Geelong naturalists look to the roadside

Phil Hunter (centre) and Barry Lingham (right) receive the grant for the Geelong Field Naturalists Club from Dennis Family Corporation's group managing director Grant Dennis. Photo: MICHAEL CHAMBERS

THE Geelong Field Naturalists Club (GFN) will use a much-appreciated grant for two local projects.

The club received $500 from the Ashbury Community Fund last week, which will not only fund a “walk and talk” program that will educate people on the roadside vegetation around Armstrong Creek and Mount Duneed, but also contribute to the club conducting flora surveys on some of the roadsides in the area.

GFN group member Phil Hunter said knowing what flora was growing in the region helped inform them about how to protect it from the increase in population and infrastructure.

“Getting this project happening means we can identify what’s there and try to protect as much of it as possible.

“We’re really focusing on the grasses and wildflowers because the trees tend to get a lot of attention and it’s these smaller things that get overlooked and slip through the cracks. People then don’t even know what was there in the first place.”

The survey results will help inform the City of Greater Geelong and other relevant organisations. Mr Hunter said the “walk and talks” aimed to ensure the community was similarly involved.

“We just want to teach people about the significance of some of these things, because they are remainders of what is left and has always been there.”

Mr Hunter said he was also very thankful for the support the GFN has gotten from the City of Greater Geelong.

As a not-for profit group, the GFN is largely reliant on help from council and support from groups like the Ashbury Community Fund.

The Ashbury Community Fund gave out a total of $15,000 in grants.

For more information about the GFN and its future events, head to gfnc.org.au.