Doing something ó how to get outside & dig.

Want to get out and do something for the environment? Various groups around Canberra do things like plant trees, maintain trails, and generally look after the land and remaining bush. Contact any of the following groups to see what theyíre doing at the moment.

///Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers (ATCV) 6247 7770 ó they are going to email details through. ///called to chase up 18/01/00

Parkcare is a program that covers several groups in the ACT region that look after specific parks, including OíConnor ridge and Mt Ainslie, which are near the ANU campus. Thereís also a "mobile" student-based group, and a more extended summer volunteer program in Namadgi national park. Contact Ann Connolly on 6207 2193 to find out what activities are coming up in the near future and which groups are active in your area.

Urban Landcare focuses on public land not protected for conservation, for example buffer zones between suburbs. Contact Tony Bray on 6207 2484.

Friends of Grasslands is a community conservation group with diverse activities related to grassland conservation and restoration. It: visits grassland sites; assists members in conservation work on grasslands; provides information about sites; runs workshops on conservation practice; undertakes lobbying and education; supports research on grasslands; and does some weed control and restoration. Ask for a complimentary copy of its newsletter to see what itís doing at the moment. Write to PO Box 987, Civic Sq, ACT 2608; contact Margaret Ning by email on margaretning@primus.com.au or phone 6252 7374 (w) 6241 4065 (h & fax).

Greening Australia grows and plants trees on private & public land. In September there are regular planting days you can call up & be a part of; at other times of the year there may be seed propagation you could help with. Call to see what is happening. Phone 6253 3035.

In Spring Landcare occasionally has days when you can help with rural issues such as weeding and revegetation. For more information, contact the ACT coordinator, Jane Horniblow, on 6207 2145

National Parks Association (ACT) runs activities including conservation involvement in Budawang and Morton National Parks and in the Perisher redevelopment; bushwalking every weekend; camping; canoeing; birdwatching; and skiing. Phone 6282 5813; email npaact@spirit.com.au; or write to PO Box 1940, Woden, ACT 2606

Ginninderra Catchment Group and Waterwatch is an umbrella group for around nine landcare & waterwatch groups within the Belconnen area, including Ginninderra Wetlands Care Group, North Belconnen Landcare, and Umbagong Park. For details of a group close to you, phone the catchment co-ordinator on 6278 3309.

Canberra Ornithologists Group is a dynamic environmental group of approximately 450 members that undertakes a variety of field surveys of bird abundance and diversity. COG aims to learn more about birds and how this information can be used for conserving birds and their habitats, both in Canberra and in the surrounding region. It encourages students to participate in its activities to develop field observation skills, and could also provide students with relevant environmental research topics (and sometimes data and support) for major assignments or postgraduate work. See the web site http://www.canberrabirds.dynamite.com.au. Contact Paul Fennell by email at fennellp@dynamite.com.au, or by phone on 6254 1804; otherwise call the COG office, which has an answering machine, on 6247 4996.

Kosciusko Huts Association looks after 100 Kosciusko & 20 Namadji National Park heritage/hiking huts. Contact Maurice Sexton on 6288 3699.

There are also lots of recreational and botanically focused groups if you just want to go out and enjoy yourself outside. Try some of these:

The Canberra Bushwalking Club organises bush walks & related activities. Contact the membership secretary, Roger Edwards, on 6288 7863; email amikkels@pcug.org.au; or see http://www.pcug.org.au/~amikkels/cbc/index.html.

Field Naturalists Association of Canberra (FNAC) runs local, regional and further outings focusing on natural history, and has monthly meetings. Contact Rosemary Blemings on 6258 4724 (for outings/meetings) or Bob Eclestone 6241 4512 (for meetings only).

ANU Mountaineering Club is an ANU club for orienteering and rogaining, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, bushwalking, canyoning, rock and ice climbing, and kayaking. Find this yearís contact people by asking in the studentsí association, or on their web page, http://student.anu.edu.au/Clubs/Mountaineering.

Wmn*Walks conducts day walks about every 3 weeks, for women to learn about the region. Contact Ann Smith by email asmith@spirit.com.au, or by phone on 6285 2995.

ACT Herpetological Association is devoted to reptiles and amphibians, with field trips; a journal "Corroboree"; talks; and a wide membership. Contact Scott Thomson by phone on 041 384 5633, by fax on 6201 5305 or email at thomson@aerg.canberra.edu.

Comments, Queries or suggestions email enviro.collective@student.anu.edu.au