This Sunday, a day of planting, food, music and hands-on workshops will transform the banks of the Margaret River for a new one-day tree planting festival, Together With Nature.
Led by Nature Conservation Margaret River Region, the festival invites the community to roll up their sleeves in the morning planting session, before settling in for a catered lunch, live music and a rich afternoon program of workshops spanning culture, science and creativity.
From 10am to 12pm this Sunday, volunteers will help plant 2000 native plants at a revegetation site along the middle reaches of the Wooditjup Bilya, hosted on the property of Margaret River Hops farmers, the Funnekotter family. The local landholders have committed to significant ecological restoration, including fencing off one kilometre of river foreshore to protect this important habitat — and organisers say their leadership and generosity is key to making the tree planting festival possible.
From 12pm, the focus shifts to food and festivities, with lunch provided by Cape to Cape Explorer Tours — including dessert by Darnell’s General Store — alongside live music from The Nomadics and spoken word poetry by Sari Bennett from Stitch Poetry. The day also includes a Welcome to Country and Wadandi cultural wongi (talk) with custodian Zac Webb from Undalup Association.
Zac Webb will feature as part of the Together With Nature tree planting festival
The afternoon workshop series offers something for all ages and interests spanning science, culture, conservation and spirit. Participants can take their choice of workshops including:
- Hands-on Wadandi rope workshop, led by Zac Webb and custodians from Undalup Association (1.30pm–3pm)
• Wildlife expert Simon Cherriman demonstrating nesting boxes — and even installing one live in a tree (1.30pm–3pm)
• A wild creatures clay session for kids with River Ceramics artist Jolene Hewison (1.30pm–2.15pm)
A free native plant will also be given away to attendees — helping extend the impact beyond the day itself.
Nature Conservation’s Friends of Wooditjup Bilya program officer Lauren Scanlon said the event is all about bringing people together in a meaningful, hands-on way. “This is the kind of day where you can get your hands dirty planting trees in the morning, then kick back with great food, live music and choose-your-own-adventure workshops in the afternoon,” she said.
Friends of Wooditjup Bilya program officer Lauren Scanlon
“It’s about bringing people together — families, friends, kids — to connect with nature and each other. You’ll learn something new, meet amazing people and walk away knowing you’ve made a real difference for the river.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the Funnekotter family at Margaret River Hops for their commitment to restoring this special stretch of the river and for welcoming the community onto their property — it’s a wonderful example of local stewardship in action. With 2000 plants to get in the ground this Sunday, we really do need all hands on deck — but it won’t feel like hard work. It’s a celebration. We’re also thrilled to welcome Rosa Brook artist Myra Giardini to the festival for a special all-day creative collaboration: Plant A Tree then Paint with Me.”
Organisers say Together With Nature is the largest Nature Conservation volunteer planting event of the year, and a powerful example of community-driven environmental action.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for young people aged 6–18 and free for kids aged five and under, including lunch and your choice of at least two afternoon workshops. The event is now fully sold out but there is a waitlist in case of late cancelations at www.natureconservation.org.au/events.
Community coming together to plant for nature
The event is part of Nature Conservation’s Protect Wooditjup Bilya program, funded by The Ian Potter Foundation with support from the Shire of Augusta Margaret River, Water Corporation, and generous philanthropic donors. And the Friends of Wooditjup Bilya program, funded by the Shire of Augusta Margaret River.
Also assisting is the WA Landcare Network as part of their 2026 collaborative event funding for the theme ‘LandCARE, CONNECT & COLLABORATE’. CrossFit Margaret River and New Earth Living are local business sponsors of the event.
Everyone in the community is encouraged to get involved and be part of one of the region’s most inspiring environmental events of the year — happening this Sunday.