Friends of Emerald Lake Park began in 2000, and volunteers work to support Park Services and the Natural Reserves Team of Cardinia Shire Council, in the care of the gardens and bushland surrounding the two lakes. Members participate in three flexible working bees each month.

The Friends engage in a variety of gardening activities in the park setting, such as weeding, mulching, raking leaves, pruning, and planting.

In the bushland environment, members learn new skills in weed identification, weed removal techniques, indigenous plant identification, and revegetation. All ages and abilities are welcome to join other like-minded people who enjoy gardening and environmental activities. All tools are provided.

Some examples of our regular activities include: a Sycamore Maple blitz, generally held twice-yearly, to remove seedlings of this invasive weedy tree from the bushland.

Weedbuster Week activities are held in spring, often with the local primary school and the community, participating in weeding and revegetation activities in the bushland.

At the beginning of September, a Trees for Weeds Swap is held in conjunction with Cardinia Shire Council and Emerald Library. Local experts provide information on tackling and destroying the weeds, identification of weeds, and give out indigenous plants to the community, as part of Weedbusters Week.

Late February and late August we hold a fundraising barbecue outside Emerald Butchers. These two barbecues are also an opportunity to promote the activities of the group, such as the Trees for Weeds Swap in September.