Biodiversity is the range of all forms of life on earth. It includes all the different plants, animals and micro-organisms that make up our ecosystems. Biodiversity supports everything in nature that we need to survive, from food and clean water to medicine and shelter.
Despite being in the heart of Melbourne, Stonnington is blessed with an array of incredible biodiversity in our parks and open spaces. We need your help to support and protect it.
You can provide habitat, complete with food, water and shelter for our local birds, bees, butterflies, lizards and more, in your own backyard or balcony.
Create habitat for wildlife
- Fill your garden with local native plants from nurseries like Victorian Indigenous Nursery Co-op or Bili Nursery.
- Learn how to create your own indigenous garden at home and support habitat for important native grassland species.
- Create a multi-layered habitat of ground covers, small and medium shrubs.
- Plant flowering species like grevillea, correa and wattle to attract bees and other pollinators such as nectar-eating birds and beneficial insects.
- Build dense and protective habitat using prickly shrubs such as Acacia paradoxa.
- Use logs, sticks, leaf litter and rocks in your garden to provide a habitat for native bees, insects, skinks and lizards.
- Put in a water feature such as a bird bath or pond.
For more tips, view our Sustainable Gardening in Stonnington(PDF, 8MB) booklet or visit Sustainable Gardening Australia or Birds in Backyards.
Keep wildlife safe
A garden that is safe for wildlife means it is safer for pets and children too.
- Keep your cat indoors or in an outdoor enclosure to keep them and wildlife safe. For ideas on protecting cats and wildlife, visit Safe Cat, Safe Wildlife.
- While fruit tree netting is a popular way to protect fruit, it can be dangerous for wildlife like birds, flying foxes and possums. Use netting with a mesh size of 5 mm x 5 mm or less at full stretch to reduce the risk to wildlife. For advice on fruit tree netting, visit Agriculture Victoria.
Become a citizen scientist
Get involved and make a difference with these great biodiversity citizen scientist initiatives.
iNaturalist
Download the iNaturalist app on your smartphone to join a global community of citizen scientists and get help to identify the plants and animals around you.
ClimateWatch
Join ClimateWatch, a national initiative that helps scientists understand how Australia's environment is responding to climate change. It's all done on an easy-to-use app on your smartphone.
Aussie Bird Count
Celebrate National Bird Week in October by heading to your favourite open space and recording the birds you see. For more information, visit the Aussie Bird Count website.
Frog census
Become a frog monitor using the Frog census app. Head to your nearest river, creek or wetlands, listen out for frog calls and record what you hear.
Explore our city's biodiversity
There are many ways to explore and learn more about Stonnington's biodiversity.
Explore biodiversity in our parks
Experience biodiversity near you at Malvern Urban Forest or Glen Iris Wetlands. These rich natural ecosystems are fantastic examples of biodiversity at work.
Life of the Yarra Audio Tour
Take an audio tour of the history and ecology of the Yarra River (Birrarung) on your next walk or bike ride. Explore the Birrarung's winding course, delve into the past and discover some small local wonders of our natural world.
Lost Lands Found
Take a moment to pause, reflect and connect with ancient flora of Stonnington with a visit to the Lost Lands Found eco-art installation in Central Park, Malvern.
Created by Wemba Wemba Wergaia ecologist and educator Dean Stewart, in partnership with Stonnington, Lost Lands Found showcases over 60 species of the indigenous flowers, grasses, herbs and lilies that once flourished throughout Victoria prior to European settlement.
Learn more about how to help create your own indigenous garden at home and support habitat for important native grassland species.
(credit Maya Melrose)
Visit our pets and animals page for more information on living with possums and how to report an injured animal.
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