Plenty of upcoming outdoor activities to take advantage of South West’s spring

With the arrival of spring and wildflowers starting to bloom, a South West conservation group is hosting a range of activities to embrace the change of seasons.

The Leschenault Catchment Council is hosting three community events over the coming months, giving nature lovers in the South West the best opportunity to enjoy wildflower season.

The events come from the LCC’s Estuary Connect program, with the first event being the new Keeping it Local native species planting guide developed in collaboration with the cities of Busselton and Bunbury and the shires of Harvey, Dardanup, Capel and Collie.

It will be launched on September 12 at 6pm at the Old Lyric in Bunbury with renowned botanist Professor Kingsley Dixon.

On September 30 the LCC will be hosting a guided wildflower walk with Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions flora conservation officer Andrew Webb exploring the diversity of wildflowers at Manea Park.

The walk runs from 9am to 11.30am and Mr Webb will give an in-depth look at the threat of Phytophthora dieback to native species alongside the wildflower walk.

Lastly, in October, Bunbury residents will be opening their private gardens to the public for the first ever Open Nature Gardens Bunbury event.

The event will see gardens a short distance from Big Swamp open, from tiny verge designs, to habitat gardens and rewilded urban spaces.

Centralised around Big Swamp, there will be food and coffee vendors as well as talks from the Friends of Big Swamp group.

The Open Nature Gardens Bunbury event will take place on October 13, from 9.30am to midday.

Registration are essential and can be made at www.leschenaultcc.org.au/events.