Springwood resident Phillip Birtles believes that there is an essential connection between people and water. Through his work at Sydney Water, he taps into that connection, strengthening it and contributing to healthier, happier communities while simultaneously improving waterway health.
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Timber is one of our most valuable resources but too often, when a tree comes down, people only think of turning it into wood chip or firewood instead of much higher value timber products that can last as long as the tree took to grow! Come along to Planetary Health Day on Saturday 1st March and be inspired by how Michael Trickett can bring his mobile sawmill to you and produce high value timber for building or furniture making. Reserve your spot for Planetary Health Day here (link in profile):
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/planetary-health-day-tickets-1235611640679
#timber #mobilesawmill #planetaryhealth #trees #morethanwoodchip #morethanfirewood #planetaryhealthday #katoomba #bluemountains
Have you been hearing frogs in your yard or neighbourhood? One of the highlights of our upcoming Planetary Health Day on Saturday 1 March is our exhibition of Frogs of the Blue Mountains. We`ll have photos of all the known frogs of the Blue Mountains with links to their calls and we`re thrilled that Britt Mitchell from the @australianmuseum will share her experience as a frog call validator for the Museum`s FrogID project. She will discuss how FrogID has assisted her PhD research: “Australia’s frog species in the Anthropocene – habitat loss, climate change, behaviour, and disease”, the positive impact FrogID is making and how to get involved with this Citizen Science project. If you`d like to hear Britt speak you can reserve a place here (link in profile): https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/frogid-people-powered-frog-conservation-tickets-1235831287649
The photo of the frog below is by Holly Kent and features in the exhibition.
@frogidaus #frogs #treefrogs #frogsofthebluemountains #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthday #citizenscience #katoomba #bluemountains #familyday
Planetary Health Day is coming up on 1 March. SAVE THE DATE! We all need a Planetary Health Day where we can connect with community, have fun, get inspired, buy fresh local produce and learn ways to work together to restore the health of our planet and prepare for a more challenging future.
Check out our program and book to come along here (link in profile):
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/planetary-health-day-tickets-1235611640679
#planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthday #community #beprepared #conservation #restoration #repair #localproduce #mobilesawmill #frogID #plantbased #bushfire #disasterriskreduction #firehalo
To counter the increasingly disturbing news from around the world we`re having another fun and inspiring Planetary Health Day on Saturday 1 March! (link in profile) We`re also holding a Morning Tea at 10am this Saturday 8 February for anyone interested in joining our growing Planetary Health Volunteer Community. Whether you`re looking for a new career path and need to gain some work experience, whether you have skills you`re keen to share, or whether you`d just like to join a great group of like-minded people keen to make a difference, we have opportunities to be involved in Planetary Health Gardening and Site Works, Media and Storytelling, Skillshare, Events and Fundraising, and Guiding (eg. we currently have a frog exhibition and we`ve built a Water Demonstration Site). We also have a Bushcare Group! Reserve your place via the link in our profile, or if you can`t make it tomorrow email planetaryhealth@bmcc.nsw.gov.au or ring 0407 437 553
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/how-to-join-the-planetary-health-volunteer-community-tickets-1236696415269
#volunteer #planetaryhealth #dontquit #dontgiveup #dontdespair #community #action #togetherwecan
If you spent your summer break sorting out your wardrobe and found old favourites that need a new zip or are falling apart in some way, or if you went op-shopping and found something you loved that needs an adjustment or a remodel, bring it along to our free Fashion Upcycling workshop this Saturday 1 February from 9am to 3pm at the Planetary Health Centre. Places are limited so book here (link in profile) or ring 0407 437 553: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/free-fashion-upcycling-program-on-skillshare-saturdays-tickets-1110992892649?aff=oddtdtcreator
Margaret Mead once said: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it`s the only thing that ever has.”
As the world roils with change and the survival of many species is being threatened, the Planetary Health Bushcare group started the year by working together on Saturday 4 January to restore habitat at the Planetary Health site. It was an afternoon of great conversations, amazing cloud formations, and impressive progress as we tackled the invasive weed choking the beautiful native plants on site. If you’re keen to help us restore the Planetary Health site; if looking for a way to shut out the news, contribute, connect to others and the natural world, learn and possibly even explore a different career pathway, you can join us this Saturday from 1.30 to 4.30. There’s always great food, great conversation and great satisfaction to be had! NB. There may even be plum and apple chutney and chocolate zucchini cake this Saturday!
If you`d like to join our Bushcare Group contact Karen Hising at khising@bmcc.nsw.gov.au or call the Bushcare Office on 4780 5623
For more information about the Planetary Health Centre contact the Planetary Health office on 0407 437 553
#planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthcentre #bushcare #habitatrestoration #restoringhabitat #margaretmead #theantidote #newyear #satisfaction #greatcompany❤️
Some of the most popular activities we`ve run over the last year have been our plant-based cooking demonstrations. If you`d like to learn more about how to prepare meals that are cheaper, healthier and better for the planet, Teja Brooks Pribac from PlantInspired will be demonstrating how to use pantry essentials to create delicious and healthy plant-based meals tomorrow: Friday 6 December at Junction 142 in Katoomba. Ph. 0434 691 496
#plantbased #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthdiet #cookingclass #katoomba #bluemountains
If you`ve heard about how inspiring and fun our Skillshare Saturdays are with our free Upcycling Fashion workshop from 9am to 3pm, our Wildlife Exhibition from 9am to 1pm, and our Bushcare to regenerate the Planetary Health Precinct at 1.30pm, there`s still one more opportunity in 2024 to come along and join in, this Saturday 7 December. Well be having some delicious Christmas nibbles to celebrate the end of a very productive year and all are welcome. The Planetary Health Centre is at 33-39 Acacia St Katoomba. Bookings for Upcycling essential (link in profile). To find out more about joining Bushcare ring 0407 437553 #upcyclingfashion #bushcare #planetaryhealth #learntosew #patternmaking #katoomba #bluemountains #natureconnection #wildlifeexhibition #birdphotos #wires
The inspiring Lyrebird Festival kicks off in the Megalong Valley this evening and runs until Sunday 17th November. Enjoy a weekend of music, art, food, wine, talks and nature walks as The Bowerbird Collective brings together art, science, conservation and world class music performances. All events can be booked separately or together with a Festival pass. Pricing includes a `Pay what you can` option.
The Lyrebird can be heard in the Megalong Valley imitating the calls of hundreds of other species, as well as producing their own thrilling sounds. The festival also includes a very special film screening of The Message of the Lyrebird on Sunday afternoon.
Tickets available here: https://bit.ly/3AON8In
(or at link in profile)
#megalongvalley #lyrebirds #lyrebirdfestival #bowerbirdcollective #bluemountains #planetaryhealth
In April 2021 Blue Mountains City Council became the first local government in Australia to adopt a motion to integrate Rights of Nature principles into its operations and practices. Today the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative, the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute and lawyer Kingsley Liu, had the great pleasure of workshopping further ways to implement Rights of Nature with this inspiring group of Law students from the University of New South Wales.
#rightsofnature #UNSW #lawstudents #planetaryhealth #bluemountains
At our World Animal Day event we launched the Community Supporting Community Program with a plant based cheese degustation. Teja Brooks Pribac from PlantInspired is now offering interactive classes in which you can have fun learning new techniques for using vegetables to create delicious meals that are good for your health and the health of the planet. Small groups: 6-8 people. $65.50pp. Bookings essential.
Classes currently on offer:
Plant-based cheese making & demo
Saturday 9 Nov, 1-3pm. Lawson NSW: https://www.facebook.com/events/1274663973560691
[DATE CHANGE!] The Tastemaster: how to turn your average vegetable into a mouthwatering masterpiece
Sunday 17 November, 11am-2pm. Katoomba: https://www.facebook.com/events/517611447925601
End of year special: plant-based cooking essentials 2-class bundle
Saturday 30 November, Sunday 1 December, 11am-2pm. Katoomba NSW: https://www.facebook.com/events/1116156823213312
Cooking with seitan
Saturday 7 December, 11am-2pm. Katoomba NSW. https://www.facebook.com/events/1553960262666738
PlantInspired is also offering interactive plant-based cooking classes and demos for individual clients, private groups and businesses. Choose from a range of preset classes or get in touch to tailor your own.
All profits utilised to help vulnerable members of the community through the Community Supporting Community program. Check the website for more info: www.plantinspired.com.au (link in profile)
#plantinspired #plantbasedcooking #vegan #community #planetaryhealth
Skillshare Saturdays literally offer a `breath of fresh air` at the Planetary Health Centre on the first Saturday of the month! At our free Upcycling Fashion workshop this month you can learn more about all types of zips and how to do basic pockets and pocket flaps. You can bring your own sewing machine or use one of ours. And at Bushcare in the afternoon, you can immerse yourself in the bush at the Planetary Health Precinct as you help restore habitat and protect biodiversity (while meeting some great people and enjoying time in nature). Bookings essential for Upcycling Fashion at Eventbrite here: https://bit.ly/4dZWUoM (link in profile)
If you`d like to join our Bushcare Group contact Karen Hising at khising@bmcc.nsw.gov.au or call the Bushcare Office on 4780 5623
#upcyclingfashion #skillshare #planetaryhealth #bushcare #community #togetherwecan #zerowaste #regeneration #circulareconomy
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Healthier Waterways, Happier People
Springwood resident Phillip Birtles believes that there is an essential connection between people and water. Through his work at Sydney Water, he taps into that connection, strengthening it and contributing to healthier, happier communities while simultaneously improving waterway health.
Read More » -
Beyond the Yellow Bin: Surprising Things You Can Recycle – and How to Do it!
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Rainforest Aircon: Planting for Comfort & Climate
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A Generous Helping: A Reclaimed Food Revolution in Springwood
Food wastage is one of the biggest problems in the developed world, contributing to landfill, climate change and food insecurity, but in the Lower Blue Mountains a number of organisations are finding ways to reduce food waste while helping locals access delicious fresh food and slash their grocery bills.
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Giving New Life to Things & People at the Australian Repair Shop in Faulconbridge
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Emma Madison is Finding her Community Through Co-Working
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Love Thy Neighbourhood Centre
For over 45 years the Springwood Neighbourhood Centre has been providing much needed community resources, advice and facilities to the people of the Blue Mountains. Tonje Akerholt and the other staff at the Centre work tirelessly to ensure that the space continues as somewhere everyone can feel welcome and connected.
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It’s November and 1 Million Turtles are counting on you!
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Caring for Community: Doing What We Need to Do
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Hidden in Plain View: The Surprising Acts of Sustainability on Macquarie Road Springwood
Along Macquarie Road in Springwood, many businesses are taking action by making quiet, and often surprising decisions which benefit and promote sustainability in our local area, and across the world.
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Turning Carbon into Sunshine: Renewable Energy for Disaster Risk Reduction
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A Home for All Seasons: Future-Proofing for Human and Planetary Health
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Springwood Lot Party: Transforming an Underused Space Into a Vibrant Community Event
On the last Sunday of March 2024 the car park at Springwood Train Station was transformed into a vibrant community space with food stalls, art opportunities and live music. Tamsyn McGrouther reports on the event.
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Plants for the Planet’s Sake: The Life and Times of a Bush Doctor
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Blue Mountains achieves global standard in Ecotourism
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Magical Creatures: the Under-appreciated Role of Insects in Our Gardens
There is an army of hard-working environmental warriors all around us: in soil, on plants, in the air and in the water. Insects are our hidden allies. They protect, develop and maintain our natural environments, and yet their contribution is so often misunderstood, ignored or actively maligned.
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The Bush Preschool Cultivating the Next Generation of Nature Lovers
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A Light-hearted Look at a Serious Subject: Breaking Down Barriers to Bushfire Preparedness
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Barometers of Climate Change: Artists and Therapists at the Braemar Gallery
Six Blue Mountains artists take strikingly different approaches to expressing ecological emotions associated with fire, flood and pandemic.
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Reconnecting the Seven Sisters Songlines from Uluru to the East Coast of Australia
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Julie Parkin: Back on Track
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People Of Binfluence: The 2024 Binfluencer Awards
Blue Mountains City Council hosted the local Binfluencer Awards to recognise and reward those who are working to encourage and increase waste avoidance, reusing or recycling in their local communities.
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Battling Remote Bush Blazes
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“We’re all in this together”: Towards Community Net Zero