Bethany's citizen scientists
19 May 2026A new group of citizen scientists are working alongside Council to help increase biodiversity in one of the Barossa's favourite reserves.
Established last year, the Bethany Reserve Biodiversity Group has around a dozen members and is the latest group in the region to join Landcare SA
Kim Thompson, Council’s Team Leader Environmental Services, said a training session held recently encouraged participants to use technology to identify and record the plants and animals they see.
“iNaturalist is an app on your phone, used around the world,” Kim said, describing how the photographs taken by group members can be identified, verified and shared as part of a global scientific record researchers depend on.
“It picks up your location and you can record flora and fauna observations to build a picture of what is here at Bethany Reserve,” she added.
Bethany Reserve Biodiversity Group members began a planting program on the public property last July, guided by Council’s management plan for the area.
“The group recently applied for a grassroots grant from the Northern and York Landscape Board to further enhance the work they are doing out there too. So, we’ll be getting some weed control," Kim said.
The group of citizen scientists are looking forward to helping Bethany Reserve flourish while learning and discovering ways to enhance its biodiversity.
It's about building capacity and seeing what’s living at the site and it’s a really great way for our local community to get outside and amongst it!”