Eurobodalla’s two-week celebration of nature’s beauty and bounty is back. Set in the grounds of the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden, From the Forest abounds with exhibitions, kid’s crafts, music, moonlight movie and expert-guided walks.
Timed for the autumn school holidays, Garden Manager Michael Anlezark said From the Forest included plenty of activities for kids, “like building an Earth Day mandala, taking a discovery walk and crafting things like bird nests or mushrooms and toadstools”.
“We’re also launching our first moonlight movie. Watching our huge 5-metre screen under the evening moon – it’s not your everyday film experience,” he said.
“Paper Planes is a great family movie, with a great Aussie cast. It’s follows school-boy underdog Dylan, who dreams of competing in the World Paper Plane Championships.”
There’s plenty of other events for adults too, with Mr Anlezark highlighting Breakfast with the Birds and the night-time spotlighting walk.
“We have forest ecologist Craig Dunne for our spotlight tour after dark. He’ll give a brief presentation of what you can expect to see and hear before setting out into the night. We had a trial run just last month and saw a couple of sugar gliders at a bit of biffo; one got knocked right out of the tree,” Mr Anlezark said.
“Similarly, we have a couple of local ornithologists who’ll guide Breakfast with the Birds participants on a hunt for some of the 130 bird species recorded here in the Garden, followed by a breakfast of fruit, muffins and warm croissants in the Spotted Gum Pavilion.”
Other guided walks include a literary walk highlighting trees that feature in popular fiction and behind-the-scenes tours with nursery supervisor and orchid expert Dylan Morrissey. Just like last year, the From the Forest art exhibition is on show in the Visitors Centre Banksia Room – this year it will run for the full two weeks instead of just one.
“The art exhibition showcases our local talents. It’s very diverse but, obviously, there is a strong nature focus among the 120 works. This year, the art will spill outdoors with sculptures on the lawn as well,” Mr Anlezark said.
“Many of the events are free but a few have a small charge to cover costs. Many activities – like the movie, guided walks and Breakfast with the Birds – have limited places and I reckon they’ll fill up quick, so book early.
“Otherwise you might like to stroll one of the trails or rest easy on a seat within the Garden’s glorious grounds for a little forest bathing – scientifically proven to lower stress and boost well-being. And you can do that anytime.”
