Bushcare Brochure - Wollongong City Council

Backyard Bushcare
What are we doing at Bushcare?
Some weeds can act as useful habitat for native
fauna, but the best food and shelter for native birds
and animals are the local plants that have evolved
over thousands of years alongside them.
To help improve natural habitats around your home:
• Visit a Greenplan sale at the Wollongong Botanic
Gardens. They can provide you with native plants
suited to your local conditions
• Consider slowly replacing weed plants in your garden
with suitable local species
• Avoid feeding native birds as this will only benefit
already competitive species
• Consider dense plantings of native shrubs, grasses
and groundcovers to encourage smaller birds
• Add a birdbath as birds can often find food, but clean
water is not always abundant
• Protect native wildlife by controlling your pets,
particularly cats
• Creating and regenerating green / wildlife corridors
• Reducing the threat of weed invasion
• Increasing environmental knowledge through
workshops and training
• Planning projects by setting goals and collecting
information.
Bushcare volunteers are encouraged to undertake a
variety of training courses. These courses cover topics
such as native plant identification, weed identification,
safe use of herbicide, vegetation communities and
habitat restoration. Special social events, walks and
bus trips are also held throughout the year.
Joining one of the 50 Bushcare groups will open a new
world of interest and knowledge about the natural
environment, help you to meet great people, and give
you some gentle healthy exercise in the fresh air while
you are enhancing our unique natural heritage.
• Put garden waste and lawn clippings in your green
bin rather than in the bush, as this is a source of
weed seeds in our natural areas.
How do I become involved?
YOU CAN HELP YOUR LOCAL
ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT EVEN
LEAVING YOUR GARDEN
White
Faced
Heron
You can become involved by joining an existing
Bushcare group or starting your own Bushcare group.
For more information on how to get involved contact:
The Bushcare Officer
Wollongong City Council
Phone: (02) 4227 8113
Email: phellier@wollongong.nsw.gov.au
or visit www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au
Images: Heron and Wren by Marcel Van Wijk,
Blue Tongue by Chris Edmond.
A service of
Wollongong City Council
Rainbow
Lorikeet
WCC©1248478
Printed on 100% recycled paper from post-consumer waste..

Wollongong’s Natural Environment
Superb
Fairywren
What can you get out of volunteering?
Wollongong’s natural environment is rich, unique
and diverse. It provides a valuable resource for local
residents and visitors alike. Our natural environment is
important for stabilising soil, improving water quality
and providing valuable habitats for our native wildlife. In
addition, natural areas are important for their beauty,
and the educational and recreational opportunities they
provide. Wollongong’s rich biodiversity can be attributed
to diverse natural areas spread from the escarpment to
the sea, including wetlands, creeks and water courses,
coastal sand dunes, bushland and rainforest.
Many of our bushland areas have been reduced in
area and are therefore easily threatened by:
• Garden plant escapees
• Dumping of rubbish
• Weed invasion
• Off-leash domestic pets and introduced animals in
bushland
• Excessive nutrients from stormwater runoff
• Inappropriate recreational use and vandalism
• Encroachment of backyards and gardens into
bushland reserves.
These threats can reduce the survival of local native
wildlife, and the attractiveness of our natural areas.
WOLLONGONG HAS RICH, UNIQUE
AND DIVERSE NATURAL AREAS
Eastern
Blue-tongued
Lizard
What is Bushcare?
Banksia
integrifolia
Bushcare is a Wollongong City Council program
that aims to encourage and support community
participation in the conservation and restoration of
natural areas on community land.
VOLUNTEERS WORK TO RESTORE
NATURAL AREAS ON COMMUNITY LAND
USING RESTORATION PRINCIPLES
Wollongong City Council supports volunteers by
providing resources, technical support and training.
Bushcare volunteers usually meet for about three
hours each month, however the amount of time
you commit to is entirely up to you.
The Bushcare program is integral in the management
of natural areas in Wollongong, and works closely
with our bushfire, pest species and contracted bush
restoration teams.
Together with the work carried out by Council and
contracted bush regenerators, volunteers are making
a significant contribution to the conservation and
restoration of our valuable natural areas.
Volunteering in Bushcare can assist with a range
of health, social and career opportunities through:
• Networking and meeting enthusiastic people in
a community conservation program
• Fresh air and exercise in the great outdoors
• Satisfaction in rescuing native plants from weeds
• Learning skills in native plant identification, weed
control techniques, conservation and bushland
management
• Application of knowledge gained in the field by being
involved in assessing and planning future works
• Attending workshops and social gatherings
• Satisfaction of seeing wildlife return
• Pleasure in restoring and conserving your local
natural area.
Green
Tree
Frog
YOU CAN HELP MAKE A
DIFFERENCE BY GETTING
INVOLVED IN BUSHCARE!
Dianella
caerulea