Currently undertaking a project to help local pockets of land over a 60 hectare area, volunteers John Bodill and Les Mitchell say they are happy knowing they are helping the local flora.

“I have been volunteering with Landcare for nearly five years and it is really satisfying ro see the changes to the natural environment over time,” Mr Bodill said.

“I only volunteer for a few hours a week but over long periods of time you can certainly notice a difference in the landscape where we are restoring the plants and trees.”

A retired biologist, Mr Mitchel said it is wonderful to feel like you are really making a difference.

“I have been in and worked closely with Landcare branches across NSW during my working career, but since recently moving to Port Macquarie, it has been fantastic to be able to come and learn about the wildly diverse local environment,” Mr Mitchell said.

“I think the work Landcare is doing is particularly important given the expanding population in Port Macquarie which means the preservation of corridors of land and vegetation is vital.

“People need to appreciate what these green pockets of land bring to communities and they need to be maintained.”

Over the 60 hectare project, Landcare currently have 17 active sites they are working at restoring and maintaining while the natural environment rebuilds, said project manager Estelle Gough.

“At the moment we are consolidating all of our projects and at a lot of the sites in the current project we have moved into maintenance, assisting the local environment until it becomes a self functioning body," Ms Gough said.

“All the plants we planted and introduced back into the environment are indigenous to the local area and have been sourced locally and grown in our nursery.”

However the work done restoring the local environment could only be possible with the help of volunteers, and Roz Anderson and Annette Prigg said everyone should consider lending a hand.

“Working in the great outdoors is fantastic and it is really wonderful knowing that you are helping to improve the local environment,” Ms Anderson said.

“The work we do can be varied but it really is a social place as well, we all get along and have a good chat while we are out working.”

“It is actually really rewarding doing some work on site and coming back a few months later and seeing the huge change in the environment because it means the work we do does matter and is important,” Ms Prigg said.

If you want to know more or to sign up as a Landcare volunteer please visit landcareportmac.com.au or phone 0432 141 605.