Forests NSW has launched a new program of weekend and school holiday activities at Cumberland State Forest at West Pennant Hills to encourage people to learn more about forests. 

Activities will be run in school holidays and every Sunday morning.  

“The programs offers something for everyone from traditional guided bushwalks or bird watching to fun family activities where participants can pot-up native plants to take home,” said Forests NSW manager of public programs and community interaction Joanna Bodley. 

“One of the new activities set to be popular with local families is Wildlife Patrol, a great morning out for the family where participants learn about being a forest detective and use wildlife survey techniques in the forest. 

“Kids can finish the morning by making a native animal puppet to take home.” 

There are two Cumberland at Night spotlight walks left this season to be held on the following nights:

• Saturday 4 February; and  
• Saturday 3 March. 

“These popular guided walks take place after dark and local rangers guide the group through the forest by torchlight and seek out the array of native animals that call the forest home,” Ms Bodley said. 

“A limited number of these walks are run each year, so don’t miss out on your last opportunity this summer.” 

The school holiday sessions for January 2012 were all booked out but there are plenty of Sunday sessions available for the whole family. 

The current program runs to June this year and details are available online at www.forests.nsw.gov.au

Media contact: Howard Spencer 02 66568825 or 0428 696672