The Gosford City Council Bushcare Program is a partnership between council and volunteers from the community. The purpose of this collaboration is to assist in restoring areas of degraded bushland. The program supports many groups who find reward in contributing to positive change in their local bushland area.
What is bush regeneration?
Bush regeneration involves the gradual removal of weeds to allow the native plants to regenerate naturally. Unfortunately, removing weeds once is not enough, as they soon reappear in the cleared spaces. So regular follow-up weeding is completed by Bushcare teams.
The changes that result from bush regeneration are best measured over months and years, rather than days and weeks. Success occurs when an ongoing commitment to removing weeds is made to a site over time.
Where are our sites?
Generally, people like to restore the bushland close to where they live. This makes it easy for them to get to and from the Bushcare site.
However, other bush carers travel to locations some distance from their homes because of friendships they’ve formed at Bushcare workshops, or because they prefer to volunteer in a particular bushland location.
Whether your preference is for rainforest, wetland, creek line or dune, there is a place to suit you, and you may swap sites or visit different sites whenever you would like to.
Who can volunteer in the Bushcare Program?
Everyone aged from 16 to 90 years old is welcome to join an existing group or form a new group.
Within each team, there are activities to suit everyone, from physical to moderate impact work -
for example, your role may include making the ever-important morning tea!
Everyone can find something to do to help rescue their bushland.
If you would like to form a new group please complete the Bushcare Expression of Interest Form.
When do Bushcare volunteers meet?
Most groups meet on a designated day each month, and usually for a period of two to three hours.
Other groups meet more often, such as every fortnight or even every week. The Bushcare Program is very flexible and group members can decide on how often and for how long they meet.
A Bushcare team can be a great community hub
The Bushcare Program can be a lot more than just pulling out weeds; the social and health aspects of volunteering should not be overlooked.
When Bushcare volunteers commit to their site, they see it as a chance to get outdoors, to be active and to socialise. Long-standing friendships are often formed and people enjoy the opportunity to discuss issues with some like minded new friends.
Aside from enjoying your meeting days, there are also other opportunities to assist the Bushcare Program, such as promoting your group at community events or festivals, taking photos, writing grant submissions or preparing morning tea.
How do I become a Bushcare volunteer?
Joining the Bushcare Program is very simple - you can phone 4325 8222 or email bushcare@gosford.nsw.gov.au
A Bushcare Officer will discuss how the program can suit you, and whether you join an existing group (see a list of current Bushcare project sites below) or are interested in starting up a new group in your area.
Workshops
After formally registering and becoming an active volunteer, your registration and activity within the program entitles you to start participating in all the activities that our Bushcare volunteers enjoy.
Throughout the year, a series of free educational workshops are offered to active volunteers. The workshops provide an enjoyable way for you to learn more about conserving our local bushland.