September not only marks the beginning of spring, it’s also the start of a special celebration for our natural environment - National Biodiversity Month!

We’re also focusing on our native plants and animals that are under threat for Threatened Species Day on Thursday 7 September, and thinking about how we can protect them now and into the future.

The Northern Beaches is lucky to be one of the most biodiverse areas left in Sydney, with more than 300 bushland reserves and three national parks right on our doorstep.

Here are some amazing facts about our native plants and animals that might surprise you:

• 540 native animal species call our reserves and bushlands home, and 69 of these are listed as threatened, including the vulnerable Eastern Pygmy Possum and Powerful Owl.
• 1,460 plant species can be found on the Northern Beaches, of which 65 are threatened, including the critically endangered Caley’s Grevillea.
• 48 different native vegetation communities can be found here, including 13 threatened ecological communities, such as the endangered Duffy's Forest Ecological Community.

Join us to celebrate Biodiversity Month at one of our popular night walks or talks and learn about our fascinating local native animals, such as bats, frogs, owls and bees.

We’ve extended the month-long celebration with this series of events running throughout September and October.

Help us protect our bushland and wildlife for future generations to enjoy:

• Let us know if you’ve spotted a threatened native animal or plant: species.sightings@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
• Report an invasive species, such as a fox, rabbit or weed: invasivespecies@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au