Residents boosting our native habitat

Our Backyard Habitat program saw many happy residents receive their free native plants this week straight to their front door.

Over 2,000 plants were delivered to 750 residents from Palm Beach to Manly, including some of our offshore community.

Greg from Scotland Island said “the Sandpaper Fig will take pride of place at the entrance to my yard, with the Goodenia in a small patch visible from the deck.”

Norma from Dee Why said “I have just moved to Australia, so have up until now not had a chance to get plants that attract birds and insects…so I’m excited to be chosen.”

Alice, Hailey and Erica of Allambie Heights said they were excited to help their dad plant native trees in their new garden.

The program is designed to encourage the community to create a native habitat garden at home, attracting birds, bees, butterflies and other native species.

Each household that signed up to the program received three native plants to care for, with the plants carefully selected from 23 species, depending on the resident’s location and environment. 

All the plants were caringly propagated by our Bushcare volunteers, using locally-sourced seeds. Propagation is carried out all year-round at Council’s community nurseries at Manly Dam and Curl Curl, where more than 25,000 seedlings are grown annually for replanting in our bushland reserves.

Due to COVID-19, our volunteers are at home and were are not able to use these plants as intended; namely new plantings to help regenerate public bushland, parks and reserves, as well as gifts for new Australian citizens.

Council staff are considering a second round of the program later this year. Find out more on the Backyard Habitat program.