Backyard Biodiversity project
We are running an intensive program to help residents make their gardens wildlife-friendly. Would you like to take part?
Recruiting now for our autumn 2012 project
We are now recruiting for our autumn Backyard Biodiversity project. This free Council initiative runs over approximately eight weeks and includes fun and interactive workshops and activities to help you create a small wildlife-friendly garden.
The Backyard Biodiversity project offers wonderful learning opportunities and experiences including:
- workshops presented by Sustainable Gardening Australia and guest speakers
- delicious organic refreshments
- detailed notes provided at each workshop session.
- a visit to the nearby biodiversity corridor and local native gardens
- assistance with plant selection for your garden by landscape professionals
- practical planting activities with Friends of Koonung Creek
- a visit to the Victorian Indigenous Nursery Co-operative (VINC) to receive a starter pack of 20 free plants.
Here's what residents say about the project.
'The project has been very inspiring. I have completed my planting and feel very satisfied with the results.'
'There are plenty of locally indigenous plants that we can grow that will encourage native wildlife. Even a casual gardener like me can make a difference.'
'Establishing an indigenous garden is actually very easy and the results can be very attractive.'
'The information nights were also fantastic ... critical information for success.'
We are now looking for 35 households to take part in the autumn Backyard Biodiversity project
To be eligible you need to:
- live in Balwyn North in the residential area between Bulleen Road and Doncaster Road. We would also like to hear from you if you live near Elgar Park and Winfield Road.
- commit to the majority of sessions
- have a small area in your garden that you can prepare and plant with the 20 indigenous plants. The size of this area needed will vary depending on the plants you choose and we can provide advice on this.
Workshops will be held weekly beginning Wednesday 14 March 2012 at a local venue. Numbers are limited. To register your interest please:
phone: 9278 4889 Andrea Lomdahl
email: Environment and Sustainable Living
Background information
Following the publication of Boroondara's Backyard Biodiversity booklet we noticed a growing interest in habitat gardening. To support our residents seeking to develop a garden for wildlife with additional guidance, Council developed a Backyard Biodiversity project. The project encourages households, especially those close to our biodiversity corridors, to set aside a section of their garden for indigenous plants and other wildlife-friendly habitat. This will provide valuable green stepping stones for our native wildlife and support efforts to implement our Biodiversity Corridors Plan.
Over the past eighteen months we've conducted three Backyard Biodiversity projects. The first was completed in October 2010 with Camberwell residents living close to Lynden Park and the Back Creek biodiversity corridor. Our second project involved another enthusiastic group of residents living near Gardiners Creek, Ashburton. This group has now formed the Friends of Ashburton Forest. Our third group finished in December 2011 and included residents from Kew East and Balwyn North.
The Backyard Biodiversity project was a finalist in the 2011 United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards. The project was entered in the local government category under best specific environmental initiative.
View our Backyard Biodiversity project video
Participants in the Lynden Park/Back Creek Biodiversity project helped us produce a video about the project. You can hear what they had to say about the project and see them in action by viewing the Camberwell Backyard Biodiversity project video.
How to stay informed:
- Keep visiting this page for project updates (bookmark it as a favourite).
- phone: 9278 4889 Andrea Lomdahl
- email: Environment and Sustainable Living
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