Being in nature is good for your wellbeing both physically and mentally. Have you missed out on this therapy recently? Coming up in your calendar is a day to remedy this!
World Environment Day, held annually on 5 June, is the biggest international day to highlight the importance of nature, and gives people all around the world the perfect excuse to celebrate it.
At Sydney Olympic Park there is ample nature to enjoy, so why not visit and celebrate nature on this day.
Birdwatching in biodiversity hotspots
When was the last time you took a moment to appreciate birds in nature?
There are some fabulous birdwatching hotspots at Sydney Olympic Park!
Spend some time at the Waterbird Refuge in Bicentennial Park, a rich estuarine wetland that supports a high abundance of waterbirds. Enjoy watching the delightful behaviour of ducks, pelicans, and waders from the Bird Hide.
Perhaps Lake Belvedere is more your style, also at Bicentennial Park, this freshwater lake has a wide variety of waterbirds. Enjoy easy access viewing to admire graceful waterbirds such as coots, spoonbills and swans in their element.
If you are keen on small woodland birds, the pathways from Kronos Hill to Wentworth Common is for you. Follow the self-guided walk Follow the Flow and discover all sorts of nature.
Celebrate the variety of waterbirds at Lake Belvedere. 
The Silvereye is a lovely woodland bird seen at Sydney Olympic Park during the cooler months © Nevil Lazarus.
Getting others involved
Invite your friends and family to be adventurous!
Come play outside in the playgrounds at Blaxland Riverside Park, Bicentennial Park and Wentworth Common. These playgrounds are surrounded by nature, including nearby estuarine wetlands and frog habitat.
Bring a picnic and enjoy actual outdoor dining, taking a moment to breathe in the scenery and note the wildlife that is sharing the space with you.
Set out on a walk along Louise Sauvage Pathway, the longest continuous pathway in the Park, and see what wildlife you come across. Or climb to the top of the Treillage at Bicentennial Park to take in amazing views and marvel at the Badu Mangroves.
Wentworth Common is surrounded by nature. 
Possums and other animals call the Park home. Here is one recorded in a roost box. © Narawan Williams.
Giving back
Give some gratitude to nature for all that it gives us.
Think about how you can better live in and with nature, while respecting it is vital to our very survival.
Take the time to understand the threats that urban wildlife face as they are often living on a knife’s edge in a human shaped world.
Admire the flexibility and beauty of urban wildlife, without interfering with it.
Observe wildlife to better understand it. 
Capture a moment of nature that means something special to you.
Be fascinated by nature by being amongst it.
Welcome to Sydney Olympic Park and the experiences awaiting you on World Environment Day, and any other day of the year that you choose to celebrate nature!
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