Volunteering with Council

Friends of the Escarpment Parks are a volunteer community group interested in the management, conservation and public use of Toowoomba's bushland escarpment parks.

The group focuses on environmental conservation including the planting of native trees, restoration activities and weed management.

Toowoomba escarpment parks include Redwood Park, Duggan Park, Nielsen Park, Hartmans Reserve, Hancock Street Park, Panorama Crescent Park, a small section of Jubilee Park, Echo Valley South, Leopard Ash Bushland Park, Kleinton and Charles and Mottee Rogers Bushland Reserve, Highfields. The group works to manage and promote the environmental significance of these areas.

Volunteers get involved with activities such as weeding, new plantings and seed collection along with plant and animal identification. The opportunity to learn about the ecology of the various parks, plant and animal identification and weed management is also available for volunteers.

Formal activities include an open day once a year, regular spot lighting tours, National Tree Day events and participation in events such as World Environment Day. The group holds management committee meetings every two months.

For more information on how to volunteer, please contact Rob Brodribb on 0407 124 863.

Friends of Peacehaven Botanical Park work in partnership to develop, maintain and promote the park as a place of recreation, environmental conservation and education.

The Friends are involved with a range of activities including operating a community nursery with a focus on supplying plants that grow within the boundaries of the Toowoomba Region, advocacy for the park and its use, input into park planning, fundraising activities and working bees. The group also collect and document local native plants in their herbarium.

Friends of Peacehaven Botanical Park meet on the second Wednesday of each month between 9.30am and 12.30pm.

The native plant nursery is open to the public 9.00am to 12.30pm on Thursdays, 9.00am to 1.00pm on Saturdays. For more information about the nursery opening times visit the Friends website.

For more information on how to become a volunteer please contact The Friends of Peacehaven Botanic Park on 0477 317 410.

Friends of the Queensland's State Rose Garden in Newtown Park Toowoomba Inc are focused on developing the Queensland State Rose Garden into a rose garden of international status.

Volunteers undertake a variety of tasks including gardening, maintenance, guiding tours, creating and selling floral artwork, baking and administration.

Members don't need a specialist understanding of roses or gardening, rather an appreciation for nature and Toowoomba’s outdoor amenity. The group is open to new volunteers and the ways they can contribute.

The group runs many fundraising activities, including sausage sizzles, garden tea-parties and a variety of other special events. Monies raised contribute to the improvement and development of Newtown Parks’ gazebos, pathways, toilet amenities, gardens and other park facilities.

Volunteers are able to develop their general and rose gardening skills including rose pruning and training, and general care, while enjoying the companionship of friendly, like-minded people.

Friends of the Queensland's State Rose Garden in Newtown Park Toowoomba Inc meet on the first Monday of each month (except June) at the Rose Cottage and members of the public are always welcome.

For more information on how to volunteer, please contact: President, Sandy Martin on 0408 753 602 or Secretary, Lorraine Schiller on 0429 115 140.

Related links

• The Queensland State Rose Garden
• The Queensland State Rose Garden Facebook page

The Oakey Urban Landcare group focuses on improving the natural amenity and beauty of the Oakey area’s urban bushland, and developing community awareness about the important environmental role these areas play in the Region’s ecology. The group focuses on conserving the native flora and fauna of Oakey Creek, the creek bank and Stanley Street Reserve, home to lizard and small koala populations.

Volunteers primarily undertake weed management activities and new plantings.

The group also actively participates in community events such as National Tree Day and Clean Up Australia Day with assistance from other groups such as Girl Guides.

The Oakey Urban Landcare group meets on the first Thursday of each month at the Uniting Church complex on the corner of Cherry and John Streets at 6.30pm.

The group welcomes new volunteers. For more information on volunteering please contact Trevor Cockburn on 0409 633 352.