‘A lot of our native species are declining’: How your garden could help save them
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Australians have long taken pride in their gardens, but a quiet transformation is taking root across the country
Gone are the days when pristine lawns and neatly trimmed hedges were the ultimate goal.
What’s behind this shift, and why are more people rethinking their outdoor spaces?
Aussies have always taken pride in their gardens.
However, the classic look of box hedges and roses appeared to be making way for a new landscaping trend—one that supported the country’s struggling native wildlife.
Brendon Carrick ran the landscaping business Ecosystem Gardener.
He completed a four-week project in Nuriootpa, a town 80 kilometres from Adelaide, where he transformed a plain backyard into a thriving habitat by digging a 30-metre pond.
Within weeks, the once-empty space became a magnet for wildlife, attracting dragonflies, damselflies, native bees, multiple bird species, and three different types of frogs.
‘Offering fresh water in the summer is a huge asset to wildlife,’ he said.
He incorporated native and endemic plants into the project to create a self-sustaining food chain, making the space more hospitable for local species.
This shift towards wildlife-friendly gardening was not limited to rural areas, with urban homeowners also embracing the trend in their smaller outdoor spaces.
‘I’ve done projects in little courtyards no bigger than a couple square metres...you still get lots of wildlife engagement,’ Carrick said.
The homeowners in Nuriootpa reported an immediate increase in wildlife activity, showing how effective these changes could be.
More than 1,900 native species were threatened or at risk of extinction in Australia, including birds, turtles, and mammals like the mountain pygmy-possum.
Between 2016 and 2021, the number of native animals listed as threatened increased by 8 per cent, with the situation continuing to worsen, according to the Australian State of the Environment.
This growing concern has driven many Australians to reconsider their garden choices, opting for native plants instead of introduced or invasive species.
Jarryd Kelly, Curator Manager for the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, previously shared that native plants like Echinacea, also known as coneflowers, played a crucial role in attracting pollinators.
‘People often put them in their garden for that specific reason,’ he said.
Carrick echoed this, explaining that ‘planting native plants, creating water sources like birdbaths or ponds...and avoiding pesticides’ could provide vital support to struggling species.
‘There seems to be a new kind of movement going forward in terms of being aware of wildlife and offering different habitats in your garden for wildlife...a lot of our native species are declining in population and diversity due to more and more development,’ he said.
Watch the video below to learn more.
As more Australians rethink their gardens to support native wildlife, it’s clear that even small changes can make a big impact. Would you consider transforming your outdoor space into a haven for local species?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Gone are the days when pristine lawns and neatly trimmed hedges were the ultimate goal.
What’s behind this shift, and why are more people rethinking their outdoor spaces?
Aussies have always taken pride in their gardens.
However, the classic look of box hedges and roses appeared to be making way for a new landscaping trend—one that supported the country’s struggling native wildlife.
Brendon Carrick ran the landscaping business Ecosystem Gardener.
He completed a four-week project in Nuriootpa, a town 80 kilometres from Adelaide, where he transformed a plain backyard into a thriving habitat by digging a 30-metre pond.
Within weeks, the once-empty space became a magnet for wildlife, attracting dragonflies, damselflies, native bees, multiple bird species, and three different types of frogs.
‘Offering fresh water in the summer is a huge asset to wildlife,’ he said.
He incorporated native and endemic plants into the project to create a self-sustaining food chain, making the space more hospitable for local species.
This shift towards wildlife-friendly gardening was not limited to rural areas, with urban homeowners also embracing the trend in their smaller outdoor spaces.
‘I’ve done projects in little courtyards no bigger than a couple square metres...you still get lots of wildlife engagement,’ Carrick said.
The homeowners in Nuriootpa reported an immediate increase in wildlife activity, showing how effective these changes could be.
More than 1,900 native species were threatened or at risk of extinction in Australia, including birds, turtles, and mammals like the mountain pygmy-possum.
Between 2016 and 2021, the number of native animals listed as threatened increased by 8 per cent, with the situation continuing to worsen, according to the Australian State of the Environment.
This growing concern has driven many Australians to reconsider their garden choices, opting for native plants instead of introduced or invasive species.
Jarryd Kelly, Curator Manager for the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, previously shared that native plants like Echinacea, also known as coneflowers, played a crucial role in attracting pollinators.
‘People often put them in their garden for that specific reason,’ he said.
Carrick echoed this, explaining that ‘planting native plants, creating water sources like birdbaths or ponds...and avoiding pesticides’ could provide vital support to struggling species.
‘There seems to be a new kind of movement going forward in terms of being aware of wildlife and offering different habitats in your garden for wildlife...a lot of our native species are declining in population and diversity due to more and more development,’ he said.
Watch the video below to learn more.
As more Australians rethink their gardens to support native wildlife, it’s clear that even small changes can make a big impact. Would you consider transforming your outdoor space into a haven for local species?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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