by Peter Ardill, Blue Mountains Conservation Society

As all bushcarers are aware, the proximity of our local bushland to residential areas comes with advantages and disadvantages. Great bush walks can be found just around the corner, but urban areas are a source of many degrading impacts, including pollution, erosive stormwater flows and — you wouldn’t believe it — environmental weeds!

Bushcare is a dynamic community environmental activity, but it is not the only way that residents can contribute to the health of local nature and the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Blue Mountains Conservation Society has recently published a free sixty-page booklet, Living Near the Bush: How to support nature in the Blue Mountains.

Packed with practical advice, the easy-to-read format is an added bonus. Local artist, Fiona Lumsden, ecologist Ian Baird and photographers Alan and Dianne Page have contributed delightful illustrations.

The booklet has the health of nature well covered. There are literally hundreds of tips and suggestions about how you can help to keep our local bushland and streams in top shape.

With approximately 35,000 houses occupying the Blue Mountains, if local residents were to adopt even some of the environmentally friendly practices outlined in Living Near the Bush, the environmental benefits would be enormous.

Spring is a great season for Bushcare, and also a nice time to tuck into a good read!

The booklet is available in an easily accessed online flip-book style, or PDF download. A limited number of print copies are available at Conservation Society events.