Green Thymes - Coastal Ambassadors, Citizen Science, a Green Festive Season and more!

Issue 34,

November 2018

Green Thymes

Read about local events, projects, workshops, grants and articles that have a sustainability or environmental flavour. We hope you enjoy it!

If you have events, articles, projects that you would like to share with the local community, contact environment@marion.sa.gov.au

Friends of Marino Conservation Park

Marino Conservation Park is a State Park in Marino with one of the last remaining stands of remnant coastal heath vegetation on this part of Adelaide's coastline. From the coastal heath you can enjoy stunning views over Marino Rocks Lighthouse, Grange Brighton, and Glenelg. The 30 hectare park also includes open woodland which is being restored after a long history of degradation, including grazing and being used as a tip.

The Friends of Marino Conservation Park protect the remnant vegetation and help regenerate the remainder of the park. They hold working bees three times a month on Sundays and Thursdays where they control weeds, propagate seeds and plant native species using seeds sourced at the park. The group recently established a Botanical Trail, a short walking circuit which showcases local native plants and includes some great coastal views.

New members are always welcome to join in and help restore the park. To find out more go to the Friends of Marino Conservation Park website or email Alan at waughson2@bigpond.com .

Applications Open for the 2019 Coastal Ambassadors Program

Are you are interested in our unique coastal habitats and wildlife? Why not learn to be a Coastal Ambassador?

The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board runs a free training program where you will gain the knowledge and practical experience to be an ambassador for our coast. The program involves a series of field trips, workshop and events. Topics include temperate marine ecology, environments and organisms of the St Vincent Gulf, marine protected areas, intertidal coastal zones and reef surveys, marine litter and getting involved in marine conservation.

There is also a Coastal Ambassadors Youth Training Program held in January for young adults 13 to 15 years old. This is especially for those who are keen to learn about coast and marine environments, willing to share this information with friends and families, and maybe become actively involved.

Applications for the adult program close 30 November and the youth program applications close 14 December.

For more information go to the Coastal Ambassadors website.

Environmental Grants for Schools and Communities

Grants are available annually through the NRM Board for activities that help communities and schools promote the sustainable management of our natural resources. The program promotes sustainable management of natural resources and delivers projects that improve community capacity, awareness and education of natural resources in our region.

Schools can access grants of up to $2000 and communities can access up to $10,000, with projects focusing on one of five categories:

information, education and training
coast, estuarine and marine environments
sustainable living
biodiversity protection
water for life.

Applications are due by 19 December. View the 24 successful community projects funded in the 2017-18 for ideas.

See the NRM website or phone Sheralee Cox Volunteer Program Coordinator on 08 8273 9134 with any queries.

Quench Bench available for community events

SA Water's Quench Bench is one of the simplest ways of offering drinking water at your community event and it's free of charge. It's a great way of preventing waste by providing an alternative to drinking water in disposable plastic bottles.

The Quench Bench is a portable trailer fitted with troughs, taps and bubblers. It connects to a mains water supply to deliver drinking water. It is available for outdoor community events expecting more than 1000 attendees.You must apply at least 3 weeks before your event.

See the Quench Bench webpage to find out how to apply for a quench bench at your event.

Help Monitor Local Frogs

FrogWatch is your chance to gather information about how our frogs are tracking in South Australia. Your data will contribute to a better understanding of the health of wetland environments.

People are always needed to help with frog surveys and you don't have to be an expert to take part. FrogWatch SA is a partnership of knowledge sharing that anyone can join. The information you collect about frogs helps guide important waterway management decisions.

Go to the FrogWatch SA website or download the Frogspotter App to take part.

Top Tips for a Green Festive Season

Christmas is a time to celebrate and enjoy, yet we also need to be conscious about what we consume and the waste we create. At this time of year we buy more, eat more and travel more than at any other time of year. Here are some ways you can look after the planet this festive season.

Eat Ethically and Prevent Food Waste

Australians waste up to a fifth of the food we buy, and this is even more at Christmas time. Reduce your food waste by planning portions and cooking for the exact amount of people at your meal. Create a food plan, store your food carefully and consider how you can use left overs the next day. Choose local, ethically sourced meats and don't go overboard with how much you buy. Use the Sustainable Seafood Guide to find seafood that is good for the planet.

Choose Gifts Wisely

While Christmas shopping, consider how the product was made, what it's made of and how long it will last. Refuse to buy things that aren't needed or that aren't going to go the distance. Where you can, go for locally made, good quality and ethically sourced products and materials. Think about swapping physical gifts for experiences or donations to a good cause.

Reduce Packaging

Reduce waste by selecting presents with minimal packaging and reducing the amount of wrapping you use. Why not pop your gifts in reusable gift boxes? Or, if you really have to go for the wrap, use recycled paper and avoid foil sheets.

Get a Real Tree

Real plants are a better choice than plastic Christmas trees. Most Australian Christmas trees are plantation grown under sustainable forestry systems. They are renewable and biodegradable, whereas fake trees are made of plastics and metals that won't break down and eventually end up in landfill. According to Planet Ark, the greenest option is to make your own arrangement with a tree branch from your backyard or get a potted Australian native pine (e.g. cypress or Wollemi) that can be used each year.

Activating Citizen Scientists

The Activating Citizen Scientists Project aims to increase participation of older members of the South Australian community as citizen scientists, facilitated through a series of guided excursions. Excursions include collecting information about insects, birds and frogs.

There will be an excursion on 3 December which is all about mozzies! Participants will be introduced to the world of mosquitoes and learn how mosquito surveillance happens in our area. Participants will hear about the Mozzie Monitors Program and learn how to use a mosquito trap and identify mosquito types. As part of this excursion, participants will get their own mosquito trap to take home and the chance to be part of the Mozzie Monitors network.

Find out more about the excursion and register via Eventbrite.

We hope you found this information useful. We value your feedback and encourage you to get in contact with us.

Feel free to forward this on to your networks or others who might be interested.

See you next month!

Friends of Marino Conservation Park

Coastal Ambassadors

Environmental Grants

Quench Bench

Help Monitor Local Frogs

Top Tips for a Green Festive Season

Activating Citizen Scientists

More workshops, events and courses!

Visit The Joinery website for a host of other exciting sustainability events.

Based in Adelaide, The Joinery, is a hive of inspiring community activity