Meet the bushland guardians saving our backyard

SPOILER ALERT: It involves tiny orchids, weekend warriors, and bushland that’s anything but ordinary.

Picture this: you're wandering through what looks like ordinary bushland when suddenly you spot something extraordinary – a tiny native orchid quietly blooming in the cold season.

That's exactly the kind of discovery that has dedicated conservationists absolutely spellbound, including one member who's spent 25 years protecting Sunshine Reserve. Their excitement might just change how you see those weekend bush walks forever.

Meet the Friends Groups

These are everyday locals who volunteer just a few hours each month to protect and enhance biodiversity in their reserves. Weeding, mulching, planting, litter collection – simple actions that create thriving wildlife havens.

Here’s the best bit: you don’t need to be a bush expert to make a difference. Friends Groups welcome complete beginners, and the Shire provides tools, training, and advice.

These volunteers might not wear capes, but their work is critical for keeping the Peninsula’s bushland alive, healthy and full of wildlife.

Every tree they plant, every weed they pull, every hour they give helps protect our unique plants, animals and ecosystems for everyone to enjoy.

Your mission: get involved

Mornington Peninsula is currently WINNING the Greater Melbourne BioBlitz competition – but we need your help to stay on top! Every weird mushroom you photograph, every kookaburra you spot, every beetle with funny eyes you discover could be the observation that keeps us ahead of the pack. 

How to jump in:

Want to see how we’re tracking against the competition? Check out the Greater Melbourne BioBlitz 2025 Leaderboard here.