Geelong Botanic Gardens will open its gates for a special evening event for the community to explore the surrounding wildlife at night.
Bats, Dark Skies and Garden Night Walk will begin at the garden’s office on Wednesday, July 23, at 5pm and will feature the fly-out of the grey-headed flying foxes, a vulnerable bat species.
City of Greater Geelong’s Environment and Natural Resources coordinator Jeanette Spittle said Kelly Clitheroe of the Dark Skies association will also give a presentation about why dark skies matter.
“People often aren’t aware of how many threatened species can continue to survive in an urban environment,” she said.
“These events can help plant a seed for people to understand the environment better and provide a way to better engage with nature.
“It provides a way to learn more about nature across Geelong so that people can learn about the bats and the bugs in the botanical gardens.
“As part of that, we’ll be able to experience the dark skies when we’re out and about, not only with the bats, but also when we come back into the garden.
“That might then lead them to exploring their own backyards and understanding nature better across the city just from one experience of hanging out with the bats here at the gardens.”
Bats, Dark Skies and Garden Night Walk is a free event, but bookings are essential. Visit tickets.geelongaustralia.com.au/events/32301 for more information.
