Conservation Council ACT Region

04/06/2026

Some great news for our environment today! The Government has increased funding for the environment and climate, including important support for local community groups.

Read more here.

The Conservation Council of the ACT Region has welcomed the ACT Government’s 2026-27 Budget announcement to fund community environment initiatives. “An uplift in funding to support community groups to deliver […]

03/06/2026

Our Branching Out: Canberra Nature Walks Blue Moon Spotlighting Walk at Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary on Sunday night featured wonderful sightings of Eastern Bettongs and Eastern Quolls, including both the dark and fawn-coloured forms of the quoll.

Once found across the ACT and much of mainland Australia, these species now survive on the mainland only within predator-proof sanctuaries like Mulligans Flat. Wild populations remain in Tasmania, but their numbers continue to decline.

Seeing these threatened species in the sanctuary's native Yellow Box–Blakely's Red Gum woodland—a critically endangered ecological community—is a reminder of what has been lost and why conservation is essential to protect what remains.

Hopefully, one day, Eastern Bettongs and Eastern Quolls will be able to thrive beyond the sanctuary fence and once again become part of the wider Australian landscape. Until then, we are fortunate to be able to see these remarkable animals so close to home.

By torchlight, we enjoyed a hot drink, biscuits and marshmallows during a break in the walk. Our youngest participant, who did an amazing job completing the entire walk, entertained us with a retelling of Five Little Ducks who went out one day and got lost - he held the torch under his chin so the story had a particularly ominous overtone. Thankfully the ducks all made it back safely, as did we to our cars.

There's a great photo from Matthew Rothwell of the moon at its brightest. No wildlife photos from us this time—we were too busy spotting animals in the dark! Instead, enjoy these amazing photos by of just some of the species that live, or visit in the case of the Tawny Frogmouths, in the sanctuary

ACT threatened species
https://www.act.gov.au/environment/animals-and-plants/act-threatened-species

Fantastic photos by David
https://www.davidcunninghamwildlife.com/

Our events and walks calendar
https://conservationcouncil.org.au/events/
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This walk was made possible with assistance from the ACT Government under the ACT Environmental Grants Program.
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02/06/2026

We won't be gathering for our usual Conservation Council Catch-up at Verity Lane tomorrow, instead please come along to the ACT Environment Awards on Friday:

Celebrate the annual ACT Environment Awards!

01/06/2026

Our first volunteer information session for the Save our Western Edge & 1% for Nature campaigns was a huge success! We had over 25 people learning about the joint campaign strategy, signing up for different volunteer roles and getting to know one another over a shared meal ⭐🌱🍛

If you'd like to find out more and sign up for different volunteer roles in these campaigns you can do so via this form: https://forms.gle/FMo27vHNgyaveHnz6

We will be meeting again in July to celebrate and review our progress and plan next steps - more info coming soon! 💚

31/05/2026

Canberra Nature Week starts today 🌿

From now until 5 June, every donation will be doubled thanks to two generous supporters.

Your support helps power campaigns protecting Canberra’s nature and climate, from the Western Edge campaign to stronger biodiversity protections across the ACT.

If you’ve been thinking about donating, this is the week to do it.

Donate via the link: https://conservationcouncil.org.au/donate/

29/05/2026

Have you heard of Nature Scrolling – the relaxed alternative to nature journalling?

Recently, Elyssa from the Molonglo Conservation Group joined our Branching Out: Canberra Nature Walks Program to introduce Lifeline Canberra staff to this easy and mindful nature connection practice.

Nature scrolling involves carrying a scroll of paper and a pen or pencil on your walk, pausing occasionally to sketch or record the plants, insects, fungi, birds or other natural wonders that catch your eye. By the end of your walk, you have a unique visual record of your journey.

After enjoying a delicious loose-leaf tea and biscuits, participants learned about the plants of the Southern Tablelands Ecosystem Park (STEP) at the National Arboretum Canberra before heading out to explore and start their scrolling.

The gardens were full of life, with flowering plants, croaking frogs, butterflies, native bees and even the first blooms of Early Wattle adding colour and interest along the way.

We highly recommend taking a stroll — or a scroll — this long weekend. If you do, we'd love to see what you discover. Please share your photos in the comments!

See our upcoming events, including Canberra Nature Walks, see here: https://conservationcouncil.org.au/events/

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This walk was made possible with assistance from the ACT Government under the ACT Environmental Grants Program.

28/05/2026

Nominations for the ACT Environment Awards 2026 have now closed, but there is still time to join us in celebrating Canberra’s environmental champions 🌿

Join us on 5 June at Capital Brewery to recognise the people and groups making a real difference for nature, climate, and our community.
Everyone is welcome, including supporters, volunteers, member groups, environmentalists, and anyone who cares about the future of the ACT region.

🎟️ Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/act-environment-awards-2026

The ACT Environment Awards are proudly sponsored by Addaxis and Capital Ecology.

26/05/2026

Last week were were delighted to have Michael Mulvaney for the Red Hill Regenerators talk to an enthusiastic crowd at our Impact Hour. Michael spoke about his and his group's work over 40 years to transform Red Hill from a degraded and weedy sheep paddock to one of the most biodiverse rich box gum woodlands in the ACT and even Australia. It was really inspiring!

Impact Hour is a monthly environmental talk series hosted at Dissent Bar being organised and hosted by The Conservation Council ACT Region, SeeChange and The Canberra Environment Center.

Our next event is being held on Tuesday 16th June, featuring Professor Mark Howden on Climate Reality and Climate Hope. Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/impact-hour-mark-howden-ac

25/05/2026

Our volunteer information session is happening tomorrow.

If you want to help protect the Western Edge and support the fight for nature funding, this is a great chance to get involved.

No experience needed, just bring your interest and energy.

Can’t make it tomorrow? You can still sign up to volunteer and we’ll be in touch.

📍 The Food Co-op
🕕 Tuesday 26 May, 6pm
🔗 Link: https://events.humanitix.com/save-our-western-edge-and-fund-it-volunteer-information-session

25/05/2026

Something big is coming 🌿

From 31 May to 5 June, every donation to the Conservation Council ACT Region will be doubled for one week only.

Canberra Nature Week is our biggest fundraising push for local nature and climate action, and this year your impact goes twice as far!

More details soon.