IF YOU enjoy the outdoors and want native bushland to thrive, consider joining a local Bushcare group.

There are 12 groups in Ipswich with more forming as working bees attract new members.

Rosewood Bushcare is happy to take on more volunteers, there’s always work to do taking care of the area’s native flora and fauna.

Council’s Bushcare programs are volunteer led and a way of ensuring an area is nurtured so native wildlife and plant life thrive.

Cr Jim Madden is chairperson of the Environment and Sustainability Committee.

He said being involved was also a way to learn how to use different tools and weed control techniques.

“Members can learn through guidance of experienced volunteers and council officers,” he said.

“This varies from using a tree popper to pull out camphor laurel saplings to safely using hand mattocks for digging out the corms of asparagus fern or the roots of corky passion vine.

“You will quickly gain knowledge of identifying invasive weeds and the incredible native plants of Ipswich.”

The Friends of Smith Park Group is a Bushcare group led by Jim Collins.

He said his group’s work at Woodend aimed to rid the entire area of weeds and replace them with native trees to entice the return of koalas.

“Smith Park is a node of remnant vegetation in our urban area that is home for a diverse range of wildlife,” he said.

“It has koala food tree species growing within its boundaries.

“It provides connectivity for wildlife across the landscape to the Bremer River and includes a number of rare and threatened tree species.

“There is nothing else within our suburb of this size.”

He said improving the natural landscape gave him a healthy feeling of satisfaction.