Held annually on 5 June, World Environment Day is the United Nations’ day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. The theme for WED 2021 is ‘Ecosystem Restoration’ and will see the launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
Here’s a quick guide to WED related events in the Canberra region. If you know of an event that we’ve missed, please email the details to [email protected]
To celebrate World Environment Day, the ACT Parks and Conservation Service is holding several events that focus on their current threatened species and recovery work. Come along to learn about how our ACT Parks and Conservation team works to restore our important ecosystems including rescue and breeding programs as well as the transformation of old farmland into an ecological and sustainable water catchment area. Registrations are required through Eventbrite:
- World of wombats at Namadgi Visitor Centre, Saturday 5 June 2-3pm
- Southern Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby adventure at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Black Flats car park, Saturday 5 June 9.30-10.15am
- World of Corroboree Frogs at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Vet Centre, Saturday 5 June 10.30-11.30am
- Wetland Wonders at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Ribbon Gum car park, Saturday 5 June 2-3pm
- Welcome to Gudgenby Valley at Yankee Hat car park, Saturday 5 June 10am-12pm
- London Bridge then and now guided walk at London Bridge Woolshed and picnic area, Burra NSW, Saturday 5 June 10am-12pm
On Friday 4 June 6-8pm, the eve of WED, Canberra Museum and Gallery is hosting a special live performance from special guest artist Tina Havelock Stevens (drums) with her collaborator Liberty Kerr on cell in celebration of CMAG’s most recent exhibition, HABITAT: Ways of Living. Guests are invited to gather together to immerse ourselves in sound, reflect on this thoughtful exhibition and our own habitat. Havelock Stevens is an artist represented in HABITAT. Travelling with her drumkit to unconventional sites, Havelock Stevens creates epic and immersive sonic portraits. With a skill for producing works that are at once thoughtful, exciting and challenging, Havelock Stevens draws on her 30-year career as a post-punk drummer and a background in documentary film. CMAG will open its doors on a Friday night for this exciting one-off performance and look forward to seeing you there. Tickets $10. Food included (vegan options), drinks for sale. Bookings essential via Eventbrite.
Presented by Canberra Environment Centre, Cycle Jam is a free weekly event where anyone can come and fix their bike, get help with bike repair or volunteer to help others fix their bikes. If you’ve been having problems with your bike, big or small, bring it down to the Recyclery during this jam! There are plenty of tools and recycled bike parts available. Cycle Jam is held weekly on Saturdays 11am-1pm and Wednesdays 4-6pm, and there’s a Women and LGBTQI+ Cycle Jam on Thursdays 4-7pm for anyone who may feel less comfortable in the male-dominated realms of cycling and mechanics. The next Cycle Jam events are: Wednesday 2 June 4-6pm, Thursday 3 June 4-7pm and Saturday 5 June 11am-1pm.
Canberra Environment Centre also hosts a range of in-person and online workshops – from macrame and fighting food waste to cloth nappies, restoring tools, wormfarming and more – to help people live more sustainably almost every week of the year. Book here.
Although ticket sales closed on 27 May, the Conservation Council ACT Region will hold its World Environment Day 2021 gala dinner at the National Museum of Australia on Saturday night, 5 June.
Free activities for WED in Queanbeyan Palerang
To mark World Environment Day 2021, Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council is hosting a variety of free environmental and sustainability workshops, talks and a screening of the award-winning film 2040. Register and find out more about these events at bit.ly/WorldEnviroDayQPRC.
FrogID Bushfire Roadshow hosted by the Australian Museum: Wednesday 2 June 1.30-2.30pm at the Braidwood Servicemens Club. Learn more about the National Museum’s FrogID project. Find out how frogs are informing drought and bushfire recovery in our region. After the talk, Donna Hazell – frog ecologist – will give us a run down on conservation opportunities for locals, including some of the best apps to use when out and about in your area.
The Mysterious Platypus – QPRC’s favourite Monotreme: Friday 4 June 1-2pm. An online workshop with Geoff Williams from the Australian Platypus Conservancy and find out more about our fascinating platypus.
Horticultural Heritage Walk: Friday 4 June 9.30-11am around Braidwood. A local expert on Braidwood’s flora and fauna, Mary Appleby, will lead you to discover many fine trees that contribute to the town’s heritage status. Meet at 9.30am at the Ryrie Park Rotunda.
2040 screening: Saturday 5 June 5-7pm at The Q, Queanbeyan. A free screening of the award-winning feature documentary 2040 will run with complimentary popcorn and time for comments and questions.
River Clean-up with Molonglo Conservation Group: Sunday 6 June 10am-12pm. Meet at Queen Elizabeth II Park, Queanbeyan at 10am before moving on to clean along the banks of the Queanbeyan River. Bring sunscreen, a hat and some gloves and help keep the region’s rivers and waterways clean. There is a free sausage sizzle for all participants.
