Guest speaker: Mel from Brunswick Communities for Nature

BC4N is a volunteer-run community group that helps local residents convert grassed nature strips and open spaces into indigenous native gardens.

 

Nature strips are targeted as they’re visible, connect habitats, and can create joined-up areas for pollinators. Drought tolerant nature strips can be low maintenance and reduce weeds, as standard nature strips are weed carriers. Converting your nature strip can also reduce those pesky Indian myna birds and bring other species to the yard such as wattlebirds and marbled geckos. What’s not to love!

 

The native plant species are indigenous to the Western Volcanic Plains. Critically endangered plants have another chance when used in nature strips.

 

It’s often difficult to get indigenous plants affordably, and that’s where BC4N can help, with growing plants and selling them at low cost to the public. CERES in Brunswick is another option. All the plants supplied comply with Merri-bek Council requirements.

 

C4N can also help you decide where your plants can go, once you’ve prepared your nature strip with layers of cardboard and thick mulch that has sat for a few months at least.

 

Mel’s advice for converting your nature strip is to start right now (September): lay down that cardboard and mulch so it completely covers the grass and edges. Then you wait until autumn, removing weeds as they appear. Get around 100 or even 200 plants for a mass planting in autumn. And wait some more, until summer arrives. The following summer your lovely plants may look sad and droopy, but don’t worry be happy and do nothing, because the old growth protects against weeds.

 

A standout fact was that it takes as little as three people propogating and supplying plants to serve a whole suburb. You just need a bit of space for the plants to grow!

 

Thank you Mel for an outstanding presentation!

 

You can find BC4N at https://brunswickc4n.wordpress.com/ and on Facebook at