Animal life, native flora and ever-popular riverside pursuits will be celebrated at a community event at the Orari River mouth on Saturday, March 27.

The free family-oriented event will include demonstrations of casting and electric fishing, a chance to try out harakeke (flax) weaving and to plant new native trees and shrubs. There will also be a free barbecue lunch.

"We have aimed to make this a fun day for all ages," says Debbie Eddington, Educator for Sustainability with Environment Canterbury, which is co-ordinating the event. "We want to increase community awareness of the value of the Orari River mouth and environs."

While some participants will be keen to express their artistic sides with an environmental art competition involving material found on site, others will be intrigued by the inanga (whitebait) artificial spawning habitat trial along with an opportunity to view a Department of Conservation habitat trial for katipo spiders and a study of the river's invertebrate life.

The event is being held in conjunction with Seaweek (which this year has the theme Fish for the Future) and is in partnership with the Timaru District Council, Central South Island Fish and Game, Department of Conservation, University of Canterbury, Fonterra and tangata whenua.

There is room for only 70 participants so bookings are essential.