It's hard to imagine, but there are more than 200 Landcare groups across Lake Macquarie.
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That's more than 200 groups of volunteers pulling weeds, planting seedlings, building walkways and generally looking after the green spaces, foreshores, and sand dunes in their communities.
And this year, that army of green-thumbed volunteers will mark the 20th anniversary of Lake Mac's Landcare partnership which pulls together the efforts of those many Landcare groups.
Coordinator Jason Harvey said the model had seen local grassroots groups restore, rehabilitate and conserve huge tracts of land over the past two decades.
"Lake Macquarie Landcare is a community-based organisation built on the successful working partnership between passionate local volunteers and council," he said.
Lake Macquarie Landcare's recognition in 2016 as the best Landcare partnership in Australia demonstrated the initiative's ongoing success, he said.
"Without our amazing volunteers, this organisation would not exist.
"We are indebted to them always, but this week - being National Volunteer Week - presents the perfect opportunity to show our thanks."
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Lake Mac's 800-plus Landcarers contributed more than 16,400 hours of work in 2018, worth almost $1 million to the city.
They cleared an estimated 163,000 square metres of invasive plants such as bitou bush and lantana, replacing them with 11,300 native seedlings.
"We have groups right across Lake Macquarie, working on foreshores, sand dunes, creek lines and bushland reserves," Mr Harvey said.
"They are an excellent way to get out and do something for your local community, to meet new people and to learn new skills.
"And if there isn't already a Landcare group nearby, we're always keen to discuss the potential of starting a new one."