The purpose of the event is to help spread awareness of vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered Australian plants and animals. The national threatened species bake-off competition, run by the Office of the Threatened Species Commissioner, was started in 2017 and now Australians from across the country join in, with their final creations presented on social media.
Council is calling for members of the community to participate by baking for the event. Entrants are asked to get inspired by their favourite threatened species and bake a cake (or any other sweet treat!) that reflects the appearance of their chosen plant or animal.
The event will include three categories:
• Under 15s
• Businesses, schools, agencies and groups
• Open community category.
Bellingen Shire Council Mayor, Cr. Steve Allan, said that members of the public are invited to attend the event, judge the entries for themselves and try some of the cakes during morning tea.
“Bringing this national event to the local level allows us to showcase some of the incredible work being done throughout the Shire by local landcare groups, not for profits, Aboriginal organisations and other environmental agencies to conserve threatened species,” Mayor Allan said.
“This is a great opportunity for people to put some colour and creativity into their threatened species cakes, whether they are an expert baker, a novice, or just wanting to give it a go to help us all get to know the plants and animals that need us most.”
At the event, an expert panel will also be discussing some of the threats facing our threatened species and what the community can do to assist in their own backyards.
Bellingen Shire Council’s River and Biodiversity Officer, Celeste Lymn, describes the Bellingen Shire as an incredible hotspot for a range of different ecosystems with an abundance of wildlife.
“However, Council, alongside other agencies and groups, has an important role to play in protecting over 130 threatened species that call the Shire home.”
“The bake-off is a fun and educational way to get people engaged and thinking about our endangered plants and animals. Threatened species conservation will take all Australians to help, and a lot of the time, we don’t know what we are losing until it’s gone.”
At the event, an expert panel will also be discussing some of the threats facing our threatened species and what the community can do to assist in their own backyards. There are also a range of exciting prizes on offer! For more information and to book your spot as a baker or attendee, go to our website:
www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au/Events-directory/Threatened-Species-Bake-Off
