A painted lady butterfly sits atop some yellow flowers.

Published on 27 May 2022

Adelaide National Park City Month

A June-long celebration of Adelaide becoming a National Park City is being held across Greater Adelaide, with heaps of events taking place in Onkaparinga.

Adelaide—extending from Salisbury to the north and Aldinga to the south—became Australia’s first National Park City and the second globally (after London) in 2021 (learn what a National Park City is here).

The honour is the beginning of a journey to improve city life through everyday actions to enjoy connecting with nature and each other.

To celebrate, Green Adelaide has invited partners, including local councils, to contribute events for a June-long celebration and an online calendar has been created.

Onkaparinga Now has listed all the region’s events below for your guide to what’s happening down south during Adelaide National Park City Month.

City of Onkaparinga will be sharing a range of activities, with sessions available online and in person across the region.

Council libraries and community centres have partnered with the Willunga Environment Centre and the Green Adelaide Education team to offer a number of sessions, while council has also partnered with the Department for Environment and Water and Green Adelaide to host activities at Woodcroft Library.

Keep up-to-date by following the Sustainable Onkaparinga Facebook page and council’s website, and check out the list below to get involved, join the movement and connect with nature and each other.

In-person events

Aldinga/Aldinga Beach

An Evening of Nature Journaling

When: Friday 3 June, 6:30 to 9pm
Where: Goodness Coffee Co, 24 Old Coach Road, Aldinga
Cost: $69.66, book online

Come and try nature journaling and deepen your connection with nature. Nature journaling is the practice of drawing or writing in response to observations of nature; it allows you to take a moment to slow down and admire the beautiful details of nature. An array of native flowers, foliage, seedpods and other elements of our local native bushland will be on display for you to explore and journal with pencils, ink pens and watercolour paints. Hannah will be your guide, helping you to identify native plants, sharing her knowledge about the bush and providing tips and tricks on how to creatively record what you find. You will be treated to a native daisy gin and tonic on arrival and a gourmet bush-foods tasting plate. All drawing materials are provided, and you'll receive a sketchbook to fill up and take home with you. Presented by Wattle + Wonder.

Drawing nature with Gilbert Dashorst

When: Monday 13 June, multiple times
Where: 1 Fraser Street, Aldinga Conservation Park
Cost: Free, book online

Come along and be immersed in nature while being guided by Gilbert Dashorst to capture the beautiful surrounds of the park through drawing. Gilbert is a world-renowned natural history illustrator specialising in the field of botany and spent 30 years at the State Herbarium/Botanic Gardens of SA as their Scientific Illustrator. Experience the joy of drawing using pencils and the inspiration of Aldinga Conservation Park to create an artwork that draws on the aspects of nature from rocks, animals, birds, delicate plants, trees or the beautiful landscape in front of you.

Guided Walk – Lacy Coral Lichen Loop

When: Sunday 5 June, 10:30am to 12pm
Where: Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park
Cost: Free

Enjoy a free guided walk of Lacy Coral Lichen Loop at Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park. Walk will be led by three or four experienced and longstanding members of the Friends of Aldinga Scrub Group. This will enable the participants to break off into small groups for more intimate discussions of the biodiversity and ecological/cultural values of Aldinga Scrub.

Little Bushies at Aldinga Scrub

When: Friday 24 June, 10–11am
Where: Fraser Street, Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park
Cost: $5 to $16.91, book online

Join this ‘Little Bushies’ group on a walk through local native bushland and let your little one use their senses to discover the natural world; lots of learning opportunities for the grown-ups too! A great way to immerse your child in nature, learn about native plants, and animals, and connect with other parents. This bushwalk will be guided by Hannah Jones from local environmental education business, Wattle + Wonder.

Pruning for Beginners

When: Saturday 4 June, 10am to 12pm
Where: Aldinga Library, 11 Central Way, Aldinga Beach
Cost: Free, book online

Many plants will perform better with regular pruning, this includes trees, shrubs, climbers, perennials and even annuals. How hard to prune and where can be perplexing problems but by using some simple rules and having an understanding of plant growth and development the task becomes much simpler. This presentation will cover the tools, rules and principles to help guide your pruning.

Hackham West

Planning a year-round harvest

When: Saturday 18 June, 10am to 12pm
Where: Hackham West Community Centre
Cost: $6, bookings essential

Learn about establishing a food producing garden This is the second workshop in a series of three. Come and learn how effective succession planting, seasonal eating and choosing the right varieties to have you eating out of the garden 365 days a year. All gardening levels welcome. Light morning tea included.

Happy Valley

Come-and-try Kayaking with Paddle SA at Happy Valley Reservoir

When: Thursday 9 June, various times
Where: Happy Valley Reservoir
Cost: Free, bookings essential

If you've always wanted to try your hand at flat water kayaking now's your chance! Join us at Happy Valley reservoir reserve for free guided come and try tours - no previous paddling experience required. These one-hour sessions are hosted by Paddle SA qualified kayaking instructors focusing on safety and exploration of some of the 110 hectares of open water at Happy Valley reservoir reserve.

Morphett Vale

Climate Fresk Workshop

When: Sunday 5 June, 1–4pm
Where: Woodcroft Library, Bains Road, Morphett Vale
Cost: Free, bookings essential

Gather your team together or join up with other like-minded people for this interactive workshop based on a 42-card game. Each card represents a cause or a consequence of climate change and you are in control of your own future. Presented by Paull Sutton from the University of Denver, in partnership with Green Adelaide Education and City of Onkaparinga. Suitable for ages 16+ and adults.

Noarlunga

Electric Cars & Coffee

When: Friday 3 June, 1.30–2.30pm
Where: Noarlunga Library
Cost:  Free, bookings essential

Are rising petrol prices making you think about switching to electric? University SA Associate Research Professor, Peter Pudney, has been designing, building and driving solar and electric cars for almost 30 years. Come and listen to Peter bust some myths about EVs, enjoy a cuppa and have your questions answered by an expert in the field.

Backyard Beekeeping

When: Saturday 4 June, 1-2.30pm
Where: Noarlunga Library
Cost: free, bookings essential

Want to help your garden flourish through beekeeping? Join President of the Beekeepers' Society of South Australia, Susan Lonie, for an informative session about backyard beekeeping. Whether you're learning the basics or already a novice beekeeper, have your burning bee questions answered!

Onkaparinga River National Park

Family nature walk with Nature Play SA

When: Saturday 25 June, 9–10am
Where: Gate 11, Onkaparinga River National Park, 612 Piggott Range Road, Onkaparinga Hills
Cost: Free, register online

Join Nature Play SA for a nature walk through Onkaparinga River National Park to celebrate Adelaide becoming a National Park City. The walk will be interactive, fun, and full of fascinating stories of the plants and animals that call the park home. Suitable for families.

Little Bushies at Onkaparinga River National Park

When: Monday 6 June and Friday 17 June, 10–11am
Where: Gate 11, Onkaparinga River National Park, 612 Piggott Range Road, Onkaparinga Hills
Cost: $5 to $16.91, bookings essential

Join this ‘Little Bushies’ group on a walk through local native bushland and let your little one use their senses to discover the natural world; lots of learning opportunities for the grown-ups too! A great way to immerse your child in nature, learn about native plants, and animals, and connect with other parents. This bushwalk will be guided by Hannah Jones from local environmental education business, Wattle + Wonder.

Planting day at Pink Gum Campground

When: Sunday 19 June, 9am to 1pm
Where: Pink Gum Campground, Onkaparinga River National Park, Chapel Hill Road, Blewitt Springs
Cost: Free, register online

Join National Parks and Wildlife Services Rangers and the Friends of Onkaparinga Parks for a planting at Pink Gum campground in Onkaparinga River National Park. Suitable for all ages.

Reynella East

Create a butterfly garden

When: Thursday 2 June, 10:30am to 12pm
Where: Byards Community Hall, Reynella East
Cost: $6, bookings essential 

Butterflies fluttering around your garden are beautiful and they’re fantastic pollinators. At this session, the Green Adelaide Education team will show you just how to create a garden that attracts butterflies and other bugs. Includes a walk around Byards Wetland and you’ll take home a butterfly attracting plant to start your garden off. Hosted by City of Onkaparinga and Green Adelaide.

Seaford

Seaford Wetlands Planting Day

When: Sunday 26 June, 11am to 3pm
Where: Seaford Wetlands, Seaford Road, Seaford
Cost: Free, register online

Join the Seaford Wetlands Community Garden for our first planting day at the Seaford Wetlands. This will contribute to the Seaford Wetlands Urban Biodiversity Project. The project aims to improve the Seaford Wetlands and create a cooler, greener, and more biodiverse space for wildlife and for people. Come help plant native seedlings, learn about urban biodiversity, and meet some like-minded people. Activities may include an introduction to the project, a guided walk around the wetlands, planting native species, and a plant stall with natives and food plants for sale.

Willunga South

Gardening for Resilience: Tending What Matters with Keitha Thuy Young

When: Sunday 26 June, 10.30am to 4.00pm
Where:
Papershell Farm, 203 Almond Grove, Road, Willunga South
Cost: $180 per person, book online

Calling all present and future gardeners! To be human means to be of the earth, and this workshop hopes to reconnect you with what it is to tend soil, seeds, spirit and what matters through these times. The act of gardening (when/if you’re able) is immensely radical and healing on so many personal and collective levels. Whether you want to grow abundant organic food or tend a medicinal herb garden, it’s possible in almost any size space once you understand what plants need to survive and thrive.

Green Wood Carving Spoons

When: Sunday 29 May, 10.30am to 4.00pm
Where:
Papershell Farm, 203 Almond Grove, Road, Willunga South
Cost: $180 per person, book online

Learn how to carve your own spoon from fresh green timber! A follow-on to the popular carving a butter spreader workshop, take your carving skills to the next level and learn about the amazing art of spoon carving. You’ll learn how to design a functional eating spoon, axe a timber blank from a log, and carve complex shapes in three dimensions using a straight knife and hook knife. Each person will carve their own eating spoon during the workshop to take home. Attendance at a previous green woodworking course is strongly advised, but not necessary.

Woodcroft

Bluegum Bill’s Suburban Wildlife Safari

When: Sunday 5 June, 2–3pm
Where: Woodcroft Library
Cost: Free, bookings essential

Bluegum Bill and his animal friends from Animals Anonymous will present a very special performance on World Environment Day to celebrate Adelaide becoming a National Park City. Presented by Heaps Good Productions and Animals Anonymous, in partnership with Greed Adelaide Education and City of Onkaparinga. For children and families.

Online events

Chooks as Garden Helpers

When: Available from Wednesday 1 June

Explore how chickens can help you in your garden. Discover how to best harness their powers for good, and how to keep them away from the things you don’t want them near. Tips and tricks on managing and making the most of their abilities including weeding, composting, and fertilising. Join online for a pre-recorded video which premieres on YouTube and Facebook at 12pm on Wednesday 1 June. Then join live on Facebook at 12.30pm the same day, for more information, and to ask any questions there and then. Videos will be available for a month afterwards. Presented by Folk of all Trades and Resilient South.

Pictured

An Australian painted lady butterfly. Learn how to create a garden that attracts butterflies and other bugs during a session at Byards Community Hall, Reynella East, on Thursday 2 June. Photo: Martin Stokes/Green Adelaide.