Around Town: May Edition
2nd of May (9am-11am): Branching Out: Beginner Bird Watching
This is a free guided nature walk designed for people new to birdwatching. Participants will learn how to use binoculars, identify common (and less common) bird species, and recognise birds by both sight and sound while exploring the reserve
Where: Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve
2nd of May (1pm-3pm): Autumn Seed Swap (Canberra Seed Savers)
Enjoy a community-focused event celebrating gardening, sustainability, and local food resilience.
The event encourages sharing knowledge as much as seeds - creating space for conversations about growing food, preserving biodiversity, and building a more self-sufficient community. It’s open to all experience levels, from seasoned gardeners to beginners curious about getting started.
Where: Canberra City Farm, Fyshwick
3rd of May (9:30am-12:30pm): A Big Hot Heap
This is a free and hands-on event by Canberra City Farm where you can learn how to make hot compost. The event will turn the Farm’s organic waste into compost gold! There will also be an introduction to microbiological brewing and making biochar. RSVPs are essential. This will be followed by a BYO topping woodfire pizza lunch.
Where: Canberra City Farm, Fyshwick
3rd of May (10.30am-12.30pm): Branching Out: The Plants, Animals and History of Pinnacle Nature Reserve
If guided nature walks are your thing, check this event out! It explores the ecology and history of one of Canberra’s local reserves. Led by the Friends of the Pinnacle, the walk focuses on observing native plants and wildlife while also learning about the area’s historical background. The pace is slow and accessible, with plenty of time to stop, ask questions, and connect with others
Where: The Pinnacle Nature Reserve (Hawker)
3rd of May (11am-1pm): Pedal & Play: A Tree Week Family Ride
This event is a free, family-friendly cycling event designed to get people outdoors, active, and connected with their community. Pedal Power invites participants of all ages to enjoy a relaxed bike ride as part of Tree Week celebrations.
Where: Lyneham Primary School (Hall St) → Haig Park
3rd of May (1:30-2:30pm): Introduction to Composting for the Home Gardener
This is an informal classroom session with Frank Jones of Praxis Farm. He will be there tn answer any and all questions about composting, as well as providing an introduction to different composting methods. This is a ticketed event.
Where: Canberra City Farm, Fyshwick
3rd of May (4pm-5.30pm): Shape the Future - Kickstarting our search for an independent candidate
On the same day (wow, so much happening!), Voices of Canberra warmly invites to hear from Senator David Pocock, Jessie Price (independent candidate for Bean) and your Voices of Canberra team. Across Australia we’ve seen a rise of Community Independent MPs – backed by a grassroots community movement to represent the diversity of their electorates rather than party politicians who toe the party line. Here in the ACT, this is how Senator David Pocock was elected and Jessie Price nearly was.
Where: Capital Brewing Co, 1 Dairy Rd, Fyshwick
9th of May (10am-1pm): Hughes Repair Cafe
Come along and get active in waste reduction! Repairs are available for electrical goofs, sewing, maintenance, jewellery and household items.
Where: Hughes Community Centre
9th of May (2pm-4pm): SEEDY SATURDAY
Seedy Saturdays are a fun, relaxed and social session of seed saving, chats and snacks. This is a great time to drop off/ pick up seeds and to learn about or share your knowledge of seed saving and of course to chat with other local gardeners!
Where: Canberra City Farm, LESS Building (the small building near the tool sheds and community garden)
12th of May (6pm-8pm): Premier Screening: On the Edge (SOLD OUT)
Canberra is at a turning point-how do we grow sustainably while protecting nature and community? Join the premiere of On the Edge, a powerful new film exploring the future of Canberra and the choices shaping its landscape. Stick around after the screening for a panel discussion with the filmmaker and special guests, diving into sustainable development, what’s at stake, and how we can create change together.
Where: National Film and Sound Archive
17th of May (2pm-5pm): Make a Pouch!
Do you have fabric scraps that you don’t know what to do with? Bring your own fabric to create a useful, lined zipper pouch. This is a ticketed event, however you can make as many pouches as you have time for!
Where: Community Toolbox Canberra
23rd of May (11am-12:15pm): World Bee Day Tour
This tour is a unique, hands-on event celebrating the importance of bees and pollinators.
Explore the Parliament House beehives, learn about the vital role bees play in maintaining ecosystems and landscapes, and gain insights into creating bee-friendly environments at home. The event also includes a honey tasting experience featuring honey produced on-site.
Designed for gardeners, beekeepers, and anyone curious about pollinators, the session combines education, sustainability, and a behind-the-scenes look at urban beekeeping in a unique location.
Where: Parliament House Beehives in Canberra
26th of May (8:30am-5pm): 2026 Conservation Finance Intensive
This is a cross-sector professional event focused on bridging the gap between conservation and finance with in-person and virtual options. It brings together people from the conservation, finance, corporate, and public sectors.
The intensive explores how climate frameworks, disclosure standards, and sustainable finance tools can be used to unlock investment in nature-based projects. Participants gain practical insights into making conservation initiatives “investment-ready,” understanding investor expectations, and connecting real-world environmental outcomes with financial systems.
The program includes expert-led sessions, case studies, and interactive workshops, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, real-world application, and integrating First Nations perspectives in conservation finance.
Where: EY in Melbourne, Victoria
28th May (12:30pm-1:30pm AEST): Episode 29 of the Saving the World Webinar Series
In this episode, Dr. Sophie Robinson will interrogate how healthcare systems are being governed in the midst of a global climate crisis. The Webinar will synthesis research from Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Australia to illuminate the challenges and activators of governance for climate resilient development in healthcare.
Where: Online via Zoom
TBC: Future Leaders Program 2026
In November later this year, this program will provide selected applicants with the opportunity to develop research skills and spark collaborative ideas. Applications will be opening soon! So keep an eye out on the Planetary Health Equity Hothouse’s LinkedIn page. In the mean time, if you are interested in finding out more about the program, click this link to see past years programs.
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