Welcome wildlife

It’s always fun to spot butterflies, birds and bees around the garden – and they’re just the obvious visitors. It’s easy to forget that they are part of a rich ecological tapestry. By getting to know more of your local wildlife, and developing a garden with them in mind, you’ll hopefully see an increase in the diversity of visitors – and even more butterflies, birds and bees!

Here are some tips on how to create habitat for wildlife:

• Start the long and delightful journey of becoming familiar with indigenous plants. Wherever you are, there are hundreds if not thousands to choose from, and all research is clear that, while critters use non-native plants, their preference is always for local.
• Grow local grasses and nectar-rich flowers such as daisies (Xerochrysum spp. and Brachyscome spp.) and yellow buttons (Chrysocephalum spp.) to attract and support butterflies, bees and myriad other arthropods. These plants can be grown in pots on a balcony or as part of a standard suburban garden.
• Allow some areas of your garden to go wild and, if you have room, give a section over to habitat. Fence it off and don’t do a thing to it. Even a 1m² sunny spot provides benefits when planted densely with species such as kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra), kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos spp.) and appleberries (Billardiera spp.) on the fence, with the addition of some mulch and a few hollow logs of any size.
• Leave plants to go through their entire life cycle to allow different groups to use them, and to avoid pruning off any foliage with insect eggs attached.
• Keep tree hollows of any size in situ, if it’s practical and safe. These are used by hundreds of species, including birds, mammals and reptiles.

• Install nesting boxes to ensure your garden receives a top B&B rating!
• Discover nearby natural areas (remnant bush, reserves, waterways) and see if you can encourage neighbours to plant with the intention of developing green corridors.
• Seek workshops to learn how to create habitat, such as those put on by local councils.
• Protect wildlife and pets from each other. Dogs are inquisitive and they may unintentionally hurt or kill wildlife, while cats are innate hunters and can decimate populations of insects, frogs, lizards, birds and mammals. Develop strategies that will keep them all safe
• Reduce (use judiciously) or stop using pesticides, herbicides and indoor fly sprays, as the drift impacts outdoor insects too.
• Stop using snail and rat baits. Birds of prey, possums and blue-tongued lizards are directly or indirectly affected.
• Reduce outdoor lighting, as it impacts moths and other nocturnal creatures.

Want to learn how to create a lizard lounge and a frog lodge? Read our article Create habitat for wildlife.

Header image: iStock