Volunteer
Becoming a nursery volunteer is a great way to learn new skills, meet new people, and support local biodiversity by growing plants that provide habitat for native fauna in the Inner West. Read the Nurseries Volunteer Duty Statement. Click the link below to inquire about volunteering opportunities at the Community Native Plant Nurseries:
Nurseries
Council has two Community Nurseries located at Marrickville and Annandale. These nurseries function with the ongoing support and assistance of our volunteers.
Local native plants are hardy. They are generally easy to maintain and require less water than many non-native plants. They are very well adapted to the local climate and other environmental conditions. Please see Native Plants of the Inner West (PDF, 312.25KB) for more information about local flora species, and for resources to help you select local plants that meet your needs and requirements.
A selection of tube stock plants are available for sale at $4.40 per plant (CASH ONLY).
The Marrickville Community Nursery is located at the Addison Road Centre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville.
Mulch is periodically available, free of charge. Please bring your own container and tools to collect mulch.
Our current operating hours are:
- Wednesdays, 10am to 12 noon
- Saturdays, 10am to 1pm
- Sundays, 10am to 12 noon
The Annandale Community Nursery is located at 22 Wisdom Street, Annandale.
Our current opening hours are:
- Wednesdays, 10am to 1pm
- Fridays, 10am to 1pm
Council’s community nurseries play a key role in the restoration of local bushland on the GreenWay and Natural Areas across the Inner West. The nurseries supply local provenance plants for the Bushcare program and ecological restoration projects like Gumbramorra Swamp. The provenance plants rebuild healthier, more resilient habitats as they are genetically adapted to the local environment.
A major focus of this work is the restoration of Sydney Turpentine–Ironbark Forest (STIF), a Critically Endangered Ecological Community with less than 0.5% remaining. Nursery production also supports projects extending south of Dulwich Hill toward the Cooks River, where sandier soils require a different range of native species, including Sydney Red Gums and diverse groundcovers. These plantings enhance habitat for the wide range of fauna recorded along the GreenWay.
Across more than 50 Natural Areas, the nurseries supply essential native plant stock. In 2022, 21,500 locally native plants were installed across 24 hectares, guided by Aboriginal knowledge and national restoration standards.