With great pride, co-founder Carl Glaister has seen the fruits of his labour, watching saplings grow into giants.

His kids climbed trees that he planted, and now they’re older, they join him each month, invested in the cause.

The oldest landcare group in the Illawarra –  Bombo Headland Landcare Group, established as a bicentennial project in 1988 – marked 30 years on Friday.

The group has planted 30,000 native trees, shrubs and plants.

“Wildlife has returned to the site,” Mr Glaister said.

“We’ve had swamp wallabies come to live here and birdlife increase.”

More surfers, fishers, picnickers and hikers than ever before frequent the area.

While large parts of the headland have been successfully revegetated, there are still some areas that require continual maintenance.

Weeds that choke native vegetation such as lantana, blackberry, turkey rhubarb, moth vine and madeira vine, must be removed.

Landcare volunteers, led by Mr Glaister, Tanya George and Bob King, have combined with community groups to tend for the land.

Local scouts have built and installed nesting boxes for birds.

Kiama High School joins the group each July for National Tree Day, supported by Kiama Council.

Kiama Mayor Mark Honey celebrated the group’s milestone on Friday, and thanked them for their contribution.

Volunteers return to the site on a monthly basis to maintain 40 hectares under their stewardship, extending from Boneyard to land near Bombo Sewerage Treatment Works.

“I just love this area, it’s my backyard,” Mr Glaister said.

“I have a strong sense of custodianship.

“It is satisfying to see my kids climb into trees we planted as seedlings.

"You can’t climb into a lantana plant.”

The group has won several awards including the 2003 Keep Australia Beautiful NSW award.

Kiama Council has helped the group secure grants and has been integral in the success of the ongoing project.

The group would like to welcome more volunteers to help them maintain the area.