Main points:
- Inaugural Nature Discovery Day so popular it will be held at Cockburn bushland reserves every school holidays
- More than 80 children and their parents attended a day-long Nature Discovery Day at Yangebup Lake
- The low-cost day was designed to help locals discover the City’s many nature reserves and bushland areas, and their diverse flora and fauna.
Discovering the benefits of getting close to nature can begin anytime, but the earlier the better!
That was the view of more than 80 curious children and their parents who attended the City of Cockburn’s first Nature Discovery Day during the July school holidays, raring to go for an 8.30am start.
Families with children aged four to 12 threw on their raincoats and gumboots to brave the wintery Makuru rain showers for the low-cost day-long event.
The event was designed to help locals discover the City’s many nature reserves and bushland areas, and their diverse flora and fauna.
It was so popular that the City’s Sustainability and Climate Change Team will now hold similar events at its nature reserves during future school holidays.
City of Cockburn Acting Sustainability and Climate Change Coordinator Rafeena Boyle said the City had more than 80 reserves within its boundaries but not all had toilet facilities, which could make it hard to attract families with young nature enthusiasts.
“We had so much positive feedback from the kids, families and carers about the day itself which gives us a clear indication that locals are keen for a reason to explore their neighbourhood bushland.
“For this event we set up a space at Yangebup Lake with toilets, shelters and activities designed to make it easy for people to relax and get up close and personal with the amazing natural environment in Cockburn.
“This particular event was held to commemorate NAIDOC Week, recognising First Nations cultural and eco values which are commonplace in the City’s sustainability programs.”
The event was held in partnership with the City of Cockburn Library Service and the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions - Parks and Wildlife Service.
Unique cultural and eco-education activities included community walks touching on the site’s Nyungar significance and its past uses for agriculture and wool scouring.
There was also a pop-up walk trail for passers-by, a nature story time trek for under 5s featuring books written by First Nations authors Yurleen Winmar and Sally Morgan and the Kep Boodjar ‘Water Country’ activity led by Cyril Yarran.
Keep your eye on the City’s events and workshops
page on our website, and social media, for a Nature Discovery Day planned for 4 October.