The 8 key ingredients for creating your wildlife-friendly garden
A tall mature tree native to the area
‘We enjoy watching how different species of birds use the tree. We observe birds combing its bark and leaves for spiders and insects. It is a great vantage point for birds to scan the surrounding landscape and to sing, warble or chime. Last year we installed a rosella nesting box that created an initial flurry of excitement for the rosellas, and this year has attracted a breeding pair!’
Read Janet and Will’s story here
A patch of natural mulch for beetles and worms
Evie has taken her mulching to the front verge. She has created an attractive new garden that was started with a skirt of natural mulch and includes fallen banksia flowers and cones from her neighbour’s banksia tree.
Read Evie's story here
A clump of dense shrubs where small birds can shelter
When Tom found a home in Queenscliff just over 25 years ago, the garden consisted of an Italian Buckthorn hedge, a cypress tree, and a large expanse of rampant Kikuyu grass. After much effort, he established a welcoming and tiered shrub garden that enhances the view towards Swan Bay.
Read Tom's story here
Nectar plants for honeyeaters
A Silver Banksia was planted as a feature tree in the north-west corner and is already nine metres tall and several metres wide. The tree has grown quickly and acts as a windbreak, screens out neighbours, provides shade and shelters birds. Its flowers are also a food source for honeyeaters and insects.
Read Robyn and Peter's story here
Water sources, including a cat-proof birdbath
‘The water sources each have different purposes’, Sandra explained. ‘The smallest one at ground level is for skinks and lizards, so it is shallow and quite protected under a banksia. The largest is a quaint tall garden feature, standing over 1.5m and set in a bottlebrush thicket. It is ideal for small birds.
Read Sandra’s story here
A frog-friendly pond or bog with unpolluted water
Jim said that ‘frogs also don’t need to be in water all the time but need shelter and cover preferably near their water. Rocks, logs, leaf litter and small native plants are ideal, and a pond needs shallow walls so frogs can easily get in and out.
Read Jim's story here
A warm sheltered corner for lizards
Guy asked about their ideas for an out-of-the-way section along the back fence. The Garden Guides noted the sunny aspect and made some suggestions for developing lizard-attracting habitat. Following up on these ideas, Guy created two wood piles that successfully established lizard habitat.
Read Guy's story here
Local plants for butterflies and other pollinators
Eva had in mind not only the low-maintenance features of local indigenous plants but also a desire to support local pollinators such as butterflies and bees. Among her plant selection she chose hardy shrubs such as White Correa, Common Correa and Twiggy Daisy-bush, and grasses such as Kangaroo Grass.
Read Eva's story hereWhat features would you like to add to create your own wildlife friendly garden?
Contact
Gardens for Wildlife Coordinator
Sandra Nowland-Foreman
sbea_g4w@yahoo.com
