Private land and property owners play a big role ensuring the city has a healthy ecosystem with thriving biodiversity. They manage around three-quarters of land in our municipality The City of Melbourne Gardens for Wildlife program supports the community in using this land and their gardens to provide habitat for local wildlife.

We encourage everyone to create space in their garden for wildlife, providing a habitat with indigenous plants or suitable alternatives. No matter how big or small, every space can make an important contribution to the ecosystem and nature in our city.

It's been more than five years since Gardens for Wildlife Melbourne commenced. Whether you participated as a gardener, a volunteer Garden Guide, or attended an event, thank you for your contribution to this program.

We created this page to celebrate what we have achieved this far, share upcoming events and create space for you to share your experiences and ideas.

On this page you can:
  • Join our conversation board, and comment or like on other posts.
  • View our interactive maps of Garden visits completed in the City of Melbourne so far.
  • Register for speaker series events that provide an opportunity to hear from exciting speakers, learn and collaborate with our network of habitat gardeners.
  • Follow this page to receive updates about Gardens for Wildlife Melbourne.

Next event: Rare plants

Learn about conservation horticulture and how to incorporate rare plants into your garden. Saturday 18 October 9:30am to 12:00pm, Kensington.

Timeline

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    City of Melbourne and Westgate Biodiversity Bili Nursery and Landcare agree to partner on a Gardens for Wildlife Melbourne

    2018

  • Timeline item 2 - complete

    Community Working Group commences co-design of a Gardens for Wildlife Program specific to the City of Melbourne

    March 2019

  • Timeline item 3 - complete

    Gardens for Wildlife Melbourne becomes an affiliate member of Gardens for Wildlife Victoria

    2019

  • Timeline item 4 - complete

    Gardens for Wildlife Melbourne commenced garden visits

    November 2019

  • Timeline item 5 - complete

    Virtual visits offered as an alternative to in-person garden visits during Covid-19

    April 2020

  • Timeline item 6 - complete

    In-person garden visits recommenced (virtual option continues)

    March 2021

  • Timeline item 7 - complete

    Gardens for Wildlife Melbourne began hosting community workshops in addition to garden visits

    2022

  • Timeline item 8 - complete

    Milestone achieved of 100 garden visits attended by volunteer Garden Guides

    May 2023

  • Timeline item 9 - complete

    Gardens for Wildlife Speaker Series introduced as an opportunity for our network of habitat gardeners, to learn and collaborate through a series of online sessions

    2024

  • Timeline item 10 - complete

    Program review survey open for feedback

    23 June to 30 September 2025

  • Timeline item 11 - active

    Analysis of program review survey

    Mid-late 2025

  • Timeline item 12 - incomplete

    Feedback from the program review survey shared

    Late 2025

Resources

Illustration of a bee with the words 'City of Melbourne gardens for wildlife' and a navy circle

Contact us

Have questions or want to learn more about the project?