Newton Moore staff and students recently ventured into Bunbury’s Shearwater Tuart Forest to collect illegally dumped rubbish.
The cleanup operation was organised by the South West Catchments Council as part of its Preston River to ocean project.
The forest is an considered an important ecological link in the proposed Preston River to Ocean Regional Park which encompasses 915 hectares of natural areas and includes the Maidens, Tuart Brook, Hay Park College Grove, Manea Park and Loughton Park.
SWCC are urging people to keep the bush fire season in their minds when considering dumping rubbish which could be a combustible threat.
SWCC Biodiversity Project Manager, Natalie Olsen said although it was disappointing rubbish dumping, the majority of the community were keeping the bush land pristine.
“This area is a notorious space for illegally dumped rubbish. We can all do our bit when we walk in the bushland - a small thing like taking a bag to pick up windblown rubbish and putting it in the bins provided might seem inconsequential, but over time it adds up,” she said.