ACT residents have been recognised for their contributions to caring for the local environment in Landcare's 2021 awards.
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The Red Hill Bush Regenerators nabbed the Australian Community Media Landcare Community Group Award for their 30-plus years of work restoring the native bushland ecology of the Red Hill Nature Reserve.
One of the largest remnants of Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum grassy woodland in the country, the land has been tended to by local volunteers since 1989 by Michael Mulvaney.
"It was in fairly poor condition when our group started. We've been working to restore it to the natural woodland, getting rid of many of the weeds and ... making plantings as well, and counting and checking on endangered species there," president Ross Kingsland said.
The recognition of tireless work - over 40,000 hours according to the group - on the area will give volunteers "a boost", Mr Kingsland said.
"Sometimes when you're working there, you wonder whether you're ever going to move forward but this is an opportunity to celebrate," he said.
Second-year ANU student Dhani Gilbert was awarded the Austcover Young Landcare Leadership Award.
A proud young Wiradjuri woman from Ngunnawal country, Ms Gilbert was recognised for her work at the Woodlands and Wetlands Trust as a casual community education outreach officer.