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Pinkerton Forest

Pinkerton Landcare & Environment Group (PLEG) is concerned with the restoration of native grasslands and grassy grey-box woodlands, including the grassy woodland of Pinkerton Forest, the nearby native grassland in Mulla Mulla Grasslands (Bush's Paddock) and of the adjacent section of the Werribee River Volcanic Gorge, (which adjoins Western Water Treatment Plant at Surbiton Park) within the City of Melton, Victoria, Australia.

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View a map of our restoration sites

View photos of Pinkerton Forest

PLEG: Activity Diary for 2020

PLEG: Diary for 2020

Monitoring weeds in Pinkerton, Lightning strike in Pinkerton
Weed infestation in Pinkerton Link, Quarterly Bird Survey
Weed monitoring at Pinkerton Escarpment, Meeting at Upper Pinkerton to discuss flooding

Bird Survey Program for 2020

Pinkerton Forest, Mulla Mulla Grasslands (Bush's Paddock), Eynesbury

Pinkerton Landcare & Environment Group (PLEG) invite the community to join them birding at Pinkerton Forest & Mulla Mulla Woodland (Bush's Paddock) on the below dates in 2020.

Previously these walks were hosted by Birdlife Australia’s Werribee Wagtails, but since the demise of the Werribee Wagtails they will now be hosted by PLEG.

Note: no footpaths- walking is through the bush!
BYO lunch, drinks & snacks. The group will proceed to Eynesbury Forest in the afternoon. Toilets & coffee shop at Eynesbury (composting toilet at Pinkerton).

Wildlife in Pinkerton Forest

Pinkerton Landcare & Environment Group

Appendix: Wildlife in Pinkerton Forest 2018

A series of photos were taken by a trail camera at the two water troughs placed in Pinkerton Forest (beside the Green Shed & in Upper Pinkerton) as well as beside the Pinkerton Link / Mulla Mulla gate giving us an insight as to what happens in Pinkerton in our absence! We have also had a glimpse into night time activities in Pinkerton. The water troughs appear to be a focus of activity, both day and night. The trough beside the Green Shed especially is a focus of activity for a variety of local wildlife (native and non-native). A dramatic incident recorded a Fox in pursuit of a Possum beside the water trough. Fortunately both the possum and its young were photographed the following night so they both survived the chase!

Grazing in Pinkerton Forest in August

sheep grazing in PinkertonForest th

In August a few hundred sheep were placed in both Pinkerton & Upper Pinkerton to graze the exotic annual grasses as these had grown quickly during the recent rains. They were also placed in Pinkerton Link, but in the northern & southern paddocks only to avoid damaging the young Grey Box trees planted by Melton Secondary College over the last two years.

Planting at Pinkerton Flat with Melton Secondary College - 16th August 2019

On Friday 16th August students from Melton Secondary College joined Pinkerton Landcare & Environment Group and Western Water in planting on the river terrace beside the Werribee River at Pinkerton Flat in the Werribee River Volcanic Gorge.

200 tussock grasses (Poa labillardiere) and thirty-eight Blackwood trees (Acacia melanoxylon) were planted.

Weeding in Pinkerton Forest

Irene weeding in PinkertonForest On Thursday 25th July Irene & Daryl visited Pinkerton Forest to mattock out Boxthorns. Boxthorns in Pinkerton have been effectively eradicated over the years but unfortunately they keep re-appearing as seeds are constantly being dropped by birds and foxes, usually under trees.

Planting at Cobbledick Ford - July 2019

4 Werribee River at CobbledicksFord th

On Friday 12th July PLEG joined Friends of Cobbledick Ford and City of Wyndham in planting on the floodplain between the Reserve and the Ford. We planted 500 Microlaena and 100 Poa labilliere to help stabilise the soil in the event of flooding.

Melton Secondary College: planting at Pinkerton Link Friday 14th June

On Friday 14th June, twenty-four students and two teachers from Melton Secondary College joined PLEG members Irene, Rosemary and Daryl in planting 200 plants in Pinkerton Link.