What to do with ourselves on weekends during these restricted COVID-19 times can be a problem.

By now the house, lawns and gardens are looking brilliant with the odd jobs that needed doing fixed. If you like a little light exercise on a Sunday once a month then the Lismore Rainforest Botanic Garden walks offer a solution for you and if you have some spare time and love gardening then there is another opportunity for you as well as helping the community.

Tracey Whitby is the Publicity Officer for the Friends of the Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens and says this is a fantastic sample of the local subtropical rainforest that is only three kilometres from the CBD.

"We only have plants that are from a 200km radius of Lismore and that are indigenous to the rainforest area", Tracey said. "you can experience rainforests without having to travel 30 to 60 minutes on dirt roads".

With COVID restrictions the walks are limited to 10 people per walk. Tomorrow there will be two guided walks available both leave at 9:30am so you are asked to be there at 9:15am.

Bookings are essential to keep the groups to ten and you can do that through by emailing publicity@friendslrbg.com.au.

"Tomorrow we will have a couple of walks including the Useful Garden walk which looks at how indigenous Australians use various plants for medicine, tools and shelter while the second walk takes you through the history of the regeneration of the gardens from a basic whole in the ground post land fill", Tracey explained.

The Friends of the Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens is also looking for volunteers to help with the gardens. There is a weekly Wednesday workday as well as the once a month (last Sunday of each month). You only need a hat, some gloves, long sleeves and pants.

Work includes propagation of seeds from rare trees that you help collect, germinate and pot to sell in the nursery.

If you can volunteer please call 0405 596 705. Hours are between 8am and 11am.

To get to the Botanic Gardens, head to the Wyrallah Road Waste Facility and take the first right when you go through the gates. You will see a visitor centre which is the meeting point.