PLEASE NOTE This document is an EXCERPT ONLY. Looking at the full contents list below, this excerpt only contains the COLOUR HIGHLIGHTED segments. While essential support information is included in every excerpt, additional information A planting guide vital to your planting may be in to promote biodiversity other sections. in Byron Shire Brunswick Valley Landcare highly recommends downloading the full brochure from: www.brunswickvalleylandcare. com.au Or pick up a printed booklet (by donation) from Byron Shire Council, . COASTAL Introduction

WELCOME TO MY LOCAL NATIVE GARDEN – A PLANTING GUIDE TO PROMOTE BIODIVERSITY IN THE BYRON SHIRE.

his publication hopes to inspire My Local Native Garden is an entry local residents and new arrivals point to introduce you to just some Tto learn a little more about of the incredible variety of local our spectacular environment. Most native . Ideally we want you to importantly we want you to invite the ignore the exotic species and focus natural world into your own backyard on endemic species as these will - to share some space with ‘the have food value for native fauna and natives’. are less likely to become a bushland weed. Specifically this guide will assist you to design, and maintain For those who wish to explore your own garden with species that further there are a myriad of resources are local to your area. By following out there, many of which are listed in our basic planting guide, your garden the back of this publication. The rest is will not only be easier to grow and up to you to explore! maintain, but it will also integrate into the surrounds, linking with a range of natural habitats to help support the great diversity of local wildlife. Central to this idea is to work with nature, after all our native plant ‘communities’ have already proved their success to be here through millennia of evolution.

Tuckeroo Illustration: A Erskine

4 My Local Native Garden BIODIVERSITY IN THE When it comes to flora and fauna, BACKYARD – A NATURAL we often only think of an individual species being in danger of extinction, RESOURCE but the reality is each individual species depends on a range of other Have you ever stopped to think how species - a ‘community’ - for their we’ve ‘inherited’ clean water to drink, survival. This is the inter-dependence fresh air to breathe or how our soils of ecosystems and why it is important Macadamia continue to grow healthy food? The to protect not just one species, but all Illustration: H Bunkers answer is biodiversity – literally the species – biodiversity. variety of plants and animals, their genetics and the ecosystems they live in. These plants and animals, soils BY PLANTING A NATIVE GARDEN FILLED WITH and microorganisms all help to ‘filter’ LOCAL PLANTS YOU CAN CONNECT YOUR GARDEN our water, generate our oxygen and TO THE EXISTING WILDLIFE CORRIDORS AND provide the gift of healthy soils. We need to protect biodiversity for our ENHANCE THE SURVIVAL FOR MANY NATIVE own health as well as play our part in SPECIES AND THEIR ECOSYSTEMS looking after the planet. Increased population, poor land The Byron Shire is recognised as a management practice and pressure biodiversity ‘hotspot’ – one of the richest from land clearing and development and most diverse regions for flora and has fragmented the original fauna in . Sadly there are over environment into small ‘islands’ or 70 plant species and 90 animal species remnants where species are most recognised as vulnerable or threatened, vulnerable to weeds, pests and including 12 Endangered Ecological predators. Communities in the Shire.

Wompoo Fruit-Dove Photo: D Taylor

Blue Banded Bee on aemula Photo: J Mayson

Green Tree Frog (juvenile) Leaf-tailed Gecko Photo: W Gibney Photo: R Hartlieb My Local Native Garden 5 Heath Banksia Illustration: A Erskine WHAT IS A ‘PLANT COMMUNITY’? MANY RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN A PLANT COMMUNITY ARE SYMBIOTIC – WHERE THERE IS A RELIANCE OR MUTUAL Plant communities are a unique BENEFIT DERIVED BETWEEN SPECIES – CREATING AN assemblage of flora that have evolved INTERCONNECTED ‘WEB’. ADDITIONALLY, OVERLAPPING as a result of interactions between a AREAS OF COMMUNITIES ARE KNOWN AS TRANSITION variety of factors such as: ZONES OR ‘ECOTONES’, WHICH SHOW A PARTICULARLY HIGH LEVEL OF SPECIES RICHNESS • Geology - underlying rock type and its effect on soils and nutrients • Soil type – whether the soils are Below is a list of just some of the many local ecological communities in free draining (sand based) or the Byron Shire – several of these are listed as threatened under State or swampy (heavy clay based); fertile Federal legislation. or low in organic matter • Elevation – increased altitude usually EXAMPLES OF NATURAL PLANT COMMUNITIES leads to cooler, wetter conditions, it can also affect temperature and Foredunes exposure, (all of which impacts on Themeda grasslands on seacliffs and coastal headlands soil types), and can determine if an dwarf graminoid clay heath area is prone to frost • Aspect – particularly on slopes Coastal cypress pine forests where one side has predominantly Littoral rainforests sun/shade and/or particular winds • Distance from the coast – exposure Mangroves to salt laden winds or in tidal zones Coastal saltmarshes where only those species that can handle brackish inundation can Swamp sclerophyll forests on coastal floodplains thrive Swamp oak floodplain forests • Temperature– the variation in Freshwater wetlands on coastal floodplains temperature range increases with distance from the moderating Subtropical coastal floodplain forests influence of the ocean Lowland rainforests • Humidity – closer to the coast, sea breezes can moderate the effect of Heath & shrublands humidity Open forests • Rainfall – across Byron Shire, the high rainfall favours certain species

Tree Fern Illustration: H Bunkers

6 My Local Native Garden Arrowhead vine Illustration: T Roberts

SOILS AND ELEVATION Soils of Byron Shire

Map courtesy Byron Shire Council

My Local Native Garden 7 Coastal

LOCATIONS: BROKEN HEAD, SUFFOLK PARK, BYRON BAY, BELONGIL, TYAGARAH, BRUNSWICK HEADS, OCEAN SHORES, NEW BRIGHTON, SOUTH GOLDEN BEACH, WOOYUNG BEACH

or those of us lucky enough On the foredunes, spinifex grass of water table variations, the type of to live in close proximity to slows and traps the wind-blown sand, predominant vegetation could be lit- Fthe sea, gardening on sandy allowing enough security for the low toral rainforest, melaleuca wetland or soils in salt laden winds can be coastal wattle to establish. This in turn fire dependent heath. challenging - until you learn the provides shelter to the hind dunes and secrets of our local plants. a complex root system that secures the The advantages of using local coastal coast against wave attack. In the lee plants in the landscape are salt and Before our coastline was cleared for of this, small, salt tolerant trees and drought tolerance, and an ability to sand mining and coastal development, leathery vines form a dense barricade thrive in low nutrient sandy soils – a a diverse ecosystem thrived in a suc- and beyond a complex littoral rainfor- selection of these plants are detailed in cession of plant communities that each est can establish. Depending on the the species list that accompanies this lent protection to the next. soil type (sand or clay), and proximity section of your guide.

WILDLIFE: PHEASANT COUCAL, BUSH TURKEY, SWAMP WALLABY, WHITE BELLIED SEA EAGLE, OSPREYS, TERNS, GULLS AND VARIOUS REPTILES, AUSTRALIAN PELICAN, BRAHMINY KITE, BUSH STONE-CURLEW, CORMORANTS, EGRETS, FLYING FOX, KINGFISHER, SPOONBILLS, SWAMPHENS, WATER DRAGONS, GOANNAS

Bush Stone-Curlew Swamp Wallaby & joey Eastern Water Dragon Photo: D Taylor Photo: T Trivett Photo: M Crocker 16 My Local Native Garden CREATING A LITTORAL RAINFOREST GARDEN

SOIL DESCRIPTION: Sandy loam to Sandy Clay In its natural state, such as at Broken Head, you’ll see a compact forest blown into a wedge shape capable of deflecting salt laden winds and CREATING A HEATH GARDEN providing a surprising amount of shelter beneath. Few of us will have SOIL DESCRIPTION: the opportunity to achieve this Low nutrient sand and sandy clay complexity in our own yards but there are some very useful species to The heath garden would be well suited employ in the home landscape. Utilise to a highly exposed site or to frame the sculptural forms of Pandanus, a view. The small leathery leaves that Cordyline, Palm, Ginger, feature in this broad grouping are salt Dianella and Hoya Vine. You’ll notice tolerant and once established can be these are all lineal plants, which look trained through pruning and require best with similar shaped and textured no irrigation. Small shrubs and trees plants. Lilli Pillies and other small that are fairly nondescript for much of rainforest species can provide useful the year will reward you with vigorous hedges and background. Few of these flowering in the spring and some of the plants flower conspicuously but can heath species such as Lemon Scented put on beautiful flushes of new growth Ti Tree (Leptospermum liversidgeii) as opportunity allows. contain natural insect repellents. This garden will look particularly good CREATING A WETLAND with well placed rocks - make them EXAMPLES: Broken Head Nature GARDEN look natural in their setting and try to Reserve and leave a few caves and crevices for our SOIL DESCRIPTION: bluetongue lizards. Peaty sands If you live in the low-lying parts of the The key species of this garden would Shire, the water table may be close most likely include the , to the surface and wet sclerophyll Casuarina, Grasstrees, Leptospermum, plants will best suit your garden. If small Melaleucas and local Peas. You you have a really boggy section some can even replace the lawn with a low of the plants that will happily occupy growing form of Kangaroo Grass. it and turn it into a feature include: Paperbarks, Banksia robur, Blueberry EXAMPLES: Arakwal National Park Ash, Cordyline, strappy grasses, and Tyagarah ferns and sedges – all can be used to great effect and will require little N.B. It should be realised before maintenance. Plant in groups and use embarking on the heath garden that your taller species in the background many of these plants are volatile; a to maximise the impression of space, buffer zone should be established whilst encouraging the pioneer species and maintained in areas prone to that may volunteer to add complexity bushfire. (Interestingly though, there to the theme. Visit the section on water are heath plants that are non-volatile features and aquatic plants (p32) for and form natural firebreaks. Further more ideas. information can be sourced from the RFS & CSIRO.) EXAMPLE: The western parts of the Tyagarah Nature Reserve or Cumbebin Wetlands boardwalk at Butler St in Byron Bay.

Coastal wetland (top); A selection of Pandanus (top) Littoral Rainforest species (centre) Photo: P Gray Photos: J Mayson My Local Native Garden 17 6 2 7 5 3 1 4 8 white flower delicate purpleand groundcover with Sprawling Native Violet Bushfood & edibleblueberries. dainty purpleflowers Lush, strappy leaves, Great clumpinggrass. Dianella pots Suitable forhanging flowers inspring. small white fragrant Thick leaved, stunning Hoya a bottlebrush flower spike resembling trunk anddelicate Grass treewithno Tree GrassCoastal Butterfly attractant reddish flower heads. tufting grass with Low maintenance GrassKangaroo habit to increasebushy Prune afterflowering throughout theyear. daisy-like flower An elegantwhite Flannel Flower flower in winter/spring bright purplepea like Dark, glossyleaves with Wanderer Happy screening scrambler summer –excellent flowers inspring/ large golden-yellow Well behaved vinewith Guinea Flower GROUNDCOVERS SCRAMBLERS & GRASSES EPIPHYTES SHRUBS & VINES/ AM 14 PALMS TREES 15 10 20 19 18 17 16 13 12 11 1 8 7 5 4 3 2 9 6 Wallum Banksia Dianella Snow insummer Pandanus Celery wood Bennetts Ash Blueberry Ash Broad-leaved LillyPilly Plum Myrtle Clumping Palm Lily Midgen Berry Cabbage Palm Happy Wanderer Guinea Flower Grass TreeCoastal Kangaroo Grass Flannel Flower Native Violet Swamp Banksia Hoya 10 9 COMMON NAME attractive paperbarktrunk flowers borninsummerwith Striking masses ofwhite summer Snow in lasting months fruits inautumn/winter large flower spikesand small tree/shrubwith A dramatic &sculptural Swamp Banksia Coastal Botanic Banksia aemula Dianella caerulea Melaleuca linariifolia Pandanus tectorius Polyscias elegans Flindersia bennettiana Eleaeocarpus reticulatus Syzygium hemilampra Pilidiostigma glabrum Cordyline congesta Austromyrtus dulcis Livistona australis Hardenbergia violacea Hibbertia scandens macronema Themeda australis Actinotus helianthi Viola hederaceae Banksia robur Hoya australis SC NAME 18 My Local Native Garden 30m 30m 30m cultivation) cultivation) cultivation) EGTWDHSNSAEWET SHADE SUN WIDTH HEIGHT 1.5m 1.7m 1.5m spreading 0.5m 0.2m spreading 0.1m spreading 0.1m 0.8m 10m 20m 6m 3m 2m 2m na na na (less in (less in (less in spreads 1.5m 1.5m 0.5m 0.3m 10m 8m 8m 8m 6m 5m 2m 2m 8m na na na ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ DRY ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ M. TOLERANT M=Medium H=high Protect from L=Low SALT wind M M M M M M M M H H H H H H H H H H H GROUNDCOVERS SCRAMBLERS & GRASSES EPIPHYTES SHRUBS & VINES/ AM 14 PALMS TREES 15 20 19 18 17 16 13 12 11 10 1 8 7 5 4 3 2 9 6 Wallum Banksia Dianella Pandanus Celery wood Bennetts Ash Blueberry Ash Broad-leaved LillyPilly Plum Myrtle Clumping Palm Lily Midgen Berry Snow insummer Cabbage Palm Happy Wanderer Guinea Flower Grass TreeCoastal Kangaroo Grass Flannel Flower Native Violet Swamp Banksia Hoya COMMON NAME Coastal Botanic Banksia aemula Dianella caerulea Pandanus tectorius Polyscias elegans Flindersia bennettiana Eleaeocarpus reticulatus Syzygium hemilampra Pilidiostigma glabrum Cordyline congesta Austromyrtus dulcis Melaleuca linariifolia Livistona australis Hardenbergia violacea Hibbertia scandens Xanthorrhoea macronema Themeda australis Actinotus helianthi Viola hederaceae Banksia robur Hoya australis SC NAME 30m 30m 30m cultivation) cultivation) cultivation) EGTWDHSNSAEWET SHADE SUN WIDTH HEIGHT 1.5m 1.7m 1.5m spreading 0.5m 0.2m spreading 0.1m spreading 0.1m 0.8m 10m 20m 6m 3m 2m 2m na na na 19 My Local Native Garden (less in (less in (less in spreads Clumping Palm Lily 1.5m 1.5m 0.5m 0.3m 10m 8m 8m 8m 8m 6m 5m 2m 2m na na na berries. Wildlife attractant berries. Wildlife Graceful linearplantwith and flowers indrooping sprays ofbright red fruit panicles. Birdattractant in spring/summerwith Low shrub–informal purple spottededible hedge White flowers Midgen Berry ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ 12 11 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ DRY ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ M. TOLERANT M=Medium H=high Protect from L=Low SALT wind M M M M M M M M H H H H H H H H H H H winter. Smalldark-purple spring/summer, globulous followed by small,round abundant white flowers purple flowers autumn/ blue fruit.Birdattractant 5-winged seedcapsule umbrella-like crown of Attractive red-pinknew Tall, graceful treewith tree withlargeclumps fruit. Wildlife attractant fruit. Wildlife spikes insummerRed with white or pink bell with white orpinkbell An attractive medium distinctive proproots Cabbage PalmCabbage Blueberry Ash Blueberry An elegant small tree An elegantsmalltree autumn/winter, then Cream-white flower fruit turningblack – Sculptural treewith leaves. Small,dark- fruit. Birdattractant growth habit.Large (female only),large Broad-leaved ornamental woody flowers on panicles flowers onpanicles Bennetts Ash strappy leaves and flowers insummer, Pretty foliagewith small pear-shaped Robust, sculptural Celery woodCelery tree withirregular foliage with cream foliage withcream Plum Myrtle Broad fanleaves. large orange fruit of white flowers, bird attractant Pandanus Lilly Pilly woody fruit Banksia purple fruit Wallum 14 13 16 15 18 17 20 19 Invasive Species

INVASIVE SPECIES ARE WHAT IS AN INTRODUCED SPECIES THAT ENVIRONMENTAL WEED? HAVE NATURALISED AND Some of the most invasive Indian Myna HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT species with the biggest impact Photo: W Gibney ON NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS. on our native bushlands have MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT escaped from gardens. These FOXES, RABBITS, CANE plants are environmental weeds space. Invasive vines such as TOADS AND INDIAN MYNAS and Australia’s 2006 State of the Morning Glory, Madeira Vine and ARE ALL INVASIVE SPECIES Environment Report identified Cats-claw Creeper are some of the BUT INVASIVE SPECIES ALSO weeds as ‘Australia’s second worst environmental weeds as they INCLUDES PARASITES, FUNGI, greatest threat to biodiversity after smother native plants, completely land-clearing.’ blocking photosynthesis and INSECTS AND WEEDS. can grow thick enough to break Environmental weeds are plants branches and bring down entire growing outside of their natural trees and shrubs. INVASIVE FAUNA distribution that have a negative Indian mynas and cane toads impact on the natural ecosystems HOW DO THE PLANTS ESCAPE are two of the most destructive and the plants and animals within FROM GARDENS? invasive species and may be found those ecosystems. These weeds Garden waste dumping is a serious in your garden. There are several are introduced into new areas by threat to native bushland as weeds things you can do to help limit the human activities. Sometime this is are directly spread into new areas. populations of toads and mynas. accidental such as via transport but But environmental weeds may also most often, plants are bought for be spread indirectly. Seeds can be 1.Grow your lawn longer because the home garden and then escape. dispersed by birds or bats, some toads and mynas love short In fact one hundred and twenty may be wind-blown or spread by manicured lawns four environmental weed species water and others still have sticky 2.Don’t feed these pests, this are still being sold in nurseries seeds that cling to clothing, pets or includes not leaving unattended across ! pet food outside even vehicles. Plants such as the 3.Toad proof your ponds and dams HOW CAN MY GARDEN Madeira vine spread vegetatively 4.Join the Indian Myna trapping PLANTS THREATEN and even a small leaf is enough program BIODIVERSITY? to start a new infestation. So 5.Join a Landcare toad buster group no matter how careful you are, Some introduced plants have a environmental weeds in your PETS direct impact on native animals. garden can still spread to natural For example the introduced It is important to remember that ecosystems. Best not to have them species Dutchman’s pipe has pets such as cats and dogs are in the first place. very similar leaves to the native introduced species and need to Richmond Birdwing Vine. When NOT ALL INTRODUCED be managed in a way that doesn’t the Richmond Birdwing butterfly SPECIES ARE A PROBLEM adversely affect our native fauna. accidentally lays its eggs on the Don’t let your pets roam freely and Many exotic species of plants from exotic plant the caterpillars are keep cats in the house, especially other parts of the world pose no poisoned. at night. threat at all. Roses, Gardenias and Most environmental weeds Azaleas are all exotic plants but simply out-compete native plants none of these have the potential to for light, water, nutrients and become invasive species.

34 My Local Native Garden Cane Toad Photo: W Gibney

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO STOP THE SPREAD OF ENVIRON- WEEDS – THE GOOD NEWS MENTAL WEEDS? Nature doesn’t like gaps. Wherever there is space to grow, something, (usually weeds) fills it. However in terms of looking 1.Learn which plants are after the environment, weeds can provide an important role in environmental weeds binding the soil together and providing habitat for native species. 2.Don’t plant environmental weeds There is nothing as bad as bare soil – this is an invitation for and gradually remove weeds erosion to take hold. Apart from losing precious topsoil, the runoff from your garden can lead to pollution of our waterways. It is imperative to have a 3.Plant local native species plan when attacking weeds – whether it’s for natural regeneration, 4.Buy plants from Bushland friendly (is there a native seedbank still active in your soil?) or a planting nurseries regime - consider what will take over when you remove the weeds. 5.Carefully dispose of environmental weeds and their seeds 6.Join your local Landcare or Dunecare group

Some of the exotic species introduced into Australian gardens that have escaped to become serious environmental weeds: , Elephant Ears, Small Leaved Privet, Buddleja, Glory Lily. Photos courtesy Byron Shire Council. My Local Native Garden 35 Other Points for Consideration

CULTIVARS genetic characteristics (resilience) to echidnas. Logs and rocks placed in survive over time; frost hardiness or protected areas around the garden When a naturally occurring plant drought tolerance may be reduced. will provide a home for frogs and has been ‘selected’ or changed by lizards while a rock placed in the the intentional actions of humans, Local nurseries that collect and morning sun will be appreciated by it is called a ‘cultivar’ (under the grow wild seed are performing a the local skinks. A birdbath placed International Code of Nomenclature valuable service in preserving the in an open sunny spot will attract for Cultivated Plants). Humans genetic resources of our native local birds, providing a reliable have been ‘improving” nature by bush. We ask you to please consider source of water and somewhere for cultivation for thousands of years; the importance of the natural them to cool off in summer. A shrub orange trees, tomatoes and wheat ecology and genetic integrity when located nearby will provide a safe are good examples. It is important designing your garden. retreat from predators. (For further to recognise that cultivated native information - see pond management plants are not the same as ‘local’ CREATING STRUCTURAL under the Aquatic Plants chapter.) natives or naturally occurring HABITAT FEATURES species. Be sure not to take rocks and To attract wildlife in your garden, it hollow logs from the bush where Cultivars often have fancy takes more than just plants. While they are already providing habitat names like ‘ Perth the flowers, fruit and protection for the wildlife. Pink’, which is a selected form provided by plants is important, of Callistemon salignus, a local features such as logs, rocks, leaf native plant. Cultivars can be litter and ponds create important identified where the abbreviation structural features that make your ‘cv’ is used. They are often bred to garden more inviting to a range flower more prolifically than ‘true’ of wildlife. Mulch, leaf litter, natives and if they are not sterile, sticks and bark forms the basis of may produce viable seed. For this the food pyramid in your garden reason, cultivars should never be ecosystem. These features provide reintroduced to bushland situations, habitat for worms and insects, or used in revegetation. If you live many of which are important in the near natural bush, be aware that the cycling of nutrients to the soil and cultivars and exotics in your garden in turn, provide a food source for may influence native vegetation lizards, birds, frogs, bandicoots and through the spread of seeds by birds or seedlings over time. Cultivars are very popular for gardens as they are seen as ‘improvements’ to the wild species. However they have potential to hybridise or cross with the native species, thus changing the genetics forever. The dangers in this are that the new species may not have the

Land Mullet (top) Coral Fungi (centre) Photos: R Hartlieb

36 My Local Native Garden Photo: J Mayson FUNGI IN THE GARDEN Artificial tree hollows, or ‘nest boxes’ can be used by a range of Fungi are a little known but vital animals as a replacement for natural component of all local ecosystems. hollows in the landscape. At least In any forest system, fungi rot down 10 mammals, 15 birds and 8 micro- wood and wood litter making bat species as well as some reptiles nutrients available for new growth. have been recorded using nest It is estimated 80-90% of all plants boxes in Australia. form mycorrhizal partnerships When deciding what sort of box with fungi – a mutually beneficial Davidson’s Plum, to install, identify what hollow- relationship where plants can Black Diamond Images acquire moisture and minerals using fauna occur in your area and use this to guide what type sooner from fungi than they could in one area for ease of harvesting. of box is appropriate to use. It is get themselves, whilst the fungi Please note the previous section not recommended to be providing find shelter in the tree roots - both on cultivars when choosing plants homes for some animals within a critical survival strategy during where there is a possibility their urban development or adjacent droughts. Excellent information seed may be spread into the bush. to busy roads. Consider the about Australian fungi can be found Our favourites include: Midgen consequences and potential risk to here: http://www.anbg.gov.au/fungi/ Berry, Macadamia Nut Tree, wildlife from road kill and attacks index.html You can also learn more Brush Cherry, Native Raspberry, by domestic pets. In busy urban about local fungi from the ongoing Davidson’s Plum, Native Tamarind areas nest boxes located high collection being blogged at http:// & Finger Lime. The Internet is a in trees targeting birds may be a calderafungi.blogspot.com. great resource for recipes – just preferred option. plug ‘Bushfood’ or the plant of NEST BOXES There are several nest box your choice into your web browser. Nest boxes in backyards are a manufacturers in Australia as Brunswick Valley Landcare has a great way to encourage many birds well as a number of publications download of species found in the around your house and can give that outline their design and local Yallakool reserve: http://www. your local possum an alternative construction – easily sourced from brunswickvalleylandcare.org.au/ home to your roof. Nest boxes the internet. The Bush Futures PLANT_LIST.pdf placed in rural areas can provide Project has an excellent brochure important habitat for a range of on nest boxes that can be found CLIMATE CHANGE species including birds, arboreal here: www.byron.nsw.gov.au/ A predicted increase in extreme (tree dwelling) mammals and environmental-resources. weather events in the form of more microbats. Many of these species severe droughts, more frequent BUSH FOOD play an important part in our fires and the possibility of greater ecosystem through pollination What could be more logical than variations in rainfall patterns, may of plants, dispersal of seeds and planting endemic species that lead to increased stress on plants regulating insect population. provide food for wildlife and and animals as they become people? Local plants are adapted progressively isolated in remnants to the conditions and rarely need of vegetation, (CSIRO 2007). All fertilisers, pesticides or additional the more reason why it is critically water once established. Some important to protect existing people like to dot their bushfood remnants and expand local wildlife plants around the garden so they corridors to offer some refuge and can have a nibble as they potter, provide our endemic plants and others prefer to create a ‘food forest’ animals a chance to adapt to these where all the edibles are clustered evolving conditions.

Photo: A Underwood

My Local Native Garden 37 LOCAL NURSERIES (Bush-Friendly)

Burringbar Rainforest Nursery Firewheel Rainforest Nursery Ph/fax (02) 6677 1088 http://www.firewheelnursery.com.au Upper Burringbar NSW 2483 Ph (02) 6689 5246 387 Dorroughby Road, Dorroughby NSW 2480 Eastern Forest Nursery (wholesale) www.easternforestnursery.com.au Ph (02) 6629 0353 Mullumbimby Creek Native Nursery 848 Bruxner Highway, Lismore, NSW 2480 www.mcnativenursery.com.au Ph (02) 6684 1703 Ragged Blossom Native Nursery (Bangalow) Lot 2 Yankee Creek Rd, via Wilson’s Creek Road, Ph: (02) 66871309 Mullumbimby NSW 2482

Brunswick Valley Landcare www.brunswickvalleylandcare.org.au