A community day at Londonderry Reserve this weekend will focus on efforts to conserve the endangered nodding geebung, which is a rare plant found only on the Cumberland Plain, with most of the remaining plants growing only within the Hawkesbury.
The “Brunch in the Bush” event at Saturday, February 23, will be hosted by the NSW Government’s Saving our Species program in partnership with Conservation Volunteers Australia.
The free event invites members of the community to talk to experts from Saving our Species, Penrith Council and Local Land Services and learn about the importance of local biodiversity.
Dr Ahamad Sherieff, a threatened species officer working on the Saving our Species program, said there will be "something for the whole family" on Saturday with a free brunch, including tea, coffee and hot chocolate, face painting, a guided tour of the reserve and the opportunity to "get hands-on with a practical conservation activity, such as weeding".
“This small shrub with beautiful yellow flowers is special to the Hawkesbury, with 99 per cent of the remaining plants occurring in the local area around Agnes Banks, Londonderry, Castlereagh and Windsor Downs," said Dr Sherieff.
“But the nodding geebung is under threat, largely due to invasive weeds and loss of habitat.
“Through the Saving our Species program and conservation groups like Conservation Volunteers Australia and the local community working together, we have the best chance to ensure the survival of this incredibly rare and locally important plant.”
Under the Saving our Species program, over $60,000 is currently invested to help support on-ground conservation work for the nodding geebung, including supporting private landholders to conserve this species on their land and actions to control weeds.
The NSW Government is investing $100 million over five years in the Saving our Species program which aims to secure as many threatened species as possible in the wild for the next 100 years.
The event will commence at 8.30am and free pick-ups from Penrith railway station can be arranged.
The event will conclude at 11.30am.
More information about the event can be found on the Conservation Volunteers website or by contacting David Jones at DJones@cva.org.au.
Registration is essential and bookings can be made through the event page at www.eventbrite.com.au/e/free-brunch-in-the-bush-with-conservation-volunteers-australia-tickets-53943883608.