Backyard Biodiversity
Encouraging wildlife-friendly gardening in urban Ballarat
Gardens for Wildlife Ballarat is delivering a new program in 2025-26 for the local community, funded by the City of Ballarat through the Ballarat Community Education for Sustainability and Environment project. Gardens for Wildlife Ballarat is a community-based gardening program that provides advice and ideas to those interested in making more wildlife friendly spaces in urban gardens.
The program will be delivered in collaboration with other local groups, including the Wattle Flat Pootilla Landcare Group and the Yarning Garden Ballarat. The Ballarat East Neighbourhood House is a delivery partner, supporting the program through promotion and administration.
There will be a range of activities on offer in 2025-26, starting with two free walks in October and November 2025.
Activity 1: Come for a walk ….. in Woowookarung
Let’s discover a small part of Woowookarung forest and its cultural heritage on this free guided stroll. Along the way we’ll look for wildflowers, introduce you to the sights and sounds of local birds, learn about traditional Wadawurrung relationships with forest plants and animals and start you thinking about the benefits of growing local flora to create a wildlife haven in your own patch.
Woowookarung, Dementia-friendly Forest and Sensory Trail
Date: Monday 27 October
Time 10.00 am - 12.15 pm
Transport is available from Barkly Square, departing at 10.00 am and returning at approximately 12.15pm. This will need to be booked through the Ballarat East Neighbourhood House. Alternatively, please meet us at the trail head in Katy Ryans Road by 10.15 am.
Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided but there are no toilet facilities.
Total return walking distance is approximately 2.5 km on a paved gentle gradient suitable for prams and wheelchairs. Please wear sturdy shoes, long trousers, hat and sunscreen and bring a water bottle.
Bookings are essential as places are limited. Please cancel your ticket/s if you can no longer attend so that we can make your place available to others.
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Activity 2: Come for a walk ….. in Creswick Forest
Let’s explore a small patch of local bushland on this free family-friendly guided stroll along Slaty Creek and surrounding forest. Along the way we’ll look for wildflowers, introduce you to the sights and sounds of local birds, familiarise you with the trees and shrubs that make up their habitat and start you thinking about the benefits of growing local flora to create a wildlife haven in your own patch.
Creswick Forest, Slaty Creek Picnic Ground 1
Date: Sunday 30 November
Time 2.00 pm - 3.15 pm
Transport is available from Barkly Square, departing at 1.15 pm and returning at approximately 4.00 pm. This will need to be booked through the Ballarat East Neighbourhood House. Alternatively, meet G4WB outside Creswick Town Hall at 1.45 pm and follow in your own vehicle.
Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided and there are basic toilet facilities.
Total return walking distance is approximately 2 km. The track is rough in places so wear sturdy shoes, long trousers and sleeves, hat and sunscreen and bring a water bottle.
Bookings are essential as places are limited. Please cancel your ticket/s if you can no longer attend so that we can make your place available to others.
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Delivery Partners: |
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Funded by: |
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About Gardens for Wildlife Ballarat
Gardens for Wildlife Ballarat is a community-based gardening program that provides advice and ideas to those interested in making more wildlife friendly spaces in urban gardens.
Whether you have a big backyard, a tiny courtyard, a community garden, a school veggie patch, or pot plants on your balcony, everyone can help contribute to the survival of wildlife by providing suitable places (habitat) for birds, insects, frogs, lizards and other animals.
By participating in the program and becoming engaged in wildlife gardening, you too are a volunteer helping our community to foster local nature. Private landholders can play a critical role in creating a healthy and thriving environment in urban and peri-urban areas.
Connecting to nature in our gardens is also good for our health!
By creating a garden that is wildlife-friendly we can:
- Help conserve local plants and animals by planting more habitat
- Have time to enjoy our gardens by being less tidy, reducing maintenance time and costs
- Reduce water use and evaporation through mulching and use of local native plant species which are better able to tolerate drought conditions
- Have native birds and insects in our gardens providing natural pest control and promoting increased pollination for better fruit/seed set
- Enjoy close encounters with native animals in our gardens and encourage children to appreciate nature up close
