Spring is an exciting season of revival and reawakening, both for us and our environment.
To celebrate and showcase the wild wonders in our backyard – and encourage people to get out and enjoy the outdoors – council helps deliver the Geelong Nature Festival.
The six-week festival, which is supported by a wide range of community groups, begins mid-September.
It features more than 80 events, including nature-based activities, workshops, guest speakers, presentations and displays.
Some of the early local highlights on the program include:
– Guided Ocean Grove Nature Reserve park walk – September 16 and 23
– Habitats of the Bellarine Art Exhbition at the Artisans of Australia Gallery in Drysdale – from 22 September to 17 October
– Explore the nature of the Bluff and discover its history of shipwrecks, volcanoes, birds and plants – September 25
– Children’s activities at the Frank Ellis Reserve playground in Barwon Heads – 27 September
– Explore the Barwon Heads estuary by canoe – 29 September
Emphasising the diversity we have on our doorstep, the festival will also spend a focused week in each of the six different landscapes we enjoy across Wadawurrung Country.
The Bellarine coastal region will be in the spotlight from October 7-13.
Central Geelong (urban), Armstrong Creek (wetlands), Highton/Waurn Ponds (waterways), North Geelong (plains) and Anakie (hills) will also be part of the rolling journey.
The festival is a fantastic way for people to learn more about the natural world we enjoy in our region.
Fostering a connection to our local environment, and better understanding the importance of its biodiversity, is crucial in preserving Geelong’s natural heritage and assets.
Gardening Australia presenter Hannah Moloney will launch the festival at the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre on September 15 with a gardening demonstration at the Geelong Botanic Gardens the following day.
Best known for her work in permaculture and commitment to climate activism, Hannah will be sharing fun ways of turning your backyard into a haven for wildlife.
Geelong Nature Festival is organised and supported by the City of Greater Geelong, the Geelong Field Naturalists Club, the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, Department of Energy,
Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, and many dedicated volunteer groups.
For more information and to see the festival program visit geelongaustralia.com.au/naturefestival
