February
Beach walk to Five Mile Bluff rock platform
This rock platform is little known since it doesn’t have road access. During the walk, the keen naturalists identified seven species of seaweed. Two species of Boobyalla were also observed.
March
Mutual to Moorina
A gentle 5km walk along the banks of the beautiful Ringarooma River. We passed some fine stands of myrtle, blackwoods, man ferns, mother shield ferns and kangaroo fern. Also native edible fruiting plants – the native currant, raspberry, cherry, and purple appleberry.
April
A leisurely look at three gardens in the Bridport area which have been managed as habitats for wildlife.
May
Fungi Foray, Skemps, Myrtle Bank
The Launceston Field Naturalists Club owns and operates the John Skemp Field Centre. It is situated on approximately 60 hectares (148 acres) of wide open spaces, wet and dry sclerophyll forest, fern gullies and ponds on Skemp Creek. A number of nature trails have been developed over the whole property.
June
A 12 km walk along the North East Rail Trail from Kamona Station to Tonganah.
There were fungi, there were orchids and such a richness of vegetation. Facing north, tall trees- Eucalyptus obliqua. At the foot of embankments plants that thrived in wetter conditions. Excitement when we found colonies of Mosquito orchids – Acianthus pusillus, and the fringed helmet orchid – Corybas fimbriatus.
September
Cape Portland
Our tour of Cape Portland, which now hosts the Musselroe Wind Farm, highlighted the natural features of the Cape and the efforts of the management team to manage and enhance the natural resources there.
October
Federation of Tasmanian Field Naturalists weekend
In October it was the North East Field Naturalists turn to welcome members of other Tasmanian field naturalists clubs for the biennial weekend get-together. We hosted visitors in our homes, provided a meal on the Saturday night and organised two walks.
November
Scamander : A Day with Todd
Todd Dudley focused on the Skyline Tier project. We visited a plantation site that had been logged, exhibiting the first step back to native forest. We looked at some regeneration sites to see progress after burning and weeding, and heard about the detrimental effects of mono-culture associated with plantations.
December
Exploring Musselroe Bay.
We explored the coastal area east of the settlement, and the tracks along the edge of the Musselroe River.
