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Connie
Connie's picture
Hi there!

Hi fellow bird watchers

Just thought I would post a quick message to say hello as I had just read about this website in the current issue of Gardening Australia. I live in Woodville, South Australia in a new housing development and are slowly trying to make our very tiny garden and front verge into a native habitat to attract some local wildlife. I have two small children that love the natural science world, so we are hoping this will be successful. I was excitied to observe two Ibises frequenting our local playground in the development and hope to get a photo of them if they choose to stay. The wetlands are under construction at the moment and we cannot wait to start seeing the wildlife that it will attract. Thanks everyone and have a great day!

Woko
Woko's picture

Hey Connie. Welcome. I love the fact that you're not allowing a small garden to deter you from creating habitat for wildlife. Every piece of habitat helps. E.g., putting native plants species into your garden which will attract butterflies might also attract birds which feed on butterfly larvae. And there are plenty of native plant species which will attract nectar feeders like honeyeaters but not take up too much room. Who knows, your efforts at wildlife habitat establishment might encourage neighbours to do likewise & before you know it you have a wildlife corridor all the way to the nearest remnant native vegetation which might be at Grange Golf Course. Anyway, we can dream.

Those wetlands you mentioned: are they being constructed at the old Cheltenham Racecourse by any chance?

By the way, have you thought of investigating indigenous plant species which once would have grown in your area? They would provide the precise habitat for local wildlife since they would have evolved together. Provenance Indigenous Plants at 27 Circuit Drive, Hendon 8345 0300 is an interesting place to visit for species local to the Adelaide area. Peter Hemmings is or was the contact person there. It's a bit difficult to find as it's a few metres off the street front.

Good luck with that & I hope I'm not teaching you to suck eggs. And good luck with the ibis photos.

Woko
Woko's picture

I've just mentioned to Ms Woko your project (if that's not too grandiose a name for it) in Woodville, Connie. As a former resident of Woodville she takes an interest in events there & told me that there's a group in your area which encourages the establishmet of wildlife habitat. She can't recall the group's name but she says it was mentioned on the ABC's 891. Perhaps if you check the ABC website there might be further details or you could ring the ABC.

Holly
Holly's picture
Connie wrote:

Hi fellow bird watchers

Just thought I would post a quick message to say hello as I had just read about this website in the current issue of Gardening Australia. I live in Woodville, South Australia in a new housing development and are slowly trying to make our very tiny garden and front verge into a native habitat to attract some local wildlife. I have two small children that love the natural science world, so we are hoping this will be successful. I was excitied to observe two Ibises frequenting our local playground in the development and hope to get a photo of them if they choose to stay. The wetlands are under construction at the moment and we cannot wait to start seeing the wildlife that it will attract. Thanks everyone and have a great day!

Oh wonderful - welcome! I will have to get the Gardening Australia mag to see what they wrote about us :)
Connie
Connie's picture

Hi Holly, thankyou. Yes it's a good little read and discusses the annual lists that you maintain on native birds, so that is what lead me here. This website is a fantastic resource and I am glad I found it ;)

Hi Woko, - I agree every little bit of indigenous habitat helps. It would be a great achievement if that could happen, but we can only try ;) It makes me sad when I hear of native trees being ripped down ie Port Road and North Terrace, and replaced with exotic species such as Japanese maples. The developers and the Coucil have left some significant trees on the outskirts of the development on Torrens rd and near the train line, so it is a good start. I love hearing the Sulphar Cresent's gossiping on dusk and makes me feel as though I am in the country (I can only dream!).

Yes the wetlands are at the old Cheltenam racecourse. We are also having SA's (?and maybe even Australia's) largest stormwater recycling system set up, and I think every house in the Stage 2 Cheltenam side must have a grey water recycling system (unfortunatle we missed out as it was not implemented on the Woodville side). At least it is forward thinking on behalf of the developers and the Charles Sturt Council, as this development has been a contentious topic amoungst residents and interest groups. If only more councils would jump on board to create more natural corridors. I know the City of West Torrens gives away indigenous plants, you just need a coupon from their messenger (I got a friend who lives there to get me a couple of trays last year and that is what I used to landscape our verge with). So maybe other councils do the same?

Thanks for the tip about the Woodville group, I will follow up on that link through the ABC website as I have been on the look out for a local indigenous gardening group as I would love to have the opportunity to meet with some local like-minded gardeners, and also help to revegetate the 'west'.

The nursery you mentioned is called Provinence I think, and I have visited it before, but thankyou for the tip ;) Yes it was a bit tricky to find, but I know where it is now. The range is small, but very valuable and I am hoping to go back there to replenish my verge. Also hoping to go back to State Flora Nursery in Belair also as they had a good range for larger shrubs and small trees.

Thanks again Woko, and I will let you know if I find that gardening group. Please excuse my 'essay' of a response!

Kind regards

Connie ;)

Woko
Woko's picture

No worries, Connie. Look forward to hearing of your adventures.

Araminta
Araminta's picture

Hi and welcome Connie, I live a fair way outside of Melbourne, but there are many new estates around Berwick and Cranbourne, most of them now created small wetlands. If you can make sure they are looked after who ever is the owner of them, they are great bird habitat!!!! Most of the time they are not the responsibility of the councils, rather of your local Water board. You can make it your responsibility to find out and look after the wetlands.Good luck , I can see you are a woman up to a challenge.

M-L

Connie
Connie's picture

Hi Araminta

I certainly am, that's for sure ;) I will look into that as I was not aware that may be the case, but I would be more than happy to help look after the wetlands so thanks for the advice Araminta. 

birdie
birdie's picture

welcome Connie...... good luck with your gardening project!

Sunshine Coast Queensland

cathshane

Hi Connie, we only have a tiny garden area as well, but have turned it into a bird haven. All bar 2 of the plants are native, we can put some pics up if you would like to see them.

Connie
Connie's picture

Hi Birdie, thankyou ;)

Hi Cath and Shane, would love to see some pics if it is not too much trouble. Thanks in advance ;)

cathshane

Hi Connie, here are some before and after shots. Our block is classified as a cottage block, so it is quite small.

The front yard is all native grasses proteas and a striking gum. we bought most of our plants as tube stock. Its a lot cheaper that way and they grow almost as quick.

Connie
Connie's picture

Wow, so full and lush, thankyou for sharing these. Your garden looks like a lovely place to relax in! Unfortunately ours isn't that big but I remain undeterred. I love how you were still able to include different areas and features and it goes to show you don't need a lot of land to do this. Where did you purchase your tube stock from?

Thanks again guys ;)

cathshane

Hi Connie we got all  of our tubestock  from markets and nurseries. Keep us posted on your garden, there is a section here on the forum for gardens.

Connie
Connie's picture

Hi Cath and Shane thanks for the tip and will do

Kind regards ;)

clif2
clif2's picture

Welcome Connie, your enthusiasm and spirit will take you far and a valued contributor for our forum.

Regards

               Shane

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