While the final school term for 2023 is well under way, many school children will be thinking about ‘A Day in the Park’, with hundreds of local families spending a day out in the beautiful landscape of the Valley Lakes Conservation Park over the recent school holidays.

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board – in collaboration with the City of Mount Gambier – organised the community event to launch the new ClimateWatch Trail located in the Conservation Park.

It is only the second ClimateWatch Trail to be established in the South Australia.

Limestone Coast Landscape Board General Manager Steve Bourne and Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin had the pleasure of opening the trail and encouraged the local community to enjoy the natural beauty of the Valley Lake.

“Everyone who walks the trail can record their observations on the ClimateWatch App,” Mr Bourne said.

“The trail encourages people to enjoy nature and help build a picture of the landscape over the seasons from year to year in response to changing climatic conditions.”

Mayor Martin said council was pleased to collaborate with the Limestone Coast Landscape Board to host the trail at one of the most iconic sites Mount Gambier has to offer.

“It is another great activity for Limestone Coast residents and visitors,” she said.

“Valley Lakes/Ketla Malpi Conservation Park volunteers and council staff have put a lot of hard work into making the area an attractive location, full of indigenous plants and animals.

“I encourage residents to download the ClimateWatch app and get walking along the trail with friends and family.

“It is my hope the ClimateWatch trail will encourage locals and visitors to spend more time in nature, get to know our native plants and animals a little better and benefit from all the positive aspects that spending time in nature brings.”