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.
View a map of our restoration sites
View photos of Pinkerton Forest
PLEG has been working in Pinkerton Forest weeding (especially galena, box thorns and serrated tussock), planting, (52 Blulokes - Allocasuarina luehmannii) and checking the integrity of the rabbit proof fence. Spring flowers are appearing and Templetonia iteaphilla was found for the first time on the forest floor.
Greater Western Water (GWW) and Pinkerton Landcare & Environment Group (PLEG) invited the public to join them on Sunday 28th August for a large scale tree planting day at Pinkerton Link.
This is located at GWW’s water treatment plant at Surbiton Park. A total of 28 people took up the invitation to plant trees, ranging from people from Bacchus Marsh, Melton and other places. We planted a total of 460 Grey Box trees!
Date: Sunday 28 August 2022
This event is in conjunction with Greater Western Water & Trees for a Cooler, Greener West.
500 Greybox trees to be planted in Pinkerton Link
Time: 10.30 AM - 1.30 PM - Lunch provided
Enter via flagged gate next to 1668 Mt Cottrell Rd, Mt Cottrell
View Bird Survey results on the eBird website
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 2022.
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).
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).
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!
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.
SMEC Australia Pty Ltd was commissioned by Wyndham City Council to prepare a flora and fauna management plan for Cobbledicks Ford.