“We want Geelong to get a little wilder!”
Kelli Lavelle is one of the enthusiastic members of Geelong Gardens for Wildlife (GGFW), an initiative that got underway locally in 2024, stemming (excuse the pun!) from Gardens for Wildlife Victoria. The group are all about giving advice to make your home garden more attractive to our native wildlife.
“As a group of passionate volunteer garden guides, we give practical and easy suggestions to transform a home garden into somewhere a little more wildlife friendly and a place where nature can flourish. Through an easy process of a garden visit, the garden guides will recommend plants to include in your garden to bring in the pollinators, birds, and even amphibians. After the visit residents receive a report and a bonus voucher for a local indigenous nursery to get planting (subject to grant funding limits). The boon with these indigenous plants is they are totally suited to our region and once established, they are flying and you will be rewarded every day with your flourishing garden.”
After initially requesting a guide to visit her own garden for advice, Kelli decided to sign up to be a guide herself.
“I love gardening yet am certainly no expert in local indigenous flora and fauna, but as a fledgling garden guide we all have to start somewhere. The adage learning by doing applies to me here. I have initiated a demonstration garden site in South Geelong, thanks to the support of Barwon Water and the talented team at GGFW. This meadow garden highlights the beauty and diversity of our local indigenous flora and provides a living example to passers-by of what can be created in their own gardens. Given 60% of urban land is owned privately, there are so many potential gardens out there which can become wildlife friendly.”
While new to GGFW, Kelli has already been proactively supporting her community and nature for quite some time.
“Inspired by Hugh McKay (social researcher extraordinaire who wrote that ‘if you want to change the state of the nation, you need to start in your own street’) I started a ‘grow free’ basket, exchanging fresh home grown produce on the front fence with my neighbours. As a parent and in my work at a school’s kitchen garden program, l know how important nature is for children and for everyone’s wellbeing.”
Kelli has also spent many years tree planting for local Landcare and Rewilding groups on the Surfcoast.
“While satisfying, l realised l was neglecting the urban areas of Geelong. Rather than despairing about the loss of green open space around where l live, the lack of biodiversity, the poor state of our urban ‘parks’ l decided to take action. And now there is potential everywhere l look!”
Kelli sees Geelong Gardens for Wildlife as a great way to create a healthy urban environment for all of Geelong to enjoy.
“If l were to dream, l see nature strip pollinator corridors stretching from one end of Geelong to the other, native bees and butterflies galore, ably supported by every private garden in Geelong with a space for wildlife, no matter how small.”
The great news is that if you’re a Geelong resident, you too can easily be part of this dream simply by booking a Gardens for Wildlife garden visit on the City of Greater Geelong website Gardens for Wildlife – City of Greater Geelong. And if you’re interested in learning about how to become a GG4W Garden Guide email geelonggardensforwildife@gmail.com. You’ll likely meet someone like Kelli who’ll encourage you to make a positive difference to our local environment from your own backyard!
“We can all read the appalling statistics about biodiversity loss and extinctions which we humans are responsible for. Turn that around. Get involved for yourself! Gardeners are fit, happy and contented people, bird song is shown to bring us joy, cooking up your own home grown salt bush crisps will impress any dinner guest. Go on, l dare you, get a little wilder!”
HuG 