Bundanon Field Days

Following the success of its 2014 Bio Blitz and Siteworks for Schools programs, Bundanon Trust, set on pristine bushland on the Shoalhaven River on the South Coast of NSW, is excited to announce the Field Days events happening during National Science Week in August and later in the year in October.

Bundanon Trust leads the Shoalhaven Science Hub and its Field Days bring community members, high school science students and science teachers from across the Shoalhaven Region together to participate in fieldwork activities in geology, bush regeneration, species preservation and biodiversity mapping.

These Field Days give participants an opportunity to work with specialist facilitators and contribute to scientific surveys as they discover scientific methods and processes. Participants are mentored through a sequence of survey and field work activities, which include flora surveys of riparian transects, geological mapping, bush regeneration types and monitoring, water catchment data collection and analysis, fauna habitat surveying and recording.

Data collected during the Field Days is analysed by the participants and experts before being uploaded to a longitudinal study database of the site. All findings contribute data to longitudinal studies of the property that are led by scientists, university lecturers and students.

Later in the year, a Field Day will be presented for older members of the community. In September the regional University of the 3rd Age (U3A) groups will be welcomed to the Bundanon property for a day to participate in field work activities in geology, bush regeneration, species preservation and biodiversity mapping. Participants will enjoy a day at Bundanon as they are immersed in learning about the Landcare Living Landscape project. This long-term initiative aims to restore native vegetation and biodiversity at Bundanon.

U3A participants will follow Tree Lines Track, a linear arboretum by artist Janet Laurence, investigate bush and riparian regeneration, and visit pristine wet rainforest remnants, and also learn about the amazing life of orchids with Shoalhaven’s expert Alan Stephenson. Again, the U3A Field Days will give all participants an exciting opportunity to contribute to real scientific surveys, and discover scientific methods and processes. Bundanon’s Field Days are supported by Inspiring Australia (NSW).

About the author
Mary Preece is the Education Manager at Bundanon Trust. Learn more about the Shoalhaven Science Hub.