Bush For Life

Fragments of bushland are precious to our state’s biodiversity. The Bush For Life Program restores and protects these vital remnants.

The program was created in 1994 to help people take practical steps to conserve bushland. It was the first of its kind and is still one of the largest volunteer programs in Australia specifically designed to protect native vegetation. Today, Bush For Life bushcarers look after more than 300 sites covering over 4,000 hectares to return our valuable bushland to health.

Get involved with Bush For Life today

There are many ways to become a bushcarer with Bush For Life.

Join a group

If you are starting out, or want to experience a variety of bushland habitats with like-minded people, our regular Bush Action Team days are a fun, healthy and rewarding way to make your contribution in different bush locations. Learn more about joining a Bush Action Team here

Attend a workshop

Whether volunteering on a site or learning how to care for your own property, our Bushcare Workshop gets your skills up. Learn the best strategies and minimal disturbance techniques for bush restoration. Learn more on our workshops page

Adopt a site

Once you have completed our Bushcare Workshop you can adopt your own site. With over 300 established BFL sites to choose from, you can get to know a local site and its native plants and create a plan of action with your Regional Coordinator. You can visit the site when it suits you and work at your own pace to make a big difference to the health of your patch. Learn more about adopting a BFL site here

Keep learning

Our calendar has plenty of opportunities to keep you learning through the year. Our workshops help you discover more about the plants, animals and habitats in SA’s bushland, the weeds that threaten them and the best techniques to help native plants flourish. See our BFL workshops here


Bush For Life and bushcare FAQs

What is bush regeneration?
Bush regeneration (or bushcare) is the practice of rehabilitating bushland by reducing the threats in a way that encourages the natural regeneration process of the ecosystem. Bush For Life practises the ‘minimal disturbance’ method which involves a very targeted and strategic approach to reducing the threat of invasive weeds. It’s slow but effective and ensures a site’s biodiversity is retained. Through the steady efforts of many bushcare volunteers, indigenous plants are able to thrive, set seed and regenerate.

Why conserve bushland?
Protecting good quality habitats is the best way to conserve biodiversity. Bush regeneration has a key role to play alongside other land restoration approaches such as revegetation. Bushland defines the character of our landscapes, provides habitat for our unique flora and fauna, contributes to sustainable agriculture, influences weather and climate, provides a seed source for revegetation projects, and is enjoyed by people seeking the health and wellbeing benefits of being in nature.

Why is bushcare important?
Healthy, resilient bushland can better withstand threats such as weed invasion and climate change. Environmental weeds are one of the biggest threats to the bushland remaining after large-scale clearance. Bushcare is a practical way for anyone to get involved, and is a proven way to reduce the threat of weeds and restore the health of our bushland.

Where are Bush For Life sites?
Our 300 BFL sites extend from the mid-north and Clare Valley, south to Victor Harbor and Goolwa, and from the coast of Adelaide to the Murray Mallee in the east. These sites include council bushland reserves, private land and bushland owned by corporate landowners. Contact us to find a BFL site near you


Contact Bush For Life now or call 08 8406 0500 to get involved