Natural Temperate Grasslands are amongst Australia’s most threatened ecosystems. Lawson is lucky to have some fine examples of this critically endangered community. Some of Lawson’s grasslands are under threat; either from development pressures, or from poor management decisions.

Ginninderra Catchment Group and Lawson Landcare have been working to restore grasslands in our suburb. Additionally, there has been much work done by Friends of Grasslands and the Conservation Council to protect one of Belconnen’s largest grassland remnants at Lawson North.

Come along and see what we’ve been doing to protect and restore grasslands in this suburb. In an event, co-hosted by Ginninderra Catchment Group, Landcare ACT, and Friends of Grasslands, Lawson Landcare will celebrate our GLORIOUS GRASSLANDS, for the 2024 CANBERRA FESTIVAL OF NATURE.

Here’s the outline of the day’s event:

9:00 am. Meet at the Lawson Landcare Grassland Restoration Project site, at the intersection of Nevertire Street and Wanderlight Avenue. There’ll be an introduction to what a Natural Temperate Grassland (NTG) is and why it’s important to conserve NTG. There’ll be an discussion about the aims and methods of the above-mentioned project.

9:30 am. Launch the project - we are inviting a prominent Canberran to launch the project.

9:45 am. Morning tea - courtesy of Landcare ACT.

10:00 am. After the introduction and launch, there’s a walk to the Reservoir Hill Grassland. We’ll discuss the significance of this site, with particular reference to grassland management and threatened grassland fauna.

10:30 am. Walk to Dawn Street Grassland - this is a floristically rich site and it should be just about ready to burst forth with masses of Bulbine Lilies and other wildflowers, and later in the season, Blue Devils.

11:00 am. Continue along the southern boundary of Lawson North Grassland - discuss its values and the progress of the development issues at this important, but still threatened site.

12:00 pm. Return to the Nevertire St site via a different route through the Reservoir Hill grassland site.

12:30 pm. Lunch at the Nevertire site - catering courtesy of ACT Landcare.

There’ll be several grassland experts at the event from Friends of Grasslands to help participants learn about our special ecological community, and Grassland Flora and Woodland Flora books on sale.