Within our community, we are lucky enough to have long-standing environmental groups who have worked tirelessly over the years to protect and enhance our natural surroundings and wildlife.
This Biodiversity Month, we would like to acknowledge the work of the Knox Environmental Society and Friends of Blind Creek Billabong who are celebrating two very important milestones.
Knox Environmental Society 40th Anniversary
Founded in 1982, Knox Environmental Society (KES) started as a small group of like-minded individuals who were passionate about their community and local environment. Today, this volunteer-run organisation has over 100 members and has since established a not-for-profit indigenous plant nursery in Ferntree Gully. Money from nursery sales are fed back into the community either through the funding of environmental campaigns or donations that enables the work of other local biodiversity groups.
KES also works in partnership with Council across a number of projects including helping to:
- Develop and implement wildlife gardening programs on private land as part of the Gardens for Wildlife program
- Establish the Locally Threatened Species Management Plan
We are grateful to KES for supporting our Bushland Team and thank them for their efforts in helping to protect and preserve our local environment.
Congratulations to Knox Environmental Society on achieving 40 years of service!
Watch this video about how KES celebrated this milestone.
Friends of Blind Creek Billabong 21st Anniversary
Founded in 2001, Friends of Blind Creek Billabong are a group of volunteers dedicated to preserving Blind Creek Billabong Reserve, the nearby Agora Bushland Reserve and Blind Creek precinct located between Wattletree Road, Ferntree Gully and Lewis Road, Wantirna South.
The group has actively supported our Biodiversity Team and contributed to many projects that have improved our local environment including:
- Assisting in the redirection and engineering of Blind Creek from underground, back to the earth’s surface (also known as daylighting)
- Helping to protect local plants and wildlife along Blind Creek Trail
- Supporting local schools and contributing to community events such as National Tree Day, Wattle Day and the annual Stringybark Festival
We thank the Friends of Blind Creek Billabong for their hard work, commitment and passion. Congratulations on achieving 21 years of service!
Watch this video for a tour of Blind Creek.