Hills Council’s two upcoming environmental events
Participate in two outdoor sessions in the Hills Shire Council’s environmental workshops starting in late May 2024.
Gardening for Native Bees
Bee part of something sweet and celebrate World Bee Day on Saturday, 18 May 2024, in a two-hour interactive session in ‘Gardening for Native Bees’ and listen to Dr Amelie Vanderstock about the native bee population, its various species, and how to make friendly gardens suitable for native bees.
“Did you know that there are over 2000 species of native bees in Australia? Who might live in your patch? And how can we make that space the best it can BEE?” the Council mentioned.
“Participants of all ages will be supported with strategies to design and nurture your own spaces (big or small!) for people and pollinators.”
Dr Amelie Vanderstock, a science communicator and educator with a PhD in native bee ecology, utilizes citizen science to share awareness of pollinators in urban community gardens and bushland.
Also known as ‘Amelie Ecology,’ she writes and performs educational music about ecology and science. According to Amelie, she writes family-friendly songs and performs them in schools and festivals across the country and overseas, like Japan.
Amelie is currently working on her debut musical album and educational resource kit, ‘Let’s BEE Scientists’, for preschool and early primary schools, which will be released on World Environment Day, 2024.
The workshop will begin at 10 AM and end by noon.
Participants are advised to bring a pen and paper if they wish to take notes, a hat, enclosed shoes, long pants, and sunscreen for the workshop, which will take place outside in the garden.
The event is free of charge and can be booked online via Eventbrite: Gardening for Native Bees. It will be held at the Community Environment Centre, located at Currie Avenue, Annangrove. 
Wildlife Night Walk and Talk
For the night owls, be ready to spot your kin at the ‘Wildlife Night Walk and Talk’ by exploring the area and learning about local koalas and owl populations. Learn more about the local nocturnal fauna from Lilly with Cattai Hills Environment Network (CHEN), Hills Hornsby Koala Project and Shaun, a local wildlife carer.
The Council encourages Hills residents to join the special night walk and engage their senses with the sounds and sights in the night: “Hear more about the nocturnal creatures that occupy the night in The Hills and learn about our surrounding wildlife and environment.”
The Council cautions that the guided walk is approximately 2 km long and on an even fire trail track, and recommends that participants be of reasonable fitness and comfortable walking at night. The event is not suitable for children under 10 years old.
The night walk will run from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at 116 Sermelfi Drive, Glenorie. To learn more about the event and join the waitlist, visit the Council’s online reservation via Eventbrite here: Wildlife Night Walk and Talk.
This event run by the Connecting Outdoors Program is supported by Hawkesbury Nepean Landcare Network, hosted by Cattai Hills Environment Network, The Hills Shire Environment Team and made possible by funding from the Western Sydney Primary Health Network (WSPHN), operated by WentWest.
