Creating habitats for wildlife in our garden, schools, businesses and local areas... 

Caulfield Park Aviary garden

Garden designed for wildlife in Caulfield North

FREE DIY GARDENING INSTRUCTIONS

Juvenile Nankeen Night Heron at Caulfield Park lake (March 2020)

Dense plantings with several canopy layers encourages bird life in St Kilda Botanical gardens

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Warrigal Greens. Indigenous and edible ground-cover

Wildlife gardens support the biodiversity of life. Biodiversity creates resilience in all systems. 

There are insufficient green spaces for wildlife to thrive in council owned areas alone, so it is imperative that we consider how our schools, residential and commercial spaces can support local wildlife.  By careful planning in our gardens with a diverse range of plants and elements, we can foster greater biodiversity.  Creating habitats that will support a variety of life-forms involves providing a safe comfortable environment with shelter to hibernate, sleep and rest, access to nesting materials, water and food.  

Creating a garden for wildlife is an easy action we can take locally to support the lives of many species struggling. Globally, we are seeing an increase in threatened and endangered species due to many factors, with loss of habitat being one of the largest causes. The huge decline in insect populations has repercussions on bird-life and food-farming as a result. Our food web is threatened and food security is an issue currently in many parts of the world and very likely in our future without substantial, meaningful action.  We are seeing signs of planetary systems collapse around our world which has led to us to the term climate and ecological collapse or emergency.  We can take small, constructive steps as a contribution to mitigate the damage of these predicted scenarios, increase biodiversity and support life in our immediate environments. 

Edward O. Wilson defined the term Biophilia as “The innate sense of belonging to the natural world”.  Biofilia is the concept that humans have an innate inner connection with all of nature, and this connection is essential for our biological, psychological and spiritual well-being.  When we foster close relationships with nature, we understand that there are many sensory aspects of being with nature, as part of nature, that we can tune in to benefit ourselves as part of the intricately interwoven web of life.  Our well-being is enhanced by being in and caring for nature. Some careful planning and design elements will maintain, invite and support insects, birds, and other wildlife, and we can enjoy these reciprical relationships.

TIPS to start to planning and preparing your site to attract and support wildlife: 

Involve everyone who uses the garden to ensure the greatest success of the project. Engage the whole family or community in the Garden project as it increases success by encouraging a sense of ownership, belonging and respect as well as many benefits of being outdoors with Nature. ​

• Some basics before you begin: Is there body corporate, rental or council requirements and guidelines to adhere to? Ask your local council if there assistance or funding available to encourage wildlife to your area. What is your budget? Begin plan and note your north point. Plant choices will depend on the hours of sun and shade in your garden.  Measure your site area. Consider starting with a small space or plan the work to be staggered if unfamiliar with gardening or to stay within budget. Note and map sun and shade patterns during the day. Learn about sun patterns and angles. Observe soil type, soil levels which can mean potential problems with drainage. What garden edges, paths and materials do you have or will you consider?  What materials are free, biodegradable, use recycled materials? Research and list all materials required.  Soil, plants, mulch, tools and supplies. ​Research resource links below. Check OH&S health and safety precautions (Left)  Look at your local councils website or contact the Sustainability Department and ask them if they have any books, research projects, or resources and recommendations for indigenous plants and wildlife in your area.  How can you prohibit predatory animals like cats in your garden, talk with your council about controlling cats roaming and out at night. Look for alternatives to toxic sprays in garden use to control unwanted 'pests' or plant problems. 

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• Design elements: Add a rockery, or a dry creek bed as a great habit for frogs and lizards. Leave logs​ and branches to support wildlife or create garden edges made from logs.  Consider adding a Worm Tower, compost and or Worm Farm 'Hungry Bin' to keep your waste on your site and build your soils health with worms, insects and microbes. What features will you add that support wildlife? Water sources; bird-bath, pond... What mulch will you use? Mulch types impact on the bug, beetle and insect life and in turn support insect-eating birds, frogs and lizards.  Will you create insect habitats, bug hotels, Bee B&B, tree hollows, nest boxes or bat tubes, lizard lounges? LIzards like a warm, sheltered space; a rockery or dry creek bed in a sunny corner is ideal. 

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• Plants: Ideally plan for tall canopies trees, shrubs and groundcover plants. What plants will you put in to support existing wildlife and attract others?  Will you use indigenous or native plants where possible to support the native indigenous wildlife? Local plants provide the nectar, flowers and seeds to support local butterflies, bees, other insects, birds and wildlife. Do these plants support wildlife as a food source, habitat, migration stop to rest and feel safe,  What time of the year will you plant for greatest success? Ensure there are a variety of layers with in the plant choices to encourage a variety of birds and other wildlife. (groundcover, low shrubs, medium shrubs, trees) Put in some smaller dense prickly shrubs for small bird habitats. What flowers will you plant to encourage insects and pollinators? 

RESOURCES:

• Design steps
• Gardens for Wildlife Victoria
• Why build a wildlife garden?
• What elements are needed for a wildlife garden? ​

• Mulch types, ask your local council if they have a free collection point. 
• Create for wildlife while maintaining an effective Asset Protection Zone (APZ) to reduce bush fire risk. 
• Gardens For Wildlife Affiliates 

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• Birds in Backyards
• Plans for bird nest boxes
• Types of birds and their plant requirements includes plant list 

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• Plant lists: Ask your local council for the local Indigenous plant nursery and see their plant lists.
• Naturespot-City of Port Phillip guide to native plants and backyard biodiversity
• City of Port Phillip Naturestrip Guidelines
• Local plants and design concepts for Nature Strips Glen Eira and Port Phillip (to come) ​
• Book: Indigenous Plants of The Sandbelt (Melbourne coastal regions)

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• Build a pond or frog bog (Costa/gardening Australia video building a frog bog in an Early Learning Centre.)
• iNaturalist (website and app) 

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• Fun recycled Insect Habitats 
• A wonderful comprehensive PDF and book on attracting bees and the plants they need. 
• Pond Plants (to come soon)

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• Port Phillip EcoCentre Youtube (Education, create nest boxes, local wildlife and plants ​

• Indigenous plants of Glen Eira
• ​​2018 Glen Eira Biodiversity Report 
• Glen Eira Biodiversity Map
• Glen Eira Sustainable Gardening and Nature website
• Friends of Caulfield Park Plant list for Aviary garden

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LOCAL LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND HORTICULTURAL SERVICES:

Please contact the Port Phillip EcoCentre for Greensong local assistance, design work and consultations. 

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LOCATIONS
South East areas of Melbourne
(Outside these areas - an additional travel time allowance would need to be included in quote)

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SINGAPORE: Designing to attract birds and butterflies in Singapore. (Includes environment education)
http://environmenteducation.weebly.com/butterfly-garden--tropical-singapore.html

GARDEN CONSULTATION/ASSISTANCE

SEASONAL VEGGIES AND TASKS FOR MELBOURNE

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© Deborah Punton