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

Gardens (and parks) that focus on supporting biodiversity are essential for the resilience of living systems. 

There are insufficient green spaces in many cities 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.  

Looking at landscape styles and plants over the past 150 years or so, we see the choices of the past (and still many current uninformed choices) have threatening many invertibrates and our smaller bird populations which are becoming increasingly threatened with extinction world-wide.  To understand more, please see Gio Fitzpatrick presents 'Constructing urban environments to support a diversity of native animals' sponsered by Maroondah City Council

By careful planning of our garden spaces with a diverse range of plants and elements, we can take life-affirming actions to support foster greater biodiversity.  Informed plant choices assist in creating habitats that can support a variety of life-forms including providing a safe, comfortable environment with shelter to hibernate, breed, sleep and rest, access to nesting/breeding materials, water and food.  


We can take small, constructive steps as a contribution to mitigate the damage and suffering from predicted scenarios by increasing biodiversity in our immediate environments. 

Creating a garden for wildlife is a relatively easy action with potentially a huge impact 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, an issue currently in many parts of the world and very likely in our future without substantial, meaningful 
actions.  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.  


Some careful planning and design elements will maintain, invite and support insects, birds, and other wildlife, and we can enjoy these reciprical relationships.   

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 wonder and awe found in the web-of-life.  Our well-being is often enhanced by being in and caring for nature.  The well-being of our species overall is dependant on a healthy, diverse ecosystems, we are interwoven and a part of Nature, not a seperate, or superior being.

The focus for our gardens and green spaces needs to be high-nutrient value for humans and high-biodiversity value for the many other lifeforms surrounding us.


Tips for planning and preparing to attract and support wildlife: 
Involve everyone who uses the garden space to ensure the greatest success of the project. Projects with the highest success rates are often those which have the greatest support.  Engage the whole family or community in the  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:
  • Research to check if there are any council, body corporate, organisational or rental requirements and guidelines you are supposed to adhere to. 
  • What is your budget?
  • Do you want to do the work in stages, starting small, or hire landscapers to do the job quickly? 
  • Measure your site area accurately.
  • Note North and map the sun and shade patterns during the day. Plant choices will depend on the sun and shade in your garden. Learn about sun patterns and angles.
  • Think creatively about planting on roof tops, balconies, vertical spaces like fences and trellises, pots and hanging baskets. (note any structural limitations)
  • Observe your soil type and soil levels. This can mean potential problems with drainage or dictate garden hardscape or plants.
  • What garden edges, paths and materials do you have or will you consider that increase biodiversity?  What materials are free, biodegradable, can you use recycled or repurposed materials?
  • Research and list all materials required including soil, plants, mulch, tools and supplies.
  • Check safety precautions for your site. (Suggestions provided on HEALTH & SAFETY button) 
  • Look at your local councils sustainability website or contact the Sustainability Department and ask them if there is any assistance or funding available to encourage wildlife to your area. Do they have any books/booklets, research projects, resources and recommendations? Do they have an indigenous plant list and where is your local indigenous nursery located?  (some noted below)
  • How can you prohibit predatory animals like cats in your garden?  
    It is essential to ensure domestic pets do not threaten wildlife. Please talk with your local council if you find wild cats in your area or see disturbances.  
  • Look for alternatives to toxic sprays in garden and what you use to control unwanted 'pests' or plant problems.  Certain insects and birds may help you if you can restore the garden balance! ​
Design elements and features to benefit wildlife:
  • Add a rockery, or a dry creek bed as a great habit for frogs and lizards.  Lizards like a warm, sheltered space; a rockery or dry creek bed with a sunny quiet corner is ideal.
  • Do you have a stack of logs and sticks breaking down in your garden. 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. 
  • 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 install insect habitats, bug hotels, Bee B&B, bee drinking station, tree hollows, nest boxes, bat tubes or lizard lounges?
  • Hot weather can be tough on our insect friends as it is for most life-forms, they need a steady supply of clean water to survive. Bees, like birds, need need safe places to get their water from where they will not drown or take in chemicals such as from swimming pools. If you see a bee in the water, it is not swimming, it could likely drown.  Here is a simple way to help our pollinator friends by creating a Bee water station at home: 1. Put a small dish or plant saucer with corks, stones or marbles in it.  2. Clean out and refresh the water often.  ​
​Choosing Plants: Incorporate as many indigenous plants where possible to provide the nectar, flowers and seeds and habitats that support local butterflies, bees, other insects, birds and wildlife that have co-evolved and existed on this specific part of Country for thousands of years. 
  • Mimic nature, plan for a variety of plant layers; tall canopy trees, shrubs, climbers and groundcover plants. Choose plants from a variety of botanical families because biodiversity increases resilience.
  • Choose plants to support existing wildlife and detract or attract others that will fit in with your size, sun and shade limitations.
  • Consider how your plant choices support wildlife as a food source, habitat, migration stop, place to rest and feel safe? 
  • ​Do you have something in flower all year around?  What flowers will you plant to encourage insects and pollinators? 
  • What time of the year will you plant for greatest success?​
​
PLANT LISTS
 
Common name, botanical name, sun/shade preference (FS/PS), (H) height & (W) width. 
Note that some of the plants are spikey and may not be suitable for schools or areas people walk through, such as Hedge Wattle, Acacial Paradoxa and r
emember 'Sedges have edges'
* Please consider these *recommended high-biodiversity value plants by Gio Fitzpatrick, local ecology consultant and expert (more info below)

Groundcovers and low growing plants:
* Large-headed daisy Brachyscombe diversifolia  FS/PS H:45cm x W:80-120cm
* Common Everlasting Daisy, Yellow Buttons Chrysocephalum apiculatum FS/PS H:10-30cm x W:100cm
* Austral Stork’s Bill Pelargonium australe 
* 
Common Everlasting Daisy Chrysocephalum apiculatum FS/PS H:10-30cm x W:100cm
Karkalla Carpobrotus rossii FS H:20cm x W:250cm 
Rounded Noon Flower Disphyma crassifolium FS H:15cm x W:250cm
Running Postman Kennedia prostrata FS/PS H:10cm x W:100-200cm
​Common/creeping Boobiala Myoporum parvifolium FS/PS H:10-20cm x W:150-200cm
Bent Goodenia Goodenia geniculata  FS/PS H:5-10cm x W:30cm
Sticky Everlasting Daisy Xerochrysum viscosum FS/PS H:50-80cm x W:30cm
Swamp Daisy Brachyscome cardiocarpa FS/PS H:10-30cm x W:20cm
Bower Spinach Tetragonia implexicoma FS/PS H:20-30cm x W:200cm
Warrigal Greens/Native Spinach  Tetragonia tetragonioides FS/PS H:20-30cm x W:200cm
Murnong Yam Daisy Microseris lanceolata  FS/PS H:30cm x W:30cm
Native River Mint Mentha australis FS/PS H:30cm x W:100cm 

Kidney weed (lawn substitute) Dichondra repens FS/PS H:20cm x W:60cm

Strappy plants: Flax, Grasses, Sedges
* Weeping Grass Microlena stipoides FS/PS H:100cm x W:30-60cm
* Small-flower Flax-lily Dianella brevicaulis
* Spiney Headed Mat-rush Lomandra longifolia FS/PS H:90-120cm x W:100cm
* Red fruit saw sedge Gahnia sieberiana FS/PS H:200cm x W:150cm

Chocolate Lily Arthropodium strictum FS/PS H:30-60cm x W:80cm
Yellow Bulbine-lily/Native Leek  Bulbine bulbosa  FS/PS H:20-40cm x W:20-30cm
Pale Flax Lily Dianella longifolia var. longifolia  FS/PS H:30-60cm x W:50cm
Spreading Flax Lily Dianella revoluta  FS/PS H:30-60cm x W:50cm
Native Flax Linum marginale  FS/PS H:30-80cm x W:30cm
Tufted Bluebell Wahlenberia communis  FS/PS H:15-50cm x W:15-40cm
Tall Bluebell Wahlenberia sticta FS/PS H:20-30cm x W:10-20cm
Common Tussock Grass Poa labillardieri FS/PS H:30-70cm x W:40cm
Coastal Tussock Grass Poa poiformis FS/PS H:30-70cm x W:40cm
Knobby Club-sedge Fininia nodosa FS/PS H:50-150cm x W:60-200cm

Pale Mat-rush Juncus pallidus FS/PS H:50-230cm x W:30-100cm

Water Plants
Aquatic plants


​Climbers
* ​Native Wisteria Hardenbergia violacea FS/PS
* ​Common Appleberry Billardiera scandens FS/PS 
* ​Native small-leaf Clematis Clematis microphyllia FS/PS 

Love Creeper Comesperma volubile PS 
Native Blackberry Rubus parvifolius FS

Shrubs (Approx 1mt to 4mt height)
* ​Common Boobiala, False Boobyalla, Blueberry Tree Myoporum insulari (coastal areas) FS/PS H:200-500cm x W:300-600cm
* Hedge Wattle Acacia paradoxa FS H:200-400cm x W: 200-500cm
* Snowy Daisy Bush Oleria lirata Shade/Sun H:2-5mt x W: 2-3mt 
* Seaberry Saltbush Rhagodia candolleana FS/dry Shade H:200-400cm x W: 200-400cm
* Coast Beard Heath Leucopogon parviflorus FS H:100-400cm x W: 200-300cm 
* Tree Everlasting Ozothamnus ferrugineus FS/PS H:200-600cm x W:100-300cm
* Lignum Duma florulenta FS/PS H:200cm x W:200cm
* Common Correa/Native Fuchsia Correa Reflexa FS/PS H:100-120cm x W:150cm

* Hibbertia sp. small shrubs to climbers
* Kangaroo Apple Solanum laciniatum FS/PS H:100-300cm x W:100-300cm
* Hop Goodenia Goodenia ovata FS/PS H:100-120cm x W:100-120cm
Yellow Hakea Hakea nodosa 1-3m X 1-2m
Anglesea Grevillea Grevillea infecunda  FS/PS H:300cm-1200cm x W:200cm
Rosemary Grevillea Grevillea rosmarinifolia FS/PS H:300cm-1200cm x W:200cm
Coastal Everylasting Daisy Bush Ozothamnus turbinatus FS/PS H:200-500cm x W:100-300cm
​​Silver Banksia Banksia marginata FS/PS H:100-500cm x W: 100-300cm
Slender Velvet Bush Lasiopetalum baueri PS H:100cm x W:100cm
Coastal Saltbush Atriplex cinerea FS  H:100-120 x W:120cm 
White Correa Correa alba  FS/PS H:150cm x W:150cm 
Berry Saltbush Atriplex semibaccata FS H:40-80cm x W:100-150cm 
Common Heath Epacris impressa FS H:150-100cm x W:20-60cm 
​Indigo Indigofera australis FS/PS H:100-120cm x W:100-120cm
Showy Bossiaea Bossiaea cinerea FS/PS H:100-120cm x W:100-120cm
Silky Tea-tree Leptospermum myrsinoides FS/PS H:50-250cm x W:100cm
Coastal Wattle Acacia longifolia FS H:100-300cm x W:400-800cm
Prickly Tea-tree Leptospermum contentale FS/PS H:100-400cm x W:100-200cm
Sea Box ​Alyxia buxifolia FS/PS H:150cm x W:200cm
Silky Guinea-flower Hibbertia sericea FS/PS H:50cm x W:120cm
Cushion Bush Leucophyta brownii FS  H:60-100cm x W:60-100cm
Midgen Berry Austromyrtus dulcis FS/PS H:40-50cm x W:100-150cm 
Native Thyme Prostanthera incisa FS/PS H:200cm x W:100cm
Bottlebush Callistemon FS/PS H&W varies


Trees
(H&W of trees are in metres. Consider what is an approapriate possible hights in an urban garden,  your specific conditions, underground utilities etc.)

* Black Wattle Acacia mearnsii FS/PS H:5-15mt x W: 3-5mt 
* Drooping Sheoak Allocasuarina verticillata FS/PS H:4-11 mts x W:3-6 mts
* Meally Stringybark Eucalyptus cephalocarpa 15–24 m
* Sweet Bursaria Bursaria spinosa FS/PS H:4-6 mts x W:2-4mts
* Silver Wattle Acacia dealbata FS H:8-30 mts

Furze Hakea Hakea ulicina H: 5m
Gold Dust Wattle Acacia acinacea FS H: 2mt x W: 1.5
Coastal Tea-tree Leptospermum laevigatum FS/PS H:2-8 mts x W:2-4mts

Other plants

* Mistletoe
Threatened/vulnurable species
Edible native plants 


LOCAL INDIGENOUS NURSERIES (Sth/East Melbourne) 
  • Bayside Community Nursery 
  • Westgate BIodiversity Billi Nursery (Port Phillip area) FB page
  • Greenlink Sandbelt Clayton South
  • Kuranga (Native nursery with larger trees)​

​LOCAL COUNCIL RESOURCES

CITY OF PORT PHILLIP
  • Naturespot-City of Port Phillip guide to native plants and backyard biodiversity
  • City of Port Phillip Naturestrip Guidelines​ ​
  • Port Phillip EcoCentre Youtube (Education, create nest boxes, local wildlife and plants
  • Westgate BIodiversity Billi Nursery / FB page
 GLEN EIRA DISTRICT
  • Indigenous plants of Glen Eira
  • ​​2018 Glen Eira Biodiversity Report 
  • Glen Eira Biodiversity Map
  • Glen Eira Biodiversity PDF report prepared for Glen Eira council by Graeme S. Lorimer PhD.  
  • Glen Eira Nature Strips
  • Glen Eira Sustainable Gardening and Nature website
  • Friends of Caulfield Park Plant list for Aviary garden
BAYSIDE COUNCIL
  • How to Create a Bayside indigenous garden in five steps
  • Bayside Community Nursery 
  • Bayside Native Fauna
  • Bayside Wildlife Friendly Gardens​ ​​​

RESOURCES
  • SGA 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 
  • Birds in Backyards​
  • Plans for bird nest boxes
  • Types of birds and their plant requirements includes plant list  ​
  • Book: Indigenous Plants of The Sandbelt (Melbourne coastal regions)​
  • Build a pond or frog bog (Costa/gardening Australia video building a frog bog in an Early Learning Centre.)
  • iNaturalist (website and app) ​
  • Plant lists: Ask your local council for the local Indigenous plant nursery and see their plant lists.
  • Fun recycled Insect Habitats 
  • A wonderful comprehensive PDF and book on attracting bees and the plants they need. 
  • Pond Plants (to come soon) 
  • Book: The Insect Crisis: The Fall of the TIny Empires That Run the World by Oliver Milman
​
REFERENCES
  • Resources as noted in hyperlinks and below resources 
  • Books: Plants of the Sandbelt (currently out of stock) and Plants of Melbourne's Western Plains: A Gardener's Guide to the Original Flora
  • *SPECIAL THANKS TO GIO FITZPATRICK: Local naturalist and ecology consultant for providing a local species HIGH-BIODIVERSITY plant list.
Gio is a multi-award-winning naturalist with an incredible knowledge about our local birdlife, plants and ecosystems. Gio is currently working at the Elsternwick Park Nature Reserve project which was the former Elsternwick Golf Course. Gio facilitates biodiversity surveys, workshops, walks and informational sessions. 
Gios Website: Living Space Ecology 
Instagram
Youtube
ABC: The Secret LIves of Our Urban Birds
EcoBat Tube nest box plans - Introduction (EcoCentre/ Gio Fitzpatrick) When Gio began volunteering at Port Phillip EcoCentre when he was 11 years old with a focus on researching, designing, installing and maintaining nest boxes. Videos here. Gio also sells his local bird book which informs us of which birds are in decline, and what plants we can use to encourage them. Gios story
 in 5-mins video. ​
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Caulfield Park Aviary garden
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Indigenous, edible and native plants environmental education with Port Phillip EcoCentre
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Environemental Education with children exploring insects in their childcare garden.
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GARDEN CONSULTATION/ASSISTANCE
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Garden designed for wildlife in Caulfield North
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Juvenile Nankeen Night Heron at Caulfield Park lake (March 2020)
HEALTH AND SAFETY
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Dense plantings with several canopy layers encourages bird life in St Kilda Botanical gardens
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Warrigal Greens. Indigenous and edible ground-cover
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Warrigal Greens pesto at the Port Phillip EcoCentre
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Propagating Rounded Noon Flower at Port Phillip EcoCentre
LOCAL LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND HORTICULTURAL SERVICES:

Please contact the Port Phillip EcoCentre or Greensong for local horticulture, permaculture, landscape design, workshops, and consultations. 

Workshops at Caulfield South Community House and garden.
GREENSONG LOCATIONS
South East areas of Melbourne
(Outside these areas - an additional travel time allowance is additional according to quote)
SINGAPORE - See an environment education Early Years project: Designing to attract birds and butterflies in Singapore. ​
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FREE DIY GARDENING INSTRUCTIONS
SEASONAL VEGETABLE GUIDES
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If you would like guidance or personalized assistance with your garden, please inquire about a consultation or Permaculture MY Patch combining edibles in your garden space. Contact Deb - Greensong
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