SPRING INTO NATURESpring walk and talk series 2017

It’s time to shake off that winter chill and wake up to the warmth of nature through our ‘Spring into nature’ event series.

As residents of Campbelltown City, we’re lucky to live in an area with pristine bushland, unspoilt waterways and prolific wildlife

– all within a stone’s throw of our urban centres. The Georges and Nepean Rivers, which help to naturally define our local area, also provide limitless opportunity for getting outdoors

and connecting with nature.

So join us in the great outdoors this spring, and immerse yourself in the amazing natural environment that is our

collective backyard!

Image by Anne Hatt, Macarthur Nature Photography Competition, 2013

Experience the joy of painting outside and the challenge of capturing the light. This weekend workshop is designed for artists to sketch, paint and photograph the beauty of the Dharawal National Park. Participants will discover Dharawal’s unique ecology, and learn the visual techniques required to represent them.

Location Workshop is to be held on location at the Dharawal National Park. Participants to meet at Campbelltown Arts Centre for a 10am bus departure.

Date Saturday 9 September, 10am to 2pm

Cost Free. Maximum of 15 places available

Age group 16+

How to bookVisit campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/enpleinair to book your spot. Enquiries: 4645 4601

Additional information Please bring your own paints, brushes and camera. All other materials will be provided. Participants are advised to bring a water bottle and lunch, and to wear sunscreen, a hat, and suitable walking shoes.

Image by Suhendra Prajitno, Macarthur Nature Photography Competition, 2012

Never been into the bush? This easy walk is tailor-made for people not familiar with bush walking.

Our friendly guide will teach you everything you need for short walks in our beautiful bushland reserves.

During the walk you will explore the various vegetation communities the reserve has to offer – you may also see threatened flora and fauna, including the Nodding Geebung, Sydney Plains Greenhood Orchid, the Little lorikeet and the Grey-headed flying fox. Don't forget to bring your camera!

Location Simmo’s Beach Reserve Fifth Ave, Macquarie Fields. Meet at the bottom car park of Simmo’s Beach Reserve.

Date Monday 25 September, 10am to 11.30am

Cost Free

Age group This event is open to all ages. The walk will be at a leisurely pace, however, walkers may encounter uneven terrain.

How to bookVisit campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/guidedwalksimmos to book your spot. Enquiries: 4645 4601

Additional information This tour is a medium grade walk, so a good level of fitness and mobility is required.

Please wear enclosed sturdy shoes, sunscreen, protective clothing and bring plenty of water.

Image taken by Campbelltown City Council

Did you know, around 300 animal species rely on tree hollows in Australia, including birds, mammals, frogs, reptiles, insects and spiders?

So important are tree hollows to our native wildlife, that their loss, due to urbanisation and agriculture, has been classed as a Key Threatening Process to biodiversity throughout Australia.

Come and discover the importance of hollows as homes from University of Sydney’s Adrian Davis, as he takes you around Quirk Reserve in Bradbury for a closer inspection of which animals are using the many hollows that are found within this reserve. You will also learn how to record and map the hollows that you discover and the importance of recording data as part of the Sydney-wide Citizen Science “Hollows as Homes” program.

Animals that rely on tree hollows for their home can also use man-made nest boxes when there are not enough natural hollows to go around. Our local men’s shed have built a range of different nest boxes based on research carried out by NSW Local Land Services. Adrian will take us through the design of each nest box and the native species that they best serve.

You can place your order for your very own nest box on the day, or take home a ‘how-to’ guide and create your own nest box at home. Install your nest box on your fence, balcony, or in a tree in your backyard, and monitor which species use your newly created habitat!

Location Quirk Reserve, St Johns Road, Bradbury

Date Saturday 18 November, 8am to 10am

Cost Free

Age group This event is open to all ages.

How to bookVisit campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/hollowsevent to book your spot. Enquiries: 4645 4601

Additional information Please wear enclosed sturdy shoes, sunscreen, protective clothing and bring plenty of water.

Image by Simone Cottrell, Office of Environment, Warrumbungle National Park

HOLLOWS AS HOMES

Image by Simone Cottrell, Office of Environment, Warrumbungle National Park

Spring is the perfect opportunity to wander through Campbelltown’s bushland reserves and see the many wildflowers in bloom!

Join us for a walk through picturesque Keith Longhurst Reserve in Kentlyn, and find out about the many native plants that inhabit the area. Our host, Teresa James, is an experienced guide and has been studying Sydney’s varied plants and vegetation communities for many years. She will talk you through how to identify plants, their names and their role in this unique ecosystem.

This botanical walk will be medium grade with some hills, and provide lots of opportunities to stop along the way.

Places are limited and booking is essential, so get in early. Don’t forget to bring a camera!

Location Keith Longhurst Reserve, end of Georges River Road, Kentlyn

Date Saturday 21 October (this will be a morning event, please RSVP for details),9am to 11am

Cost Free

Age group 5+Children under 16 years of age will need to be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

How to bookVisit campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/springwildflower to book your spot. Enquiries: 4645 4601

Additional information Please wear enclosed sturdy shoes, sunscreen, protective clothing and bring plenty of water.

Image from iStock

With more than 50 per cent of Campbelltown City covered in remnant bushland, our area is a haven for wildlife, making it a bird watcher’s paradise!

Come along to Simmo’s Beach Reserve and discover the many bird species that live within the extremely rare and protected natural environments that exist within this reserve – the Cumberland Plain Woodland and the Shale Sandstone Transition Forest. John Dodd, a local twitching expert, will take us through the reserve, helping to identify the birds we see and offering advice on how to take the best photos of birds.

Enjoy a warm cuppa and/or a sausage sandwich at the end of your walk.

Location Simmo’s Beach Reserve, Fifth Ave, Macquarie Fields

Date Saturday 28 October, 8am to 1pm We will meet at the top of the quarry within the Reserve at 8am for a walking start time of 8.15am.

The walk will go for approximately 90 minutes in a loop, followed by morning tea until 11am.

Cost Free

Age group This event is open to all ages. The walk will be at a leisurely pace, however at times may be over uneven terrain.

How to bookVisit campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/birdidblitz to book your spot. Enquiries: 4645 4601

Additional information Please wear enclosed sturdy shoes, sunscreen, protective clothing and bring plenty of water.

Image by John Dodd

Come and celebrate Pollinator Week at Blair Athol to acknowledge our important and unique insect pollinators during spring! The initiative brings community, business and organisations together to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators and support their needs.

Find out more about the importance of our local pollinators and what you can do to help increase and protect their populations. The workshop will also include a walk around John Kidd Reserve to look for pollinator habitats and identify some of our pollinators.

Location Blair Athol Community Centre

Date Sunday 12 November, 9am to 11am (this will be a morning event, please RSVP for details).

Cost Free

Age group All ages welcome. Children under 16 years of age will need to be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

How to bookVisit campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/blairatholbuzz to book your spot. Enquiries: 4645 4601

Additional information Please wear enclosed sturdy shoes, sunscreen, protective clothing and bring plenty of water.

Image from iStock

Landscape - Image Campbelltown City Council

Landscape - Image Campbelltown City Council

Image by Tony Recchia 2014 Macarthur Nature Photography Competition