Community Directory & External Resources
Connect with local groups, tools and citizen science projects that help protect wildlife, bushland and waterways across the Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains and surrounding areas. These listings include community groups, bushcare programs, apps, citizen science projects and practical guides for creating wildlife‑friendly backyards.
- Mountains for Wildlife – Community group supporting wildlife and habitat in the Blue Mountains.
Facebook - Blue Mountains Conservation Society – Volunteer‑run group working to protect the natural environment of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
Website | Facebook - Valley for Wildlife (McDonald Valley) – Local wildlife and habitat network for McDonald Valley. Community group.
- Earthcare Centre, Richmond – Environmental education and community garden hub at UWS Hawkesbury campus, Cnr Science Rd & Campus Dr, Richmond NSW 2753.
Facebook - Cattai Hills Environment Network (CHEN) – Landcare and education group caring for Cattai and Little Cattai Creek catchments in the Hills Shire, including platypus and koala projects.
Website - Hawkesbury Bushcare – Council‑supported volunteer bush regeneration program caring for remnant bushland across the Hawkesbury.
Website
- Hawkesbury Community Nursery – Local native plant nursery providing endemic species for gardens, schools and restoration projects (part of Hawkesbury Bushcare program).
10 Mulgrave Rd, Mulgrave NSW 2756 | Website - Western Sydney Weeds Authority – Regional weeds authority providing advice, identification and control information for priority weeds in Western Sydney.
Website | Facebook - NSW WeedWise – NSW government website and app for identifying declared weeds and management options.
Website | App: iOS , Android - Trees Near Me NSW – Map‑based tool listing native plants that are or were indigenous to your specific location.
Website | App: iOS , Android
- Hawkesbury Nepean Landcare Network (HNLN) – Network supporting Landcare and community environment groups across the Hawkesbury–Nepean.
Website - Local Land Services – NSW government regional body providing land management, biodiversity and biosecurity advice to landholders.
Website - Sydney Basin Koala Network (SBKN) – Collaboration working to protect and connect koala habitat across the Sydney Basin.
Website | Facebook - Nature Conservation Council (NCC) – Peak body for conservation groups in NSW, coordinating state‑wide campaigns and policy advocacy.
Website | Facebook | Instagram - Australian Association of Bush Regenerators (AABR) – Professional body promoting best‑practice bush regeneration.
Website - Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) – Western Sydney branch – Community branch of ACF working on national and local nature and climate campaigns.
Website
- Science for Wildlife (Koalas) – Research and conservation organisation working on koala and wildlife science, including in Greater Blue Mountains.
Website - BioNet / Atlas of Living Australia – Online biodiversity databases where you can view and contribute species records.
- Hawkesbury Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance (HNWA) – Regional network focused on healthy waterways in the Hawkesbury–Nepean.
Website | Facebook - 1 Million Turtles – National citizen science program to protect Australia’s freshwater turtles. Website | Facebook
- Hawkesbury Nepean Platypus Project – Community and research project monitoring platypus in the Hawkesbury–Nepean.
Facebook | Instagram
- Wildlife‑friendly fencing and netting – Practical guidelines to avoid trapping or injuring wildlife.
Website - Backyard Buddies – Tips and projects for creating habitat for native wildlife in your backyard.
Website - Wheen Bee Foundation – Powerful Pollinators – Planting guides (including Hawkesbury‑specific) for creating pollinator‑friendly gardens.
Website - BirdLife Australia – bird‑friendly gardens – Advice and a free online course on creating habitat gardens for birds.
- WIRES – wildlife‑friendly gardens – Top tips for designing gardens that are safe for native animals.
Website - Habitat Stepping Stones – Suggestions for addition of habitat elements to garden, can make a pledge to add elements and receive a plaque, be listed on website, does require $25 donation to get plaque/listing.
Website
- Streamwatch – Community water quality monitoring program for local creeks and rivers.
Website - Flora and Fauna of Hills/Hornsby/Hawkesbury – Facebook group for sharing local species sightings.
Facebook (Private Group) - Cicadarama – Facebook‑based citizen science project documenting cicadas.
Facebook | Website - eBird– Global bird‑recording platform for logging bird sightings.
Website | App: iOS , Android - I Spy Koala– App for recording koala sightings in NSW.
Website | App: iOS , Android - FrogID – App for identifying and recording frog calls.
Website | App: iOS , Android - iNaturalist – Biodiversity recording app for plants, animals and fungi.
Website | App: iOS, Android - The Waterbug– Tool for identifying aquatic macroinvertebrates and assessing waterway health.
Website | App: iOS , Android - WomSat – Online platform to record wombat sightings and mange.
Website - TurtleSat – National map of freshwater turtle sightings and roadkill.
Website - Australian Pollinator Count – Annual pollinator count coordinated by the Wheen Bee Foundation. Website
- FeralScan – Online and app platform to map pest animal sightings.
Website | App: iOS , Android - Aussie Bird Count – BirdLife Australia’s annual backyard bird count.
Website | App: iOS , Android
- Bird habitat guide (PDF) “Creating small bird habitat” Practical design ideas for small bird‑friendly gardens.
Website (PDF) - Bush regeneration basics – Introductory information on what bush regeneration is and how it works.
Website
- PHEEN (Penrith Hawkesbury Environmental Education Network) – Quarterly network for environment educators and community organisations.
Contact: Sesilia.Devine@penrith.city - NRM (Natural Resources Management) network – Network hosted by HNLN for groups working on natural resource management.
Contact: landcare@hrcc.nsw.gov.au - HNLN steering committee – Governance group for Hawkesbury Nepean Landcare Network.
Contact: landcare@hrcc.nsw.gov.au
- HEN birding events – Regular guided bird walks and events.
Contact us: info@hen.org.au | hen.org.au/events - Richmond Woodland KBA surveys – Volunteer bird surveys in the Richmond Woodland Key Biodiversity Area.
Contact: roger.n.griffiths@gmail.com - Cumberland Bird Observers Club – Birdwatching club with regular outings and surveys in Western Sydney.
Website - Blue Mountains Bird Observers – Birdwatching club in the Blue Mountains region.
Website