Bushcare
The Hills Shire Council denotes ‘Bushcare’ as its program of restoration and rehabilitation of bushland located at public land or land under Council’s care and management involving community volunteers. The core purpose of this program is “To manage and maintain the extensive network of Council’s bushland reserves by means of promoting environmental awareness and volunteerism of the diverse communities and stakeholders with effective motivation, information diffusion and proactive facilitation of bushland regeneration ground works for biodiversity conservation”..jpg)
Calendar of Bushcare Events & Workshops 2009 (210.03kB)
Who can become involved?
Bushcare is an activity for people of all ages and abilities. Initially you don't need any experience. Council supplies all plants, tools, supervision and training both at your bushcare site and on weekend workshops held in the Volunteer's Room at Bidjiwong Community Nursery.
Why do we need Bushcare?
Our bushland is a precious environmental, educational and recreational resource that must be conserved for the health of our urban ecosystem with the unique diversity of plants and animals within it. A network of our Bushland Reserves provides us a place to escape from the pressures of living in the city and to enjoy being in nature. The management and maintenance of our Bushland is not possible without the help of local communities and for this reason, proactive involvement of the local communities into Council's Bushcare Volunteer Program has become indispensable.
How do I become involved in Bushcare?
You can join a group that is already formed or start your own. For a current list of groups working in Council's Reserves and a registration form either telephone our Bushcare Volunteer Co-ordinator on 9686 4842 or download and complete the PDF form below and send to the Bushcare Volunteer Co-ordinator, PO Box 75, Castle Hill, NSW 1765.
Bushcare Volunteer Application Form Updated 2009 (231.63kB)
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Where is it held?
Bushcare is held at various public Reserves within the Cattai, Darling Mills, Toongabbie Creek, Second Ponds, Hawkesbury River and Upper Parramatta River Catchments. Click here for more information.
What if the degraded bush is on private property?
For further information on Landcare Network visit the following site http://www.landcarensw.org/.
Bushcare Program
Council's Bushcare Program offers volunteering activities within the following areas:
- Weed control for bushland regeneration
- Habitat, creek and wetland restoration
- Heritage garden restoration
- Plant propagation and nursery activities
- Planting native plants for revegetation
- Seed collection and seed banking
- Water testing with Stream-Watch
- Construction and maintenance of track and trails
- Monitoring Fauna activities
- Biodiversity review for climate change
- Photography and article writing
- Non-mown area maintenance
- Asset protection zone maintenance for bushfire mitigation
Phone our Bushcare Office on 9686 4842 for a timetable of existing Bushcare Groups, or for further information on the Bushland Volunteer Program click here.
Know Your Catchment!
For further information on the Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority visit their website at
http://www.sydney.cma.nsw.gov.au/
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