Banyule Gardens for Wildlife
The program is an incredible way to incorporate private land management with public land, for the benefit of our local wildlife…
As one of the proud affiliate groups to Gardens for Wildlife Victoria, Banyule’s program knows and appreciates the collective efforts and knowledge the 23 programs provide each other.
Each program is an incredible way to incorporate private land management with public land, for the benefit of our local wildlife. Natural environmental management is not the responsibility of one organisation and a program like Gardens for Wildlife outlines how local residents can contribute to improved natural assets by creating safe spaces in their backyards for our local wildlife.
Being a joint venture between volunteers and local government is another way of organisations and community working together for a collective goal. The programs have the ability to connect people within the community with similar values and build social connections. From all the positives the program can provide, it requires a commitment from individual Councils to resource them appropriately, ensuring they grow and achieve the best for our communities and local wildlife”.
Frankston Gardens for Wildlife
This program serves as a valuable tool in promoting biodiversity at a local level and creating important stepping stone habitats for local wildlife across our landscape…
As an Officer of Frankston City Council, I am more than happy to endorse the Gardens for Wildlife program as a beneficial initiative in promoting local conservation and improving community connections to nature.
This program serves as a valuable tool in promoting biodiversity at a local level and creating important stepping stone habitats for local wildlife across our landscape connecting core natural reserve areas. By providing resources, education, and support to residents and having the program delivered by community members, we empower individuals to take proactive steps towards protecting and enhancing our natural environment.
The Gardens for Wildlife program fosters a sense of pride and ownership among participants and the volunteers themselves, as they play an active role in supporting and enhancing biodiversity within their own homes and communities.
Hume Gardens for Wildlife
Gardens for Wildlife brings joy, beauty, meaning, and compassion to people’s lives…
Hume City Council starts by acknowledging the leadership and support provided by Knox City Council, Knox Environment Society, and the Gardens for Wildlife Victoria network. Hume City’s Gardens for Wildlife program is led by Council’s Urban Biodiversity Officer, who has invested considerable time into developing processes aligned with Council’s strategic directions and policies, and oversees the administration of the program through a few online systems.
This ensures that volunteer Garden Guides and participants who receive garden visits can have confidence in the people involved, and that the results are generated in a timely fashion. Council has also provided sufficient recurrent budget and resources to facilitate the delivery of the garden visits, preparing the reports, providing small gifts, and supplying indigenous seedlings to participants, as well as some much-deserved rewards and recognition for the Garden Guides.
In formally evaluating the program, the positive responses have been overwhelming and heart-warming. All the respondents to a detailed feedback survey said they were very satisfied with their involvement. Based on the suggestions they received from the Garden Guides, the majority had taken affirmative action to help local wildlife by adding habitat features, like bird baths or lizard lounges, while planting more indigenous species and less exotic plants, plus removing environmental weeds. Many felt their actions were already attracting more wildlife to their gardens, with a third of people also getting involved in citizen science monitoring.
In addition to these environmental outcomes, people were also spending more time in nature or working in their garden, with benefits to their health and wellbeing. Social outcomes were also reported, having a greater sense of connection to their place and the wider community. Some individuals who had a visit, have gone on to become Garden Guides and have said it has been life changing, giving them a sense of purpose, doing something good for nature, and by helping other people. Gardens for Wildlife brings joy, beauty, meaning, and compassion to people’s lives. Pure simple happiness is seeing bees, butterflies and birds visiting the plants that you have grown.
City of Melbourne Gardens for Wildlife
Gardens for Wildlife provides a wonderful platform to recognise the conservation contribution and the meaningful role of individuals and their gardens in the city…
In the City of Melbourne, private landholders manage a similar proportion of land as Council, so protection and enhancement of our urban environment by private landholders is critical for achieving healthy ecosystems and thriving biodiversity. Gardens for Wildlife provides a wonderful platform to recognise the conservation contribution and the meaningful role of individuals and their gardens in the city.
Our Gardens for Wildlife Program utilises a collaborative framework that fosters social connections and wellbeing alongside biodiversity objectives; increasing people’s connection to nature through urban horticulture.
Gardens for Wildlife Melbourne is a volunteer powered program, however having adequate Council resources available to support this goes a long way in ensuring volunteers feel valued and appreciated, and are able to get the most out of their involvement in the program.
Participants who have had their garden assessed are invited to become part of our network of habitat gardeners, so we can grow the movement in the city. Garden Guides are also be provided opportunities to learn, mentor, network and collaborate through a series of workshops and social events focused on habitat gardening and caring for wildlife in backyards.
Gardens for Wildlife Victoria centers around opportunities for programs to connect and share ideas. The ability to learn, mentor and collaborate through the Gardens for Wildlife Network is invaluable to achieving our programs goals to foster a socially and ecologically connected community. The network encompasses a community of passionate, dedicated, interested and active people. Everyone brings their unique gifts and skills to make a difference for wildlife in our backyards and urban spaces.
