Blue Mountains Shale Cap Forest (BMSCF) Grant Variation

Hawkesbury Nepean Landcare Network successfully completed a variation of the BMSCF grant, the components of the variation included developing a curriculum linked school resource and a complimenting experience for Bilpin Public School, hosting “Bilpin Environment Day” during the month of May (2025), focused on connecting community with Blue Mountains Shale Capped Forest (EEC) and providing support and capacity building opportunities for the Mountains for Wildlife (MFW)– Blue Mountains group, who undertake conservation work in the Blue Mountains area

School Curriculum Module

Hawkesbury Nepean Landcare Network will develop a curriculum linked school resource and a complimenting experience with a focus on the Blue Mountains Shale Capped Forest (EEC) for 60 students at Bilpin Public School to learn about the ecosystem and the natural environment, by April 2025, ready for engagement at school from April through to May 2025 (end of Term 1 and beginning of Term 2). This component is Linked to the Science and Technology K to 6 syllabus The curriculum linked component will be Stage 1, 2 & 3 – Living world.

Projected measurable outcomes: 

• Resource developed = 3 (The NSW Environmental Trust will be provided a copy of or link to the resources).
• Number of students engaged = 60
• Curriculum linked module = 3 resources created. 1 for each stage; 1,2 & 3.
• Photos showing examples of students work (no images of students) = 10
• Completed by 30 June 2025.

Bilpin Public School Excursions

HNLN contracted an environmental educator, Tom from Hooked on Nature (Hooked on Nature) to develop a curriculum linked school resource and a complimenting experience with a focus on the Blue Mountains Shale Capped Forest (BMSCF) EEC. On the 3^rd and 4^th of April this year, Bilpin Public School students were safely guided across the road by teachers, the local Landcare coordinator and Tom, to begin our BMSCF excursions at Bilpin Park Reserve. The students were brought down in two groups (group 1: years k – 2 and group 2: years 3-6).

The excursions went for 2 hours each, students participated in citizen science activities to better their understanding of the living world, particularly learning to observe the ecology of BMSCF EEC. Activities included sweep netting for insects in the nearby bush and grass, walking through the bush looking for basking lizards and changing soil types (reflecting BMSCF ecology), identifying habitat for fauna, looking at the importance of WaterBugs, conducting dip netting to catch macroinvertebrates and identifying water bugs.

Bilpin Environment Day

Hawkesbury Nepean Landcare Network will host “Bilpin Environment Day” during the month of May, focused on connecting community with Blue Mountains Shale Capped Forest (EEC). This field day will be modelled on a pilot project that was successfully delivered in Blacktown and will include the presence of the Local Landcare Coordinator from HNLN, HRCC staff, specialist contractors who have worked on the BMSCF project (sharing the work completed during the project timeline), local experts (delivering talks/demonstrations tailored to educate the community on; identifying native plant species and how to determine what ecological community they belong too (BMSCF), understanding local provenance, succession, and resilience in native plant species) and other local groups holding stalls to promote their networks. Tom (from Hooked on Nature) will host an interactive session during the event, led by the curriculum linked resource created, for children in the Bilpin area, along with showcasing the Bilpin Public School students artworks created during the incursion/s,  gathering interested people from the community and supporting them to get involved in local groups/initiatives, showcasing the hard work and outcomes that the contactors/councils/groups/schools have achieved with this funding and promoting regeneration and conservation of vegetation communities in the area including BMSCF. HNLN will promote ticket registration by February 2025 and will host the Bilpin Environment Day during May 2025.

Projected measurable outcomes: 

• How many new signs ups to a local Landcare group or to Landcare newsletter = 5
• Number of people attending the field day = 40
• Number of key stakeholders involved = 4
• Photo of displays and activities = 10
• Completed by 30 June 2025.

Bilpin Environment Day event – May 10^th, 2025

On the 10^th of May, the LLC organised a community event the Bilpin Environment Day (BED). The event came alive with the spirit of community, conservation, and meaningful connection. There were 86 ticket registrations and over 120 attendees counted and 16 stallholders, with that amount of foot traffic, it made the day a rich and interactive experience for everyone who attended.

Throughout the morning, the markets buzzed with excitement as families explored our eco-themed stalls, wildlife displays, and participated in your guided walks. The children's activities, insights shared on biodiversity and bush regeneration, and the 110 native plants given away (including eco-raffle prize vouchers) by the Hawkesbury Community Nursery and Bushcare all played a part in creating an engaging, educational experience for the community

We heard from many attendees just how much the community-led “feel” stood out to them at this event. One guest shared:

“I’ve been to many events before and they were very formal, with presenters using language that’s hard to understand and a structure, down to the minute, that’s hard to follow. It was evident that this event was community-led—you can feel the collective energy and passion coming from conversations between community and stallholders!” – Damian (attendee)

From the Bird Walk led by volunteer Eric Finley to the Weed Walk led by volunteer, Helen Bodill, to Elliot Robertson’s talk on Native Plants & Ecosystems, the day offered something for everyone—capped off by our eco-raffle, where the lucky winners took home prizes perfect for budding botanical enthusiasts.

We’re proud to have hosted this event in partnership with the NSW Government’s Saving Our Species program and the Environmental Trust, and even prouder to work alongside passionate stallholders like the ones involved.

Landcare Capacity Building

During the life of the project, a Landcare group has been formed in Bilpin. Hawkesbury Nepean Landcare Network will provide support and capacity building opportunities for the Mountains for Wildlife (MFW)– Blue Mountains group, who undertake conservation work in the Blue Mountains area where the Blue Mountains Shale Capped Forest (EEC) is present. This will include: 

• MFW receives Remote First AID Training during February 2025. 
• HNLN will purchase 4 Trail Cameras to bolster MFW’s efforts of monitoring local fauna. 
• HNLN will purchase 1 Seed collection pole to assist MFW in managing hard to reach weeds (and capture exotic weed seed) that poses a threat to BMSCF EEC
• HNLN will purchase 1 resource book “Monitoring Threatened Species and Ecological Communities”. The book presents practical advice to scientists and land managers to improve the quality of threatened biodiversity monitoring.
• HNLN will purchase 6 bush regeneration tool pouches including a belt, hand saw, trowel, and secateurs to assist with on-ground weed control works/working bees.

Measurable outcomes: 

• Number of images capture/species recorded: 10
• Number of training days = 1
• No of attendees to training days = 6
• Photos of training day = 2

This project is being funded by the NSW Government through a partnership between the Saving our Species program and the Environmental Trust.