Braidwood, NSW

The Plumwood Forest is where an environmental philosopher Val Plumwood lived for nearly 30 years. Sadly we lost her early 2008. We understand how Val was part of this forest that accommodates a wide range of animals and birds, including the very shy singer lyrebirds. I visited the forest to walk the forest with Val and record the lyrebird songs, which according to Val included a song for her. Lyrebirds are known for their ability to sing "other species' songs and sounds", which Val refused to describe as "mimic". Lyrebirds are, Val believed, "multi- cultural and multi-lingual, who can understand, interpret and liaise between different species." She often witnessed lyrebirds "breaking up the fights between different species, telling them off for being nasty to each other and helping to reach a amicable solution". Such observation is only possible for people like Val as one of the forest inhabitants. The snake goddess is at the entrance to Val's house and garden and I hope we, as creative conservationists, can carry even a small piece of her legacy.