Possums and pythons and sugar gliders, oh my!

All these critters and more will be on display on Saturday, May 3, as the Goulburn Valley Tree Group hosts its biggest event of the year, aptly named the Big Backyard Biodiversity Day.

The event will take place at the nursery located at 6 Kerferd St, just a five-minute walk from the Tatura Community House, where the annual Monster Garage Sale will also be happening simultaneously.

For families and individuals keen on enhancing their environmental knowledge, the day will feature presentations and displays from various experts.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for both children and adults to learn about local biodiversity,” GV Tree Group nursery manager Deb Lynch said.

The presentations include a talk by Clancy Lester on the importance of native bees and another by Kylie Hoskin about incorporating indigenous plants into home gardens.

Landcare will also be on hand to assist with revegetation projects to enhance local biodiversity, while Transition Tatura will discuss sustainable changes individuals can make at home.

For the displays, GV Tree Group issued a call of the wild, and conservationists answered.

Visitors will encounter animals, some with paws and others with claws, as John Laing presents his ‘Mini Beasts’ exhibit alongside Bohollow Wildlife Shelter’s showcase of native animals.

“Last year, Bohollow brought possums, sugar gliders and one of their big pythons in, and the kids could pet and hold them,” Ms Lynch said.

“It’s really great for them to develop an appreciation for our wildlife from an early age and understand that we need to protect them.”

To fuel the fun, a free morning tea is available, and visitors are encouraged to donate a gold coin for a sausage sizzle, all proceeds of which benefit Bohollow’s efforts to save native wildlife.

Ms Lynch said the group would love to see as many people attend as possible, noting that the event was as cheap as the dirt that nurtured their plants.

“There are not many places you can go where it’s all free,” she said.

“You can walk in and help yourself to morning tea or hold a sugar glider — or do both at the same time!”

GV Tree Group’s Big Backyard Biodiversity Day is on Saturday, May 3, starting at 9am at its nursery located at 6 Kerferd St, Tatura. This event is free of charge.

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