Bushcare Fair at Parc Menai offers activities for all the family

The free Sutherland Shire Council event includes displays, demonstrations, a native animal show, native plant sales and talks on everything from composting to identifying native plants.

The event, between 10am and 3pm, is being held on the same day as the Bushcare Big Day Out, a national day designed to engage the community and raise awareness about Bushcare and Landcare organisations.

Mayor Carmelo Pesce said there would be plenty of activities the whole family could enjoy and lots to learn about bushland in and around the shire.

"Our Bushcare group has over 650 volunteers who work incredibly hard to protect and enrich our natural environment," he said.

"The Bushcare Fair is a great opportunity for our community to come together to find out how everyone can lend a hand to restore and maintain our urban bushland spaces."

Information will be available on Sutherland Shire Bushcare, Australian Plant Society, Wires, Rural Fire Service, national parks, the council's science unit and Greenweb.

The Sutherland Shire Bushcare program cares for more than 120 bushland reserves, with locations and work times detailed on the council's website.

Volunteers can work at as many sites as they like. They are directed by council staff and use recognised bush regeneration techniques.

"With approximately 3000 hectares of natural areas in the shire, community involvement is essential to help restore and preserve natural areas," the council says.