FrogID Week, from November 6-15, is Australia’s Biggest Frog Count. Held annually by the Australian Museum’s FrogID citizen science program, it allows everyone take part and help scientists discover where frogs are most at risk from habitat loss, disease and climate change.

It’s so easy, anybody with a smartphone can contribute simply by downloading the free FrogID app from FrogID.net.au and recording the sound of frogs they hear calling. 

Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba has joined forty mayors and councillors from across the country in releasing a joint statement committing to economic recovery solutions that create jobs and tackle climate change.

 

The mass commitment to a sustainable economic recovery aims to support industries and sectors that invest in a zero carbon future, along with driving strong economic recovery for communities hit hard by twin climate and COVID-19 crises.

 

The joint statement outlines eight solutions from renewable energy through to sustainable transport that put local governments on a practical, jobs-rich path to future-proof cities, reduce energy costs and create more comfortable homes and workplaces. 

During Bat Week in October, Shellharbour’s Library at Home celebrated the role of bats in nature, with a special focus on learning more about our important and beautiful local resident, the Grey-headed Flying-fox. Check it out here!

Come along on Saturday 14 November from 10am – 3pm and use recycled and natural materials to make your own small native bee hotel that can provide nesting sites for wild native bees such as Resin bees, Masked bees and Reed bees (not honey producing bees). Learn more about the amazing diversity of wild native bees in the Illawarra while you create a small native bee hotel you can take home and place in your garden.  This event is being held in support of National Pollinator Week. 

National Pollinator Week, from 8 – 15 November, is a time to acknowledge and celebrate our important and unique insect pollinators. It’s a designated week when community, business and organisations can come together to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators and support their needs. 
 

We encourage you to check out the website and see what’s happening for Pollinator Week, and get involved in the Wild Pollinator Count, where you count wild pollinators in your local environment and help build a database on wild pollinator activity.

Shellharbour City Council is a long standing and active partner of Food Fairness Illawarra (FFI). To celebrate 15 years of successfully collaborating, advocating and educating for fair food in the Illawarra, FFI has launched a new look and website! 

The days are getting warmer and longer, and it’s time to start thinking about planting:
 

• Cherry tomatoes
• Cucumber
• Zucchini
• Potato

 
If you're keen to add veggies and herbs to your garden, head into Council's Nursery on River Oak Place, Oak Flats, or contact them on 4221 6191 or at nursery@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au. They're now open Monday to Friday 7.30am to 3.45pm (except public holidays), with social distancing and COVID-safe measures in place. Staff are happy to help you with advice on what to plant when, what’s easy to grow, what can be grown in a pot and how to prepare your soil for the next crop.
 
City Library, Warilla Library & Albion Park Library have reopened, and have a great selection of gardening books. To find out what you need to know before you visit the library please see here.