Natural environment community groups
A number of environmental community groups are active in the Maroondah municipality. These groups are mostly volunteers who contribute many hours to preserve and maintain the local natural environment.
Why join an environmental group?
Joining an environmental group is a great experience for those who would like to help the environment, or want to get experience in an environment related field of work. No previous experience is necessary, groups are made up of people of all ages and students can often complete compulsory work experience hours with a group
Benefits of joining a group include:
- Meeting a variety of interesting people and useful contacts
- Gaining skills in article writing, drawing and or publishing (if the group has a newsletter)
- Obtaining plant identification skills
- Gaining additional skills from field work such as revegetation works, seed collection, plant propagation and weed control
- Learning general ecology principles
- Preserving invaluable flora and fauna
Apply to be a volunteer
Local community groups
Cheong Street Environmental Group (Croydon)
Residents come together on an annual basis to help enhance the natural values along Cheong Street.
Contact Ruth 0400 915 057
ruth.mcauld@gmail.com
Croydon Conservation Society Inc.
Croydon Conservation Society is a non-profit community group that works to preserve and increase canopy trees, open spaces, wildlife habitat and good design.
Contact Liz Sanzaro 9879 2247
president@croydonconservation.org.au
http://www.croydonconservation.org.au/
Croydon Conservation Society - Facebook group
First Friends of Dandenong Creek
First Friends of Dandenong Creek (FFDC) works with a range of organisations and individuals to enhance the creeks that sustain life in our area. They dedicate their time, expertise and energy towards the wider catchment area of Dandenong Creek. Membership enquiries welcome. Please refer to Facebook for upcoming events.
Contact Anthony Bigelow
ffdc1999@gmail.com
https://www.ffdc.org.au/
First Friends of Dandenong Creek - Facebook group
Friends of Bungalook Conservation Reserves (Kilsyth South)
Volunteers help maintain the nationally significant habitat of the Bungalook Conservation Reserves and enjoy regular nature walks and ecological activities.
Working bees held 2nd Saturday of the month (except January), 9.30am to lunchtime.
Contact Graeme Lorimer 0403 229 862
Graeme@meg.org.au
www.meg.org.au/events/bungalook
Friends of Candlebark Walk Reserve Inc. (Croydon Hills)
Volunteers are helping to enhance the biodiversity of Candlebark Walk Reserve and improve habitat for local wildlife.
Contact Amanda
Friends of Candlebark Reserve Inc. - Facebook group
Friends of Cheong Park (Croydon)
Working to help maintain and improve the significant environmental values of Cheong Park.
Contact Susan Bailey
cheongcroydon@gmail.com
Friends of FJC Rogers Reserve (Heathmont)
Carefully caring for a remnant pocket of bushland in Heathmont. Volunteers document the indigenous flora through photography, collect litter, remove weeds and sometimes do planting. Working bees held 1st Wednesday of the month (except January), 12-2pm.
Contact Don Dower 0401 611 173
wrinklyprune24@gmail.com
Friends of Herman Pump Reserve (Heathmont)
A group of local residents that meet 2-3 times per year to maintain and revegetate this beautiful reserve (mulching, planting, weeding). For details of working bees, keep an eye out for posters in the reserve, the group's closed Facebook group and flyers.
Contact Ann 0402628054
annandcraig@hotmail.com
Friends of Kurrajong Reserve (Croydon)
Volunteers are helping to improve Kurrajong Reserve to bring the community together, create a haven for flora and fauna alike and provide recreational space and opportunities to for residents to learn amongst nature.
Contact Katharine Cox 0403 674 373 or Andrew Cox 0431 084 785
FriendsofKurrajong@gmail.com
Friends of Longview Reserve (Croydon South)
Working to ecologically improve a reserve through the creation of a habitat stepping stone, connecting with remnant bushland such as Cheong Wildflower Reserve.
Contact Del 0431 274 215
longviewreservefriends@gmail.com
Friends of Melview Reserve (Ringwood North)
Connecting community to nature. Fostering a care for their local environment at Melview Reserve. Please like and follow our Facebook page to watch our progress or get involved.
Contact Elspeth
elspeth.defanti@gmail.com
Friends of Melview Reserve - Facebook page
Friends of Ringwood Lake (Ringwood East)
Volunteers are helping to improve the biodiversity values of Ringwood Lake, focussing their efforts on the eastern end of the reserve.
Contact Naomi 0402 065 912
naomi.walsh@optusnet.com.au
Friends of Ringwood Lake - Facebook Group
Friends of Tarralla Creek (Croydon)
A passionate group of locals who are providing stewardship for Tarralla Creek in partnership with Maroondah City Council and Melbourne Water.
Contact Mel Klamt or Mary Catus-Wood
tarrallacreek@gmail.com
Friends of Tarralla Creek - Facebook group
Friends of The Terrace (Croydon)
The Terrace and adjoining lane connect Alto and Ellesmere Avenues. They date to the earliest history of Croydon and give lovely views over Croydon towards the Dandenongs. Volunteers are improving the environmental values by revegetating with indigenous plants.
Contact Stephen 0419 723 880
stephenlucas717@gmail.com
Friends of Walhalla & Hume Reserves (Ringwood East)
Helping to care for and enhance the natural environment along Hume Street and help provide a wildlife stepping stone to nearby bushland reserves.
Contact June Eldridge
walhallareserve@gmail.com
Friends of Wombolano Park (Ringwood East)
Helping to care for remnant bushland comprised of Valley Heathy Forest, with White Stringybark in Wombolano Park.
Working bees held monthly, usually on the 4th Sunday of the month, meeting at Wombolano playground.
Contact Merrilyn Smith 0410 073 541
mem.smiff@gmail.com
Friends of Woodland Park (Croydon South)
Formed to foster community relationships through their focus of making improvements to Woodland Park, volunteers are helping to improve the biodiversity and habitat in the Park through planting indigenous plants and monitoring wildlife.
Contact Suzanne or Hannah
fowpcroydon@gmail.com
Woodland Park Friends - Facebook group
Heathmont Bushcare
For the past 18 years a group of Heathmont residents, who have adopted the name of Heathmont Bushcare, have met in remnant bushland each month to undertake planting, weeding and restoration projects.
Working bees held 1st Sunday of the month, 10am - 12pm
Contact Roger 9876 6762 or Will
heathmontbushcare@gmail.com
https://heathmontbushcare.com/
Hillside Drive Environment Group (Croydon)
A group of residents undertaking revegetation to create a wildlife stepping stone to provide connection with Cheong Wildflower Sanctuary.
Contact Heather 0438 319 992
hmmorcomb@yahoo.com.au
Maroondah Bushlands
Maroondah Bushlands is the umbrella group for volunteers who work in their own local reserve, enhancing weeding and nurturing indigenous plants in our municipality. It has broad membership for all “friends of” groups, and connections with groups doing similar work in neighbouring municipalities.
Contact Margaret 9876 3094 or Keith 9723 4410
MarBushOz@hotmail.com
Mullum Mullum Creek Bushcare (Ringwood)
An environmental group who are bringing back the bush to the Mullum Mullum Creek between Oliver Street and Oban Road.
Working bees held 2nd Saturday of the month (except January & February), 9:30-11:30am/12pm.
Contact the group via email:
mullumcreekbushcare@gmail.com
Mullum Mullum Creek Bushcare - Facebook Group
Warranwood Landcare Group
Helping to maintain and improve Warranwood Reserve and surrounding areas with a focus on weeding and replacing weeds with indigenous plants. Also helping to promote community engagement by enhancing the amenity of the area.
Working bees held throughout the year, usually on a Sunday from 10am-1pm.
Contact Margaret 9876 3094 or Janette 0490 013 705 (text messages preferred)
WarranwoodRes@hotmail.com
info@warranwoodreserve.org
http://warranwoodreserve.org/
Visit an Indigenous Nursery
CRISP Nursery
Address: 17 Greenwood Avenue, Ringwood
Phone: 9879 3911
Email: info@crispnursery.org.au
Website: http//www.crispnursery.org.au/
Candlebark Community Nursery
Address: Cnr. Hull & Taylor Roads, Mooroolbark
Phone: 9727 0594 or 0499 021 315
Email: info@candlebark.org.au
Website: http://candlebark.org.au/
For further information on Maroondah’s environmental volunteer groups and opportunities please contact the Maroondah Bushland team via email nature@maroondah.vic.gov.au or maroondah@maroondah.vic.gov.au or call 1300 88 22 33.