50th Black Mountain Spring Wildflower Ramble

Good news .. the 50^th Annual Spring Wildflower Ramble on Black Mountain is on 23 October 2021 (not 9^th October). A small number of places remain for some of the times being allocated…. 

Celebrate the spring flowering on beautiful Black Mountain with a social ramble for wildflower lovers in the tradition established by Nancy Burbidge, and continued by George Chippendale. This is the 50^th anniversary of this annual ramble being held.

Discover the surprising diversity of tiny orchids, bush peas, wattles and billy buttons on easy bush tracks with experienced guides and good company. All springs are not the same. The pattern remains but timing and abundance vary with the weather; after the rain we have had this year we are anticipating a special display of flowers.

Friends of Black Mountain welcomes everyone, be they experts or those who have never slowed down to see the somewhat cryptic diversity. We plan several guides, with helpers, who will take different directions.

There will be some books for sale, including Black Mountain a natural history of a Canberra icon by Ian Fraser and Rosemary Purdie.

Where: Belconnen Way entry just before Caswell Drive turnoff - watch for balloons or banners. Please allow time to park and walk to the meeting point.

When: Guides will be leaving with their parties at different times between 9.00am and 10.20am

Bring: BYO morning tea, water, hat, sunblock and stout shoes.

Gold Coins donation

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL to ensure we have enough guides. Contact friendsofblackmountain@gmail.com or Julie (02) 6251 8972 or Linda 0437 298 711. Please include a name and phone number for all the people in your booking as we are required to keep this information on file in case contact-tracing for Covid becomes necessary.

Background: Dr Nancy Burbidge was a botanist and conservationist, the Curator Herbarium Australiense and, later, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO. She was a keen leader of numerous weekend walks and initiated the Spring Wildflower Rambles on Black Mountain. George Chippendale, a eucalyptus enthusiast, continued that tradition for many years.