Environment Matters - August/Winter 2022

Lend a hand to your local Bushcare

When Beth Addison-Smith saw the weedy state of the wetlands in her local area she knew something needed to be done. She is now the leader of one of the three new Bushcare sites in Ipswich and a growing movement of volunteers improving the city’s environmental health. Jim Donald Wetland in Silkstone provides an important function as wild space and waterway management in an urban setting. Invasive weeds are presenting a major challenge to the site, degrading its environmental function and having a negative impact on downstream Bundamba Creek. By committing to routine manual weeding and other tasks, the Bushcare volunteers are working with council to restore the wetlands and strengthen community ownership of the waterway.

Ipswich has almost doubled its number of Bushcare sites across the city in the past year. There are now more opportunities than ever to help improve your local environment.

WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A BUSHCARE VOLUNTEER check No skills or environmental knowledge needed – everything can be learned ‘on the job’ check Meet new people with similar interests and a shared goal check See if it’s for you by doing up to three trial days check Do a short online induction to become a regular volunteer and get a free hat and gloves check See the rewards of your hard work as you transform weeds into native habitat!

FIND A GROUP NEAR YOU Bushcare information and working bees are on the Volunteer Portal Ipswich.qld.gov.au/volunteering

Map-marker-alt Garden of Eden Project, Cribb Park, North Ipswich Map-marker-alt Mason’s Gully Project, Rosewood Map-marker-alt Peace Park Arboretum, Rosewood Map-marker-alt Opossum Creek Project, Brookwater

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Map-marker-alt Jim Donald Wetlands, Silkstone

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Map-marker-alt Barry Street Reserve, East Ipswich

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Map-marker-alt Woogaroo Creek, Eugene Street, Bellbird Park