Join an Urban Regeneration Group
Community groups are helping to rehabilitate weed-choked native vegetation, enabling it to regenerate, and thus restoring native biodiversity. Find your local group and lend a hand.
If not for many years of neglect, our urban creeks, parks and roadways could be vibrant with indigenous vegetation. It's time for us to remedy this erosion of our natural heritage. We can bring a rich array of birds and creatures into our daily lives. In addition, we would be creating a sustainable living space in step with Australian conditions. If we regenerated astutely we could even lower the temperature in our cities and make them more pleasurable places.
How to do it now!
Find an urban regeneration group in your community.
Create a native or indigenous garden - Convert your patch (or even just a part of it) to a larder for local birds and wildlife. (See our 'Grow an Indigenous Garden' action for some great tips and hints). Visit Council’s demonstration nature strip located in front of the Centre for Community, Beryl Street for ideas of suitable plants for your own garden or nature strip.
Contact your local council - Many city councils, rivers and creeks have community groups working to improve and regenerate neglected and degraded natural areas. Bushcare groups, 'Friends of ...' groups or simply concerned citizens pick up rubbish, work with councils and raise funds for local regeneration projects.
Find a group online - The following sites have regeneration groups in urban and rural areas and may list a group local to you:
- Greening Australia (National)
- Landcare (National)
- Sustainability Street (National)
- Conservation Volunteers (National)
Regenerate your street - This will improve shade to the roads and reduce heat absorption (and storage) in summer. Please check with Council's Parks and Gardens staff for advice before planning trees and shrubs on your footpath. They can assist you to choose plants suited to our arid region whilst maintaining an attractive streetscape.
Even better, get your neighbours together and plant out your nature strip with native plants or create an 'edible street' using fruit trees. Of course check with your local council first!
Why this action is important?
Raising the quality of the natural environment in our local rivers, creeks, parks and roads increases our appreciation of nature and our day-to-day enjoyment of life.
Walking out your front door into a shaded street on a hot day and seeing a flock of Rainbow Lorikeets playing in a flowering gum helps us to feel relaxed and healthy and encourages a sense of community in our neighbourhoods. It's good for the environment and good for you!