Do you want to find groups and support in the community that might help you improve your health and wellbeing? You can find lots of local support from charities to social groups in the Knox Learning Alliance Directory.
Gardening and the Environment
Environmental Friends Groups
Friends of Old Joes Creek Bushland
The group meet every third Thursday (expect January) on the corner of Market and Amy roads in Boronia. They aim to conserve and build on areas of remnant vegetation, control weeds in remnant areas, restore degraded areas, protect increase population of Sword Brown Grass Butterfly and protest and increasing population of endangered and vulnerable indigenous species including Pink Health espaceris impressa, Victoria’s floral emblem.
Environmental Friends Groups
Friends of the Glenfern Green Wedge Inc
The group meets on the first Sunday of every month along Ferny Creek Reserve to identify bird species as a citizen science program with Birdlife Australia, which helps in understanding local native fauna of the area.
– The website also contains guidelines for potential volunteers.
Landcare Group
South Dandenongs Landcare Group
Aims to preserve the remnant vegetation of the southern section of Dandenong Ranges, particularly in water catchments which are home the locally threatened platypus populations.
Upcoming events and news can be found on the group’s website.
Community Garden
Knox Community Gardens, 254 Scoresby Rd, Boronia
The gardens have an extensive orchard, 150 various sized plots and raised beds. The site and facilitates, such as undercover tables and benches, toilets and mini library is open to the public every day. The society regularly host a variety of community workshops, food swaps and group tours.
Community Garden
Coonara Community House, Upper Ferntree Gully
volunteers assist to maintain the community Gardens at Coonara Community House. They include a small orchard, food gardens and several garden rooms with a variety of plantings. Tuesdays and Thursdays each week.
Community Garden
Mountain District Learning Centre Ferntree Gully
Volunteers assist to care for the community garden which includes raised beds growing food plants and flowers.
Garden Club
Coonara Community House Upper Ferntree Gully
Meets the third Tuesday of the month 1.30 – 3.00pm at Coonara Community House. Guest speakers and practical workshops over afternoon tea.
Gardens for wildlife
Knox City Council
A free program that encourages Knox residents to create an area in their garden to support local wildlife.
The program has an active Facebook group to further encourage participants and provide insight into the diversity of local wildlife.
Environment Society
Knox Environment Society
KES has an number of ongoing campaigns in an effort to save the environment, such as:
1. Low impact living Knox (reducing impact you have on the planet)
2. KnoxCAN (Knox Climate Action Now:
3. Knox Repair Cafe
The campaigns can be recommended to individuals interested in preserving the environment and looking to socialise with individuals sharing that interest.
Knox residents can also volunteer or join a friends group at KES. Friend groups perform activities, such as weed removal and planting, on a monthly basis at a free or a $20 joining fee.
KES hosts an Indigenous Nursery with a wide range of local plants. Knox residents can volunteer at the nursery, purchase or donate some of the plants or simply visit to observe the wide range of local indigenous plants.
Beekeeping club
Coonara Community House Upper Ferntree Gully
Coonara Beekeeping Club meets the second Wednesday of the month except January. 7.15 – 9.00pm Small annual membership charge. Support for new beekeepers as well as the more experienced.
Environmental Friends Groups
Friends of Koolunga Native Reserve Inc.
Located off Forest Rd in Ferntree Gully, the friends assist in the implementation of native reserve management plan and co-ordinate project mornings every second Saturday of the month.
Environmental Friends Groups
First Friends of Dandenong Creek Inc
Focus on the wider catchment area of Dandenong creek and its tributaries. Objectives include improving war quality, litter reduction, managing weeds and reestablishment of indigenous floral and faunal habitat.
Environmental Friends Groups
Friends of Knox – Blind Creek Billabo
This group assist with the implementation of the Blind Creak Billabong management plan. The group meets 16x a year and conduct weeding, rubbish removal and indigenous planting activities.