Tag: nature

Gardening for Wildlife and Biodiversity

Local sustainability superstars, Mandy and Mike Bamford, guide us through their stunning ReWild garden full of gorgeous greenery and wonderful wildflowers.

Mandy and Mike Bamford turned their backyard from a sandy paddock into a beautiful biodiverse, ReWild wonderland over the last 34 years. Their astonishing efforts and persistence in weeding, planting and growing plants from seed has paid off, and now their garden is always buzzing with activity from native wildlife and their outdoor space provides them with endless enjoyment.

Starting from scratch

Mandy and Mike moved into their 2,116m2 block of land in Kingsley 34 years ago. When they purchased the block, it was a large, barren paddock with nothing but weeds thriving in yellow builder’s sand.

Despite the extent of work ahead of them, they saw the potential of the space and knew that with a bit of work, their garden would grow into a biodiverse, green oasis for their family that would soon provide habitat for native fauna for years to come.

Mandy and Mike saw great potential to create their biodiverse garden when they purchased the land 34 years ago.

Mandy and Mike had always been fascinated by native animals and plants. The opportunity to create their garden from scratch was an exciting dream that they got started on right away. Their goal was to create a garden for wildlife so that they could enjoy seeing spectacular native animals every day in their own backyard, with the additional benefits of a cooler home and fresh air for their family.

ReWild Gardening

‘ReWilding’ is a global movement aiming to restore the natural environment through planting native species, with the aim of providing habitat for native fauna, greener cities and mitigation of climate change.

ReWild Perth is about creating environments that support native wildlife we have displaced through land clearing, in our own backyards and gardens. There are limited untouched green spaces remaining in the Perth Metropolitan area, but with a community effort we can all start to restore the environment and cohabit with native species.

Mandy and Mike signed up to the ReWild program to continue to create their beautiful garden and outdoor space. Registering their ReWild garden gave them access to a garden action plan, which helped them set goals for their garden and track their progress. They could also view the collective impact they were making on the suburb progress map.

ReWild resources and plant lists are perfect for heading to the nursery to find out which plants are native, and how each of your plants can support wildlife in your garden. You can select plants that attract a certain species and find out how to create the perfect habitat garden.

A Grey Fantail taking a bath and a quick drink before exploring the garden.

Natives for nature

After a few years of planting seedlings, growing plants from seed and swapping plants with friends and family, Mandy and Mike could start to sit back, watch their garden grow and enjoy the fruits of their labour.

They have watched their Marri trees grow from seedlings into large trees that are now providing a bounty of food for Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos! The Marri trees are often full of honeyeaters, Striated Pardalotes and insects that feed, nest and shelter in them.

There are seven Marri trees on Mandy and Mike’s property, which provide a wonderfully shaded canopy on their home and keep them cool throughout the summer months. Tree canopy is incredibly important for mitigating the urban heat island effect, which we have been experiencing quite intensely this past summer.

“When the maximum for Perth was 43° degrees a few weeks ago (February 2024), our thermometer was showing only 39° degrees. It was very pleasant sitting under our Marri trees with a cup of tea, watching the wildlife coming to our garden for shade. Imagine how much cooler it would be if every spare space in our suburbs had trees!”

The Marri trees aren’t the only flora species buzzing with activity in their garden. Some species pop up by themselves, such as the three orchid species that flower happily every year. They support a myriad of insects, such as the Peacock Spider and the beautiful Blue-banded Bee!

Creating homes and habitat

Not only do Mandy and Mike provide habitat for wildlife by planting the native plants that animals love, but they also provide built habitat options, such as ‘lizard lounges’, insect hotels, baths, ponds and water bowls for birds and ground marsupials. They also install nest boxes that replicate hollows and crevices for birds and bats.

If you walk around the garden, you will see piles of leaf litter that have been left out for invertebrates, fungi and microorganisms to keep their soil healthy. The leaf litter also acts as a natural mulch on the ground. Small areas of sand between paving bricks provide nests for Blue-banded Bees, and the many groundcovers and shrubs provide protection for many different animals as well as acting as a living mulch helping to retain soil moisture.

The diversity in both natural and artificial habitat options, alongside ponds and wet areas provides the perfect home for many native species. Mandy and Mike have successfully brought the bushland to their backyard!

No-fuss Natives

Mandy and Mike don’t water their garden much at all. They only need to water their veggies, herbs and fruit trees, and a small patch of lawn they have where their dog plays outside.

“Newly planted seedlings need watering throughout the first summer but mostly the garden doesn’t need much water,” Mandy said, “Only light hand-watering needs to be done during the summer.”

While Mandy and Mike enjoy gardening and choose to spend their time in the garden, it’s not necessary for a ReWild garden. Once their garden became established, their native plants don’t require much upkeep. The most that needs to be done is a light prune of some of the larger shrubs, and some Marri leaves need to be swept off the paths and put into the compost.

One of Mandy’s favourite species, the Coojong or the Golden Wattle (Acacia saligna). It is a ‘powerhouse’ for native animals and helps improve your soil health!

A win for water efficiency and conservation

This garden is waterwise as well as being wildlife friendly, it allows the rain to water it and is irrigation free! In addition, beautiful biodiverse gardens beaming with plants help water infiltration preventing stormwater run-off, allowing deep soaking of the soil. The plant cover provides a cooling effect and keeps the soil protected in the hot summer months, and it can even help reduce temperatures inside Mike and Mandy’s home. Together these water and energy savings mean less money is going on bills!

This garden is also well positioned to survive in Perth’s forecast drying climate with additional hot days.

Easy to maintain and a beautiful garden!

Who said you couldn’t have it all? Waterwise and biodiverse gardens can be just as beautiful as any other garden full of exotic water hungry plants, and they better support our local wildlife. Natives can be used to design all sorts of gardens now – from Mediterranean, cottage gardens to coastal designs, natives are versatile and resilient as well as adapted to our climate!

Mike and Mandy say maintenance of the garden is less than what it would have been if they had lawn, and it’s something they enjoy doing. Whether it’s a few hours of weeding a month, light pruning or planting new plants in winter, they love spending time in their biodiverse oasis.

Join the ReWilding Revolution!

If you want to start a ReWild garden, Mandy and Mike’s advice is to enjoy it and experiment!

Always ask for advice from other rewilding gardeners, check out social media rewild or gardening groups, and get your resources from ReWild Perth, NatureLink Perth, Birdlife Australia, Gardening Australia, Wildflower Society and Water Corporation.

The City also has some great resources to help you on your rewilding journey. Our Growing Locals page has a soils map so you can find out your soil type and discover the right native plants for your garden. You can also check our Intramaps resource to see if you live in a ‘Regional Ecological Linkage’ area by clicking ‘Regional Ecological Linkage’ on the lefthand menu and find your address. View our tips for a thriving wildlife garden. You can apply for a free street tree and view our Waterwise Demonstration Gardens for some inspiration. Our recent Waterwise Verge Garden Competition winner also has some great tips for waterwise native gardening.

“It’s great knowing that we are helping to create a stepping stone for wildlife through our suburb. It has been exciting to notice other people in our street gradually adding a few native plants to their verges and gardens.

There is a rewilding revolution taking place!”

Together we can all make small changes to take charge of our space and ‘bring nature home’ to where it used to be.

Mandy and Mike Bamford in their ReWild garden.

Subscribe to the City of Joondalup’s Sustainability eNewsletter to stay updated about environmental news, stories, and events.

Protect our Wildlife

We have a beautiful natural environment, home to our unique and inspiring wildlife, which we care for and protect. Local wildlife needs our help and faces many threats – this includes when people purposefully feed wildlife, which can result in animals becoming overconfident, contribute to a decline in their health and wellbeing, and even promote aggressive behaviour. We encourage you to learn how to look after wildlife, help sick or injured animals, and know who to contact for assistance. 

Providing food and water for wildlife is often done with the best intentions. However, whether you’re concerned for their welfare or simply trying to get closer to an animal, offering food and water can put these animals at risk. 

Why we should let nature cater for our wildlife 

Some of the issues caused by feeding wildlife include: 

  • Dependency on humans for survival as they rely on food provided and lose the ability to find food for themselves. This can particularly impact juveniles who should be learning to find their natural food.  
  • Sickness and deformities due to high quantities of salt present in bread and processed foods.  
  • Weight issues due to high quantities of fat present in processed food and meat.  
  • Dietary imbalances and severe deficiencies can be brought on by feeding (e.g. raw meat is lacking in calcium and has high phosphorous levels). 
  • Increase in aggression and stress as many animals try to feed or drink together. 
  • Spreading disease through a concentration of food and animals in large numbers in one place.  
  • Bacteria from artificial water sources that become stagnant can be deadly to animals and spread sickness easily. Did you know that kangaroos around Yellagonga Regional Park absorb most of their water needs through food? Luckily, there’s a permanent natural water source in the park if they need it, so there is no need to supplement with buckets of water.  
  • Increase in the quantity of non-native animals, rodents and insects, as the more food they get, the more they breed. 
  • Changing the balance of species in the wild as it can increase some species, which, in turn, decreases others. 

Nature provides everything they need to survive and thrive, so please refrain from feeding our wildlife food and water. Feeding of native animals is illegal and can also incur large fines. 

Wetland waterbirds foraging for food in the shallow mudflats in Yellagonga Regional Park.

Wildlife conservation efforts by the City and its partners 

The City works with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and its neighbouring local governments to conserve and protect wildlife. 

Some of the environmental initiatives the City has led or supported include: 

  • Implementing the Yellagonga Integrated Catchment Management Plan with the City of Wanneroo. 
  • Collaborating with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the City of Wanneroo on a ‘Local Biodiversity Project’ within Yellagonga Regional Park. 
  • Collaborating with Murdoch University and other partners on the Saving our Snake-necked Turtle Project and implementing the Turtle Trackers program to help protect turtle nests at Lake Joondalup. 
  • Controlling feral animals in conjunction with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the City of Wanneroo. 
  • Working with volunteers to conserve and protect natural areas. 
  • Undertaking revegetation and habitat creation projects in collaboration with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, the City of Wanneroo, schools and community groups. This also includes installing conservation fencing in reserves. 
  • Raising awareness and educating the community, including installing signage in reserves and implementing a range of greening and biodiversity initiatives. 

Feeding or leaving water out for Kangaroos can make them aggressive, dependent and puts them at risk.

How you can help wildlife 

We all have a role in helping protect and conserve our local biodiversity. Here are some ways that you can enjoy and appreciate the wildlife around you without interfering: 

  • Volunteer your time to protect and manage our beautiful and diverse natural areas. You will be able to help enhance these areas and create new habitats for our local wildlife. Find your local Friends Group today and learn more about how to establish a new group. There are also opportunities to help sick and injured wildlife return to the wild, plant out areas to help native fauna flourish, survey birds and more. Or, if you are looking to volunteer with other wildlife care or conservation organisations, you can find an opportunity that suits you.  
  • Create your own wildlife habitat at home to attract birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects that you can observe. Grow native plants that provide nectar-rich flowers, fruits and leaves that wildlife feed on, and in time, will provide them with shelter. Leave out a clean, freshly filled bird bath to help attract native birds.  
  • With fewer tree hollows available in suburbia, consider building a nesting box in your backyard for local birds or animals. Different animals require different types of boxes, so it’s a good idea to investigate the animals that visit your area and the types of homes they require. Visit ReWild Perth for an action plan and more information to get started on creating a habitat for wildlife.
  • Take the time to connect with and visit nature. Yellagonga Regional Park and other natural areas in the City are wonderful places to observe kangaroos and other local wildlife and bushland birds.  
  • Contribute to citizen science projects and record your wildlife sightings and observations, identify species and contribute to a national scientific database on Atlas of Living Australia. 

What you can do if you see sick or injured wildlife 

Contact the Wildcare Helpline if you find sick or injured native wildlife and are seeking advice on where to find care for the animal. 

Our closest nonprofit organisation that rescues, treats and rehabilitates sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife is Native Animal Rescue in Malaga.

Pick up a Nature Passport

The City of Joondalup Nature Passport activity booklet highlights nature playgrounds, green open spaces, wetlands and other nature-rich locations in the City of Joondalup. The Nature Passport is a fantastic tool to get active in your local area, support family time outdoors, promote social connection and inspire lifelong behaviours and attitudes towards natural areas.

The City of Joondalup has 22 suburbs with majestic wetlands, 17km of stunning coastline fringed with foreshore reserve and shared pathways throughout the coastline. The FREE Nature Passport guides you though activities and exploration along the way.

You can also download the Nature Play app and enjoy exploring Joondalup and other locations of Western Australia including the Cities of Albany, Armadale, Belmont, Canning, Fremantle, Greater Geraldton, Gosnells, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Karratha, Kwinana, Mandurah, Northam, Subiaco, Swan, Wanneroo and the Shires of Wyndham East Kimberley and York.

Nature Passports are available at all City of Joondalup Libraries and the Customer Service Centre, Boas Ave, Joondalup or by contacting the City’s Community Information Line 9400 4705.

Enjoy your adventures!

Nature

Reconnect with nature Uptown. The City of Joondalup is a nature lovers paradise. Stunning white sandy beaches, unique flora and fauna at Yellagonga Regional Park and lively marine life at Marmion Marine Park – it’s all here waiting to be explored.

Yellagonga Regional Park

The jewel of the City’s natural attractions, Yellagonga Regional Park is Joondalup’s best hidden secret where you could encounter kangaroos, long-necked turtles, frogs and a diverse range of birds.

Yellagonga Regional Park is a 13-kilometre-long chain of interconnected natural wetlands with many bush and wetland areas to discover. Explore the park by foot or bike using the 16km trail that loops around Lake Joondalup and stop for a rest at one of the many picnic spots along the way.

Coastline

The City is home to 17km of stunning coastline and some of Perth’s best beaches with Mullaloo and Sorrento providing visitors with stunning white sand and turquoise water.

Marmion Marine Park also stretches along the coast providing visitors with a number of great snorkelling and diving trails to explore Western Australia’s exciting marine life. Visitors can also explore the marine wildlife close up at the Aquarium of Western Australia located at Hillarys Boat Harbour.

Bushland

There are a number of bushland areas throughout the City that are home to diverse wildlife and unique plant species. Discover banksia, zamia palms and mature eucalyptus trees as well as quenda and Black Carnaby Cockatoos that feed in the natural areas.

The Plants and People in Mooro Country publication provides detailed information on the history of the City’s natural areas and is a perfect starting point for visitors keen to explore nature.