and expectation of appropriate funding for such issues is important.
CLICK HERE to access a document prepared in response to the Draft Biodiversity Strategy.
NILLUMBIK BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY
May 14 2024. The room was full with eloquent and respectful speakers who presented their submissions to Council's Planning and Consultation Committee Meeting. The focus was the Biodiversity Strategy.
All submissions were a powerful demonstration of the knowledge held within our community, and the deep awareness of biodiversity, its ongoing decline, and urgent need for attention.
As noted by Mayor Ramcharan, there was not a single person in the room who spoke against the adoption of a strong Biodiversity Strategy.
Enjoy reading some of the terrific and succinct presentations - CLICK HERE
You can listen to/watch the whole recording (with all the submissions) via Council's website - CLICK HERE
​
CLICK HERE to access an informative document prepared in response to the Draft Biodiversity Strategy.