The aim of the Launceston Field Naturalists Club is to encourage the study of all aspects of natural history and to support the conservation of our natural heritage.
The Club holds monthly meetings where guest speakers talk on an aspect of natural history and we conduct monthly field trips to study and better understand Australian natural history, with an emphasis on Tasmania and the north of the state in particular. The general public is welcome to attend.
The Club owns 60 hectares of covenanted land at Myrtle Bank and is the location of the John Skemp Field Centre which provides overnight accommodation. The property contains open grasslands, rain forest, wet and dry sclerophyll forest and water features, which are accessed via 12 walking trails. Many of the plants are named to allow a more detailed study of the flora. Ongoing projects for our volunteers on the property include revegetation, seed collection, track maintenance, eradication of weeds, tree decline monitoring and monitoring the quality of the creek water running through the property. During our monthly "Skemp Day" we generally have a theme eg. fungi, orchids, water monitoring etc. The Club maintains an extensive library of books, posters and other resources as reference material for the education of members.
The Club has a formal partnership with other Australian and Tasmanian field naturalists clubs to assist with our aims and activities. We also have an informal partnership with local organisations and are currently involved with surveys of saltmarsh wetland life.
The Club's website has details of all meetings, field trips, Skemp Day's and participation in external group activities.
Volunteers attend the Club's property every Tuesday 9:30-3pm. The John Skemp Forest Reserve at Myrtle Bank is a 80 ha property with covenants. Weeding, track maintenance, and other jobs. Please contact Noel Manning by email: [email protected] if you would like to assist or phone on 0458030767
All are welcome to join, usually finding the Club through word ofmouth, partner organisations and our web site.
Noel Manning
0458 030 767
This information is provided for people to contact member groups about their community Landcare activities. Anyone wishing to distribute information generally to groups should contact Landcare Tasmania with their request.
