Friends groups
Most weekends, volunteers from across the Shire work together to protect our natural environment as part of one of the 22 friends groups.
What is a friends group?
A friends group is a group of volunteers with an interest in a particular park, reserve or species of native plant or animal. Members are involved in activities such as planting, weed control, mulching, plant and animal monitoring and water quality monitoring.
These groups do more than 2,000 hours of volunteer work in Council bushland reserves each year. They play a vital role in protecting threatened natural environments, as well as making Nillumbik, a more beautiful place to live.
Joining a friends group is a great way to meet new people, learn new skills and contribute to the protection and enhancement of our significant bushland reserves. Groups are always keen to welcome new members.
If there is not a friends group in your area, you can establish your own. To set up a group talk to Council - all you will need is a contact person and a number of like-minded people in your area, along with an idea of the work that the group would like to do.
More information can be found in the friends groups manual(PDF, 2MB).
Local friends groups
There are a number of friends groups in the Shire. See below for your local group.
Bend of Islands
- Bend of Islands Conservation Association
contact Sue Grad 0439 101 962 or visit website
- Round the Bend Conservation Cooperative Ltd
contact 9712 0534 or visit website
Eltham
- Friends of Diamond Creek, Eltham Lower Park
contact Sue Dyet 9439 1175 or suedyet@hotmail.com
- Friends of the Eltham Copper Butterfly
contact Wayne Kinrade 9439 1482 or kinradew@gmail.com
- Friends of the Eyrie Reserve
Third Sunday of every month, 10am - 12pm
Zig Zag Rd access (opposite number 96 Zig Zag Road)
contact Jennifer Willshire 0415332723, jennifer.willshire@hotmail.com
Hurstbridge
Friends of Diamond Creek - Hurstbridge
contact Bill Hall on 0408 124 564 bnehall@bigpond.com
Kangaroo Ground
Friends of Moor-rul Reconciliation Grasslands
contact Jann Darvill 9439 7342 or jann.darvill@bigpond.com
Nutfield
- Friends of Mine Road Reserve
contact Peter Yates - 0417 421 610; Sarah Brenan - 0435 538 656
Email neag456@gmail.com
Warrandyte
Coalition of Warrandyte Friends Groups
contact Alex McCullum 9844 4431 or friendsofpbc@mac.com
Further information
Contact Environmental Works Unit on 9433 3184.