FoBM Events & News

Friends of Black Mountain is an energetic local community group of volunteers who help conserve and promote Black Mountain's biodiversity and values now and for future generations.

Our main activities are to organise walks and talks for the public, and work parties to keep weeds under control, Frogwatch, vegetation surveys, and bird observations.

New members are always welcome.

Coming FoBM Events

Friends of Black Mountain Upcoming Events

Details on Facebook, in the general media, Events & News page or member email, per event.

Orchid Walks on Black Mountain

* Sunday 4 October

9.30am-12 noon & repeated 1.30pm-4pm

Yes, daylight saving starts that very day.

Choose your time to book and to discover some spring flowering native terrestrial orchids and learn something more of this fascinating group of plants with Matt Mullaney, Ciaran Ernst-Russell, Shoko Okada, Tobias Hayashi and Rob Gibbon.

MEET: at the car park on the mountain side of Caswell Drive. Look for FOBM banners;

(from Belconnen Way drive south towards Glenloch Interchange).

BYO: enthusiasm, hat, sunblock, water, stout shoes, & hand lens if you have one, and snacks if you wish.

BOOK: Limited numbers for each walk. Choose the time you would like for the walk. Booking link:

https://www.trybooking.com/DNZFT

55th Black Mountain spring wildflower ramble

* Saturday 10 October 2026

9.30am sharp to 12noon or later

Celebrate the spring flowering on beautiful Black Mountain with a social ramble appreciating wildflowers in the tradition established by Nancy Burbidge, continued by George Chippendale, and then Jean Geue. 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 weather 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.

Please allow time to park and walk to the meeting point.

MEET: at Belconnen Way entry just before Caswell Drive turnoff - watch for balloons or banners

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

BOOKING ESSENTIAL to ensure we have enough guides. Please use this

booking link:

https://www.trybooking.com/DNZFU

This will help us to contact you if changes are needed at short notice (e.g. bad weather).

If you have problems with that link, email names, addresses, and mobile phone numbers of each person you book to friendsofblackmountain@gmail.com

Weeding Work Party

*5 September 2026Time

9am-12pm

Friends of Black Mountain's monthly weeding party removing non-native vegetation.

Wear a hat, sunscreen, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, stout shoes and gardening gloves.

Meet: Caswell Drive entry on the mountain side. Drive from Belconnen Way southwards along Caswell Drive towards Glenloch Interchange, Woden, or Tuggeranong. Note the yellow diamond shape advisory sign showing the access road on the left (mountain side) and the blue and white “P” sign for parking. Pull into the carpark carefully. Look for banners.

Please book:

https://www.trybooking.com/DIFKY

Celebrate beautiful Black Mountain with a range of events. Events can be subject to change due to the availability of guides and suitable weather. Bookings are essential.

Bookings Essential

This is your SIGN to go for a walk around the Black Mountain Forest Loop!

Thankyou to Alison, Canberra Nature Park North Ranger, for sharing the story behind the new signs. View the story reel here.

Well done to the Friends of Black Mountain for making it happen!

This was made possible through ACT Government's Environment Grant Program.

FoBM News

P1050852BM-ChippWalkGeue10Oct15 Group (Small).JPG

FoBM News

Newsletter
July 2025 - June 2026
view more here

Black Mountain Spring Ramble

The Annual Black Mountain Spring Wildflower Ramble on Saturday 10 October 2026 follows the tradition of Dr Nancy Burbidge and George Chippendale who led this walk to delight families starting in the 1960s.

Dr Nancy Burbidge was a botanist and conservationist, the Curator Herbarium Australiense and a Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO. She was a keen leader of numerous weekend walks and initiated the Spring Wildflower Rambles on Black Mountain through the National Parks Association. Nancy shared the walk tradition with George Chippendale, Botanist, who continued the tradition for many years. When George retired from guiding the walks, he handed over to Jean Geue. The walk is currently run by Friends of Black Mountain.