Looking at Landcare | Upcoming workshops and opportunities at the Parkes and Forbes Shows.

We are looking forward to participating in the Parkes and Forbes Shows in the weeks ahead.

With the Show season well and truly upon us, I am looking forward to Catching up with landholders and community members to talk about some of our upcoming workshops and opportunities at the Parkes and Forbes Shows. These include our workshop Preparing for Spring/Summer Weeds in the Parkes and Forbes Shires and Focus on Ferals Workshop.

As we know, a scud of rain just at the right time leading into the warmer period can spark off all kinds of weed issues. We will have speakers talking about integrated weed management, controlling weed problems in fodder and we will also have our local Parkes and Forbes Shire Council weeds officers on hand, happy to identify any of those tricky weeds that have you puzzled. Please bring weeds in a sealed container/bag for identification. This workshop will be held on 25 September at the Central West Livestock Exchange from 9am and includes morning tea and lunch.

Our Focus on Ferals workshop is bringing together biosecurity staff from the Central West Local Land Services, who will be sharing the latest biosecurity information and baiting options. They will also be bringing in traps to talk about techniques to address some of our most invasive introduced pests like pigs, cats, foxes and rabbits. Our focus is pigs, but we are keen to cover off on as much as we can in this workshop.

We are also fortunate to have Detective Senior Constable Andrew McGrath joining us to talk about Rural Crime, gun licencing, firearm storage and trespassing.

Peter West from FeralScan will also be covering off on some of the stats and information available through their program. Peter has a wealth of knowledge in monitoring pest species and movement in the Australian landscape and will provide us with more tools for pest management.

We are also fortunate to have Drought Support Peer Worker Peter Gorman, and Parkes Shire Drought Support Officer, Roger Kitson joining us.

Bookings can be made via the link on our website or by contacting cwllop@hotmail.com or 0418 611 053.

I am looking forward to Friday and once again being part of Reading Down Town in Forbes. This years theme gives some fun scope for the imagination being 'What is your superpower? Oh yeah! I'll be bringing along my wiggly friends who have been working away to break down as much office rubbish as they can handle, with a lovely mix of shredded paper now bedding them down.

Of course, there will be dressing up involved....kinda obligatory. We are so fortunate to have wonderful education and support for learning in Australia. Something that, unfortunately, we can take for granted. Initiatives like Reading Down Town in Forbes and Paint the Town ReAD in Parkes are wonderful opportunities to learn, celebrate and have fun.

The National Parks Association have one last Winter walk scheduled on Saturday, 24 August. This will be at 'Coonambro' at MacRaild/Van Akkers properties. This is a medium, 5km walk off track and uphill. Meet at 0900 hrs at MacRaild's property, 2499 Amaroo Way, Cookamidgera. Contact walk Leaders Liz and Graeme MacRaild 0417 530 081 the evening before the walk.

Walkers are reminded to bring along enough food and water for the entire day as well as suitable clothing, footwear, hat and sunscreen. A pair of good binoculars and a fold up chair is recommended. A $2.00 donation for each walker is appreciated.

Until next week, happy Landcaring.