Since 1997, Reefcare has empowered the local community to preserve and restore Long Reef’s coastal ecosystem, fostering a legacy of conservation.

27 Years of Coastal Conservation

In 1997, eight local residents—Rowena Barnett, Margaret Cox, Jane Easton, Ian Lambert, Lisa Lambert (nee Calder), Penny Lanser, Ben Wong, and Peter Miller—founded Reefcare on Long Reef and later joined “Friends of the Bush”. They started with a grant to produce an information brochure on Long Reef's habitats and removed noxious weeds from Fisherman’s Beach grassland.

Today, Reefcare's dedicated community of volunteers meets monthly to regenerate and conserve grasslands, sand dunes, and bird habitats in Long Reef’s Aquatic Reserve. They've secured significant grants from organizations like NSW EPA, Coastcare, and the Natural Heritage Trust, with full support from the Northern Beaches Council. Reefcare prioritizes the conservation of bird species, habitats, and biodiversity, understanding the impact of human activities on these vital resources.

Help restore Long Reef

Join our monthly volunteer gatherings to contribute to grassland restoration and marine habitat conservation. Gain training and learn bushland management skills while making a difference in our local ecosystem.

Get involved

Meet our volunteers

Lisa Calder

Lisa, a founding member of Reefcare in 1997, became its coordinator in 2017. She also volunteers at Bush Heritage sites and is passionate about eliminating invasive weeds in Australia.
Des Mullen

Des joined Reefcare in 1997 with a passion for removing Bitou bush and asparagus fern. He also volunteers annually at Boorowa, planting trees to benefit creeks and livestock.
Merrilyn Lean

Merrilyn, a High School Science Teacher, loves the Australian environment and is passionate about ridding Long Reef of weeds. She has been part of ReefCare since 2017.
Julie Whitfield

Julie is deeply passionate about bush regeneration, clearing sites of weeds, and restoring native species. She volunteers at South West Rocks and with Reefcare, joining in 2019.
Alex Klimenkov

Alex loves tackling important tasks each month, and since joining in 2021, he has developed a fierce rivalry with Acetosa sagittata (Turkey Rhubarb), now removing it from his own garden as well.
John Isles

John is passionate about bushcare at Long Reef, working with volunteers and enjoying ocean views. He finds it rewarding to see native plants recover, providing habitat for birds and animals.
Denise Zlotowski

Denise leads digital transformation at the Australian Conservation Foundation and has volunteered on-ground with Reefcare since 2023, while also re-building its website.