Volunteer groups


ACT Urban Woodland Rescue

ACT Urban Woodland Rescue brings the community together to protect and enhance Canberra’s biodiversity. Academic research underpins the planting of original local native plant communities and habitat in suburban gardens and parks. The aim is to reconnect the suburbs with wildlife corridors and restore resilience in the local environment to tackle climate change.

Find out more on Facebook or email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

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Banksia St Wetland

Bragg St Park Hackett Volunteers

Our group commenced in 2016 when we developed “A plan for action today…to enhance the options for tomorrow” for the park. This plan focused on actions for enhancing the natural and recreational values of the area. In May 2019 nature play elements (13 large rocks and 6 large logs) were installed. In 2019 we held two planting sessions (June and September) which involved planting trees, shrubs and ground covers, followed by mulching and watering. In the same sessions the group dug around a number of existing small eucalypts and mulched them.

Email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

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CampbellCARE

We have started a long term project to regenerate a 2 hectare park in the centre of Campbell to:

The whole plan will be carried out in phases over a number of years as funds become available.

Find out more online or email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

Crace Landcare Group

We are local residents who take pride in and are working towards having a clean and healthy environment in our suburb. We take part in a number of community activities such as frog and water monitoring, Clean Up Australia Day and much more.

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Crozier Circuit Park Landcare

The group was quite active in the 1990s creating, mulching and planting swales and then maintaining them. A number of active members moved out of the area making it difficult to maintain the same level of activity. We'd welcome new members interested in the work we're doing.

Email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

Curtin Shops Garden Group

We are a group of Curtin residents who are keen to improve the public areas and gardens around the Curtin shops and to protect and plant more trees throughout the suburb. The group initiated and formed the nucleus of the committee that organised the Curtin Turns 50 celebrations, culminating in a party at the shops in October 2014. Over the next 2 years, with the help of many people and traders in Curtin we renovated the John Curtin garden, removing the ivy, planted a new garden and installed paving, steps, ramp and seating. During 2019 we planted trees in 2 of Curtin’s small parks. We have occasional working bees and, during summer months, a plant watering roster. We are a social group and meet regularly over coffee at the shops to plan our activities.

Email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

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Dickson Wetland Weeders

The construction of the Dickson Wetland in 2011 has revolutionised central and eastern Dickson, and nearby Ainslie, Hackett and Downer. Its primary goal is to harvest water for reuse on inner north playing fields, rather than using potable water. In addition, it has provided habitat for birds and other animals, as well as a lovely venue for walking, musing, reading, talking, cycling, exercise classes, biology classes, bird watching, bird and frog listening, and just for being outside. Like all gardens, it needs constant maintenance, to keep the weeds from totally dominating the garden beds and wetland margins. So if you are interested in joining us, please feel most welcome. You too can help to make a difference.

Find out more on Facebook or email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

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Fetherston Gardens Friends

Fetherston Gardens Friends were formed in 2009 to restore and regenerate the Fetherston Gardens. We coordinate community participation through our group of dedicated volunteers to regenerate these valuable and unique 3.5 hectares of garden. We are a not-for-profit volunteer group relying on fundraising, grant funding and donations and hold regular volunteer activities to preserve, regenerate and renew plantings within the gardens. Our objective is to continue the tradition of informal and diverse public gardens which promote horticultural education and knowledge, and ensure the gardens are well maintained for use by the community.

Find out more online or email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

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Friends of Bass Gardens

The group is primarily residents around the park and in the near vicinity. We all have a particular interest in keeping the park in the condition prescribed by the approved Conservation Management Plan. Bass Gardens park is in Blandfordia 5 precinct, is a declared heritage park and has special values associated with the layout and species of exotic trees and the native grasses and forbs. As a group we help look after these values through our volunteering activities.

Email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

Friends of Blaxland Park

Our initial aim is to keep the park tidy and clean and to ensure the young trees that have been recently planted are cared for. For the longer term we are developing a comprehensive plan for the park which aims to create an accessible, cohesive open space where the community can meet, gather or simply pass the time by providing places to sit, exercise or entertain. The plan guides activities like removing weeds, planting more trees for shade and beauty and improving safety by providing well-lit accessible paths, seats and exercise equipment. Join us as we implement stages of the plan.

Email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

Friends of the Canberra Beijing Garden

The garden, located on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin is designed in the imperial Chinese garden style of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), a style symbolic of luxury and refinement. It features a traditional Chinese gate to welcome visitors and paths which meander past sculptures crafted using Chinese stone masonry and a Chinese pavilion offering a place for quiet retreat to enjoy the garden's serenity. Our small group monitors the condition of the garden and undertakes minor cleaning and weeding activities.

Email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

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Friends of Canberra-Nara Peace Park

We are a group dedicated to preserving our beautiful park as part of our commitment to the Canberra-Nara Sister City relationship. We share a love of Japanese gardens and culture, and wish to spread the benefits of the Japanese approach to gardens and gardening to the wider Canberra community. It is important to us that our park is maintained to Japanese standards and provides a place of quiet contemplation, as well as a great venue for weddings and of course, the annual Candle Festival.

Find out more on Facebook or email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

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Friends of Lower Strangers Pond

The group's vision is to maintain and improve this area of Australian bush in Bonython to preserve native plants, provide a home for native animals and for the pleasure of people. A developing group, needing more active volunteers to help preserve and improve the pond area and surrounding bush.

Email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

Friends of Wangara Parks

Our goal is to protect and enhance the Wangara Street parks so their natural and man-made elements promote the enjoyment, social connections and health of the community, for all time.

Email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

Friends of Weston Creek Orchard

The group’s initial aims are to rejuvenate the site and fruit trees as a community orchard using organic and biodynamic practices. This will strengthen the plants and soil, supporting the growth of nutritious healthy fruit for the community. We also aim to use the site to support community education on the care of fruit trees and understanding of organic and biodynamic agricultural practices.

Find out more on Facebook or email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

Giralang Pond Landcare Group

Our activities focus on weed management, planting native vegetation, erosion control and community awareness-raising and education.

Find out more on Facebook or email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

Grevillia Park Meditation and Healing Garden Volunteers

The group was formed in 2011 to establish and maintain a garden in Grevillea Park Barton, to symbolise a commitment of respect; protect and conserve the natural environment; provide a venue for meeting, meditating and deepening connection with the environment; promote harmonious relationships among people; and provide a facility for hospice users to rest peacefully in a natural setting. We undertake a full range of horticultural activities from planting, pruning and weed control.

Email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

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Griffith Woodland Volunteer Group

We are a dedicated group of volunteers working to protect and improve a small area of remnant Box Gum Woodland in urban Griffith. We meet once per month for an activity lasting around 90 minutes, and then share morning tea. We mainly do weeding and maintenance of plantings, mostly by hand. Gloves and small tools are provided. We welcome newcomers! Please do not bring pets to the activities.

Email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

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Hall Village Landcare Group

Hughes Garran Woodland Group

The Hughes Garran Woodland Group are progressively enhancing the woodland area, removing exotic species and improving the areas natural flora and fauna values. The group has installed nesting boxes and established photographic monitoring for key ecological points. The group has established and maintained walking tracks that has increased the amenity of the space. We have enhanced the communities of Hughes and Garran by providing a space where people can actively manage and influence a positive environmental change in their "backyard".

Email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

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Jarramlee Park Landcare

Jarramlee Park Landcare is small friendly group who wish to enhance the open areas around Jarramlee Pond and Fassifern Pond by planting bird and insect friendly plants to extend the bird corridor to Ginninderra Creek, and keeping the area looking attractive..

Email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

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Legacy Park Volunteers

This is a small, committed group of nearby residents who value Legacy Park. We have had good results with weed removal and control and our plantings are doing well. We are also targeting erosion with the use of coir logs.

Email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

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Lyneham Commons Food Forest

Lyneham Commons Food Forest is an edible forest garden grown on public land that fosters community learning, connection and wellbeing. Using permaculture principles and sustainable methods we are creating a bountiful harvest of healthy fruit and herbs. It is a beautiful space where all are welcome and encouraged to develop an appreciation of nature and an understanding of the interdependence between people and our environment. Our popular monthly activities attract a wide demographic of local residents and families who enjoy meeting, socialising and learning in this context. We hold in-situ workshops on plant care, soil health and food growing.

Find out more at Lyneham Commons or email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

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Macgregor Landcare Group

A friendly group of local residents who care about their neighbourhood and are keen to do their bit to provide and maintain an effective habitat corridor for native flora and fauna in an urban open space environment along Ginninderra Creek in Macgregor.

Email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

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Minders About Simpsons Hill Landcare

We take on a variety of landcare activities such as weed and erosion control, occasional planting and raising community awareness. Current priorities are around removing various woody weeds from the reserve.

Find out more on Facebook or email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

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Moncrieff Litter Action Group

A group dedicated to keeping the parks and reserves in the suburb clean and tidy.

Email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

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Moodie Street Playground Volunteers

This is community development through engagement in maintenance of our park showing our pride in our community.

Email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested

Mt Rogers Landcare Group

Mt Rogers consists of 65 hectares of woody grassland, rocky grassland with 65 pre-settlement eucalyptus and associated vegetation. Volunteer landcarers have a record of caring for this special place for more than 40 years. Over this time natural regeneration has occurred and populations of environmental weeds have been significantly reduced. Hundreds of people visit the reserve each week appreciating nature, the views and our landcaring efforts.

Find out more on their website or email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

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North Belconnen Landcare

We are local residents concerned about land management issues along the Ginninderra Creek corridor, stretching from the Lake Ginninderra dam wall to Ginninderra Drive, Latham. We hold regular working days where people participate in weeding, mulching and planting activities. In more recent times, we have focussed on the establishment and management of native grasslands in the creek corridor area between the Lake Ginninderra dam wall and Copeland Drive.

Find out more on Facebook and Instagram. Email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

Scullin Parks Maintenance Team

Shackleton Circuit Conservation Group

We are a dedicated group working to clear the hill area of weeds, principally cotoneaster, hawthorn and privet to allow the forest to regenerate.

Email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

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A Treemendous Group for Hughes

Tocumwal Housing Precinct Volunteers

Tuggeranong Lake Catchment Carers

Umbagong Landcare Group

Umbagong District Park is long strip of land, roughly 50 hectares in area, running both sides of a winding Ginninderra Creek. It is a favourite recreation site with cycle paths, bridges, stepping stones and is a dog off leash area. A highlight of the park is an axe grinding groove site that has a cultural heritage listing and is overseen by the Mulanggang Traditional Aboriginal Landcare Group. Vegetation in the park includes areas of high quality natural temperate grassland, mature tree plantings both native and exotic, wonderful reed beds and permanent pools, and extensive areas of exotic grasses that are regularly mown. Our landcare group works in all of these places throughout the year.

Email urbanprograms@act.gov.au if you're interested.

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Yarralumla Tree Maintenance

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.

To see how we are building stronger relationships with the Traditional Custodians of the ACT view the Reconciliation Action Plan.