"Insidious" - a community environmental art project

Here's your chance to get involved in a great new project combining art and conservation that will see a giant creeping “weed” made from hundreds of recycled plastic bottles installed in a popular section of Margaret River bushland.

Called “Insidious”, the artwork is designed to boost awareness around invasive weeds and will be accompanied by workshops and free guided biodiversity bushwalks for the community when it is installed in karri and marri forest along Barrett Street Trail near Rotary Park, along the banks of the Margaret River.

Local artists Heloise Roberts and Moira Fearby – whose artwork often uses recycled plastics and has featured at Sculptures by the Bay in Dunsborough – will spearhead the design and creation of the installation which will be more than 150 metres long, made from plastic tubing, with trumpet-like flowers made out of more than 350 recycled plastic drink bottles.

But we want you - the Margaret River region community - to get involved by working alongside the artists to help create the giant creeping weed. There are 12, free 30-minute workshops at the Margaret River Scout Hall over the September 23-24 weekend (six on Saturday and another six on Sunday). Children are welcome, and you can register for more than one workshop should you wish. They will be great fun as well as informative. You don't need to bring anything or have any previous artistic experience or skill! All welcome!

The idea is the brainchild of Friends of Barrett Street Reserve volunteers and passionate local environmental campaigners Maureen Munro and Peta Goodwin, who are collaborating on the project with Nature Conservation Margaret River Region and the Shire of Augusta Margaret River.

In October, the completed work will be installed along the popular Barrett Street Trail between Rotary Park and Barrett Street Weir, and will remain in place for several months. On the opening day, Nature Conservation Margaret River Region will host guided walks for the community so locals can continue the conversation about weeds, learn more about our bush and biodiversity, and identify weeds from native species. There will also be weed identification guides complete with QR codes for people walking or cycling the trails, and local schools will be invited to visit the installation too. Register now!