Host organisation - HRCC supports Landcare initiatives with in-kind!
HRCC the Local Control Authority (LCA) supports Landcare in schools with the Local Landcare Coordinator.
Capacity building - LEP23-015_LLC
The issue
Often schools have areas of vegetation or bushland that they do not have the capacity or knowledge to manage it. Teachers expressed that they need support with identifying problem areas at their schools, understanding the scope of works, organising the management of such area and facilitating an educational day for students to meet curriculum requirements or provide an extra-curricular activity for students in some cases. General assistants at the school tend to have the knowledge base of a landscape gardener rather than a bush regenerator.
The solution
Hawkesbury River County Council (HRCC), the LCA, dedicates 300 hours of bush regeneration per year between their four LGAs (Blacktown, Hawkesbury, Penrith, The Hills Shire) to support schools in the Hawkesbury Nepean Landcare region. With the assistance of the Local Landcare Coordinator from HNLN, HRCC/HNLN communicate with schools and identifies sites that need support that year. Once on ground support has been confirmed, activities are chosen and planned. Generally, a session would involve students and teachers learning bush regeneration techniques and participating in some weed removal on a target species/area. Sometimes the visits involve planting or citizen science.
The impact
The partnership between HRCC and HNLN is creating meaningful environmental and educational impact across local schools. By providing expert bush-regeneration support, schools gain access to knowledge and skills they otherwise lack, ensuring their bushland areas are responsibly managed and restored. Students benefit through hands-on learning that strengthens curriculum outcomes, fosters environmental stewardship and builds practical skills in ecology, weed management and conservation. Teachers receive clear guidance, reducing workload and uncertainty around site-management decisions. These sessions not only improve school environments and biodiversity but also empower young people to connect with their local landscape and play an active role in its long-term care.
Learnings
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Schools need specialised support: Most schools lack bush-regeneration expertise, and general assistants often do not have the ecological knowledge required for bushland management.
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Consistency matters: Regular annual support builds long-term improvements in both school bushland and environmental education.
Key facts
- Hands-on activities engage students: Practical tasks like weed removal, planting and citizen science significantly increase student interest and understanding.
- Partnerships amplify impact: Collaboration between HRCC, HNLN and school staff ensures coordinated planning, better outcomes and reduced workload for teachers.