Peter Garrett and Costa Georgiadis Invite Australians to Experience Landcare

Wednesday 5 August 2026: What if the best thing you could do for nature was also one of the best things you could do for yourself?

That’s the invitation from Landcare Australia Chair Peter Garrett AM and Landcare Australia Ambassador Costa Georgiadis, who are encouraging Australians to get outdoors, meet people in their community and experience the energy, connection and sense of purpose that comes from being part of landcare.

As Landcare Week 2026 gets underway, the pair are calling on people of all ages to roll up their sleeves and get involved in a local landcare activity in their community.  Whether its planting native trees, restoring a creek, collecting seed, caring for wildlife habitat or simply sharing a morning tea after a community working bee, landcare activities are taking place all year round.

Their message is backed by new findings from the National Landcare Week 2026 Survey, which found 93% of respondents have made friends or new social connections through landcare, while 88% say getting involved has helped them feel more connected to their local community.

As part of Landcare Week, Peter Garrett and Costa Georgiadis met with volunteers from Randwick Environment Park Bushcare Group who are working to restore the critically endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub (ESBS). The project reflects the spirit captured in this year’s National Landcare Week 2026 Survey, with local volunteers coming together to protect biodiversity while building stronger, more connected communities.

Landcare Australia Chair Peter Garrett AM said the findings show Australians are ready to be part of the solution.

“This survey tells us Australians choose to volunteer because they care about nature and they value being part of their community. As the climate crisis bites so the challenges facing our landscapes are growing too, which is why local landcare groups need more people and ongoing support to keep this momentum going. When you support landcare, you’re investing in healthier landscapes, stronger communities and thousands of Australians, including the next generation, who want to be part of the solution.”

Landcare Australia Ambassador and ABC Gardening Australia host Costa Georgiadis said the survey reflected what he sees every time he visits Landcare projects around the country – agreeing with the report’s findings that people may join for the cause, but they stay for the community.  

“One of the beautiful things about Landcare is that people often arrive because they want to help nature, but before long they’re part of a community. That’s the magic of Landcare – looking after nature is something we can all do together.”

Across Australia, thousands of landcare volunteers are improving farms, restoring bushland, protecting wildlife habitat, caring for waterways and strengthening the communities they call home. From landcare, bushcare, ‘Friends of’, Coastcare and rivercare groups, to First Nations Peoples, schools, scientists, youth groups and farming systems groups, landcare is made up of the local groups in your community who are restoring and protecting the natural environment.

This Landcare Week, Landcare Australia is inviting everyone to discover a local project and experience landcare for themselves. Sometimes the best way to care for nature is together.