Have you ever wondered what species of Eucalypts are on your Bushcare site or in your Bush Backyard? Want to know more about Eucalypts of the Blue Mountains?

What: Bushcare and Bush Backyards have organised a free One Day Eucalyptus ID workshop for registered Bushcare and Bush Backyard volunteers. The workshop will be run by Judy and Peter Smith (well-known local ecologists). Morning tea and lunch (vegetarian) is provided. Please advise when you RSVP if you are vegan or gluten free.

Where: The Presbyterian Church Hall, Wentworth St Blackheath (in the morning) and the field (Blackheath Rhododendron Gardens or Ridgewell Rd) (in the afternoon).

When: The workshop will start in Blackheath at 9AM and finish by 3.15PM. Please note you cannot attend both days.

Places are limited to 20 registered Bushcare volunteers or Bush Backyarders each day so please register early. We will create a wait list if interest exceeds capacity and these people will be contacted if there are cancellations.

Run sheet for the day

There is a train for those wishing to use public transport that departs Katoomba at 8.26am arriving at Blackheath at 8.38am. Its about a 5 minute walk from the station to the venue on Wentworth St, Blackheath.

Plenty of parking in the surrounding streets if you are driving.

The Community Bus will be leaving Katoomba Station (northern or Hwy side) at approximately 8.30am. Please email Michael Smith (msmith@bmcc.nsw.gov.au) if you would like a lift on the community bus. The community bus will be used to take participants from the venue to the field trip component of the workshop. In the afternoon the bus will return to Katoomba train station.

9AM: Workshop starts at the Presbyterian Church Hall, 123-125 Wentworth St, Blackheath.

9AM-noon: Morning classroom Introduction to Eucalypt ID workshop (including morning tea). Focus on Blue Mts species, eucalypt keys and some hands on practice using a key. Hard copy of Eucalypt ID Key provided but feel free to bring a pad and pen if you want to make additional notes. We will bring specimens of eucalypts native to the Blue Mts LGA.

Noon – 1PM: Lunch break with catered lunch and short drive to nearby Bushland for field component of the workshop starting at 1PM.

1-3PM: After lunch go out in the field (Rhododendron Gardens or Ridgewell Rd) to experience the challenges of field ID of eucalypts for field trip to practice Eucalypt ID skills in the field. Please note there are no toilets at Ridgewell Rd. Bring water bottles, hat and long distance glasses (or binoculars if you have them….though not essential).

3PM: return to the Presbyterian Church Hall to drop off participants before heading back to Katoomba Station for those needing a drop off at Katoomba.

3.15PM: arrive back at Katoomba Station. There are trains at 3.38 and 4.08PM heading down the mountain.

BMCC contact (Michael Smith) phone 0414 195 528 or email msmith@bmcc.nsw.gov.au