The City of Hobart’s longest running and most popular volunteer program celebrated 30 years of caring for Hobart’s native forests, woodlands, and grasslands in late November.
It also recognises the outstanding contribution Dynnyrne resident Carol Bristow has made to Bushcare in her 25 years of volunteering with the Waterworks Valley Landcare group.
“The City of Hobart’s Bushcare program and its incredible volunteers have achieved remarkable results in caring for our natural environment,” Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said.
“Every weekend our Bushcare volunteers can be found working along the shores of the Derwent Estuary, up on the Queens Domain, in Knocklofty Reserve, deep in the forests of Fern Tree or across the alpine landscape of kunanyi/Mt Wellington.
“They rid wildlife habitat of environmental weeds, are helping the City of Hobart protect nationally significant native grasslands on the Queens Domain and our newest Bushcare group is restoring waterway habitat along the Hobart Rivulet.”
The City’s Sustainability in Infrastructure Portfolio Committee Chair Bill Harvey said Bushcare volunteers play a vital role in protecting our local native wildlife and inspiring others to do more for the natural environment.
“The key to Bushcare’s success has been its caring, passionate volunteers, who get out into our bushlands every weekend to keep environmental weeds under control and restore wildlife habitat,” Cr Harvey said.
“In a world where environmental issues can feel overwhelming, our Bushcare volunteers are a reminder that the people of Hobart care deeply for the natural world around them, and want to help protect it.”
Every year the City of Hobart recognises a Bushcare volunteer who has made a positive and lasting contribution to the conservation of Hobart’s bushland reserves and who inspires others to do the same.
This year Dynnyrne resident Carol Bristow is being recognised for her outstanding efforts in the conservation of nature through her Bushcare work.
“Bushcare is such a positive way for people to make a change to benefit our natural environment,” Ms Bristow said.
“The people that come and work and volunteer with us are wonderful to be with, they all have a good sense of humour and value the things that are important.
“You walk away from a Bushcare working bee and you feel good about yourself. You think yes, I’ve done something good today.”
The City’s Bushcare program manages 14 Bushcare and Landcare groups working on bushland reserves across the city.
In one year alone Bushcare volunteers contributed more than 3000 hours worth of environmental restoration work.
Bushcare is the City of Hobart’s largest volunteer program, with more than 700 registered volunteers on its books.
