VETERAN Canberra landscape artist and watercolourist, Dirk Bouma,  has used his art to join a group of concerned citizens in the fight to reserve and develop the Ginninderra Falls and gorge area into a national park.

Bouma describes it as “a spectacularly beautiful area of great natural and ecological significance, just across the border of Belconnen”, explaining that the area is at present closed to public access and is slowly going into decline.

He has decided to offer his support for the cause by staging an exhibition of oils and watercolours.

“My love of nature and the landscape,” he writes, “has spanned more than 60 years in many parts of the world, beginning as a boy with the collection of rocks, flowers and plants, and the sketching of trees and birds in my early (Dutch) environment.

“I owe a debt of gratitude to my father who opened my eyes to the beauty of nature.

“Later it encouraged me to study agricultural science at University with a heavy emphasis on biology, physiology and other subjects that might help in my understanding and appreciation of the wonders of nature.”

As part of the exhibition is a public lecture to  be delivered by Dr Brian Pratt, the first director of the ACT Parks and Conservation Service, on Friday March 9 from 6-7pm, under the title “Discovering the Ginninderra Falls/Gorge Area”.

Dr Pratt was instrumental in the establishment of the Namadgi National Park and will open the exhibition after his presentation.

A panel discussion will be held on Thursday, March 15 from 7-8pm by a panel of concerned experts: Dr Doug Finlayson, Dr David Hogg and Prof Mark Lintermans, chaired by Prof Ian Falconer, vice president of the Conservation Council of the ACT.

Dirk Bouma’s exhibition, “Discovering the Ginninderra Creek and Falls Area”, is at CSIRO Discovery, Clunies Ross Street, Acton, March 9-22, 9am to 5pm.