Locals looking for new ways to connect with nature this spring are in for a leafy good time.

The City of Canterbury Bankstown is in full bloom with more than 20 free and low cost activities and events scheduled to keep green thumbs and animal lovers entertained from now until Saturday 23 November.

Doctor Amelie Vanderstock, affectionately known as Amelie Ecology to her fans, will also return to Lakemba to bee-dazzle audiences with her native bee show.
Her unforgettably catchy song and dance routine about the importance of native pollinators is sure to buzz in viewers ears long after watching her performance.

“I wrote the Native Bee musical as a way of sharing the awesome buzziness of our native bees,” Dr Vanderstock said.

“I would love for people to walk away feeling excited to go to their gardens this spring and meet a new insect they have never met before.”

As part of this year’s Nature Fest celebrations, residents can spring into a range of activities, including a free nature safari, educational bushwalks, twilight talks and more.

Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek is encouraging residents to get involved in as many Nature Fest activities as possible to learn how they can play their part in keeping local ecosystems safe.

“From planting trees to protecting natural habitats, Council is working hard all year round to preserve the amazing biodiversity living in our City,” Mayor El-Hayek said.

“We have a range of engaging and educational activities on offter this Nature Fest for our residents to get involved in and learn how they can join us in keeping our City’s natural life beautiful.”

Dr Vanderstock added that Nature Fest is a great opportunity to connect, explore and have fun with biodiversity and potentially even pick up a new hobby.

“If we can see the nature in our City then we can connect with that nature and that’s where true conservation in our urban areas can start,” she said.

“I hope that being able to show the science behind the importance of our natural life in a creative way encourages the community to explore gardening as a way of connecting with biodiversity and celebrating the beautiful flora and fauna we share our City with.”

To find out more about the fun-filled celebration of biodiversity at Nature Fest, visit cb.city/naturefest