Environment on the mind

YOU might have seen the Bendigo District Planet Minders at a shopping centre near you this year as they continue their fight for the protection of the environment.

The group has experienced an influx of new members recently and volunteer Julie Flynn said conversations had with the public in their three-year history have revealed people are becoming more aware of the changing climate.

“There’s a lot of interest in the community particularly at the moment. Our numbers have grown by 19 just in the last month,” she said.

“I think most people are very aware because we see our climate changing, we know that the world is getting warmer, we’ve had more droughts, there’s been a lot of warning that the extreme weather events are becoming more and more frequent, and people are seeing that themselves.”

The BDPM, which is a local branch of the Australian Conservation Foundation, work in alliance with other groups in the region to advocate for the environment at local, State and Federal Government levels as well as engaging with the general public.

“Our main focus is activism but we also want to raise people’s awareness of the climate damage that’s happening,” Ms Flynn said.

“The end goal is that people work towards limiting the warming of our planet and the destruction of our climate as much as possible so that our children and our children’s children can actually survive in a pleasant world.

“It’s making sure that there’s a liveable planet for the people who are yet to come.”

Currently the group are directing their practical efforts to planning for the care of land on Riley Street in East Bendigo, which was replanted by the City during the COVID-19 lockdown.

“We’re looking at how we can help to manage the land in the future, being a bit more active in the way we care for it and make sure the plants that have been planted survive,” Ms Flynn said

The BDPM meet on the fourth Monday of each month and also conduct monthly bushwalks open to members of the public. For more information search Bendigo District Planet Minders on Facebook or contact [email protected].