THE Friends of The Vines Bushlands is holding its first meeting on Saturday, September 23 from 10am to noon.

The Vines Residents and Ratepayers Association (VRRA) chairman Mark Church said the work undertaken by the committee had been rewarded with the official group now up and running.

The group, recently admitted to the Urban Bushland Council WA, will meet at Annie’s Landing playground car park at Inglis Alley off Banrock Drive.

People can also park on Barbera Road alongside Chardonnay Park and walk through to the playground as there is a short bush path at the back of Chardonnay Park.

Mr Church said two class A bushland reserves surround The Vines.

Between them the Maralla Road and Bordeaux Lane reserves contain 325ha of natural bushland trees, flowers and wildlife to enjoy.

“There are limestone paths and sandy tracks for walking, cycling – or just sitting and taking in the moment,’’ he said.

“But there’s a lot to do to look after these reserves, and the rangers who work to protect and conserve these parks need a hand – so we’ve formed the Friends of The Vines Bushlands.

“This is a group of volunteers whose goal, over time, is to bring the reserves up to the most natural and pristine state possible.’’

The meeting is a chance for volunteers to get together with the VRRA and meet Brian Inglis from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) who will talk about the parks, share what his team does and cover how volunteers can help – including what the DBCA offers in return, such as training courses and a rewards program.

Dean Arthurell from Cockatoo Crusaders will also be there so they can meet some friends of the cockatoos that the volunteers will be helping to protect as Friends of The Vines Bushlands.

They will have some brief discussions, about what work projects and priorities they would like to start with, to bring some areas needing help back to health.

They will finish up with a walk along one of the limestone paths, to see some of the trees, wildflowers and wildlife in the Maralla Road reserve.

RSVP to vinesresidentsassociation@gmail.com