Turn your garden into a natural oasis for you and local wildlife to enjoy by being part of the Living Connections at Bronte.
Do you have a garden placed at the comfort of your own home? If you answered yes, then why not consider helping out some of our small feathered friends who have been pushed out of their home?
Living Connections is a free program provided by the Council, seeking homeowners who are willing to turn their private garden at home into a natural oasis that would serve as a habitat for small birds such as the Superb fairy-wren and the New Holland honeyeater.
These two birds are now rarely seen in our gardens since they are confined at the coastal reserves. This is mainly due to the fact that our present habitat corridors are too fragmented, and it is hard for these birds to move around, to feed, and even to reproduce.
Living Connections is currently available for Bronte and Tamarama residents only. However, this program hopes to expand further to other suburbs soon depending on the funding they receive.
If you sign up to this program, each participant will receive the following:
- Tailored garden advice from experts
- Free plants and resources to help create an effective urban oasis
- Guidance in creating a garden sanctuary for small birds
By taking part in the Living Connections program, you will be able to contribute to a healthy green neighbourhood where birds can grow and thrive. To join Living Connections at Bronte, you may email Vicky Bachelard at vicky.bachelard@waverley.nsw.gov.au.
Here is an infographic showing the complete process and path of each member joining Living Connections:
Click here for more information about Living Connections.
BYO Bird Garden
For those of you who do not have any idea on how to create a garden suitable for small birds, here is a list of tips you must follow provided by the Birds in Backyards:
- Always work from the ground up. Make sure the soil in your garden is healthy.
- Don’t start from scratch. Add plants to your garden and let them establish first before removing any unwanted vegetation.
- It would be best to put in a variety of locally native plants that are suitable for birds.
- Create density in your garden by having shrubs and hedges that would serve as protection, food, and nest sites for small birds.
- Put in a bird bath or two in your garden.
- Allow birds to forage for food naturally in your garden rather than feeding them.
- Always protect your local birds from your pets.
