Learn how to create a welcoming habitat for native birds and wildlife in your backyard with expert advice and free native tubestock.
Thursday 7 May 2026
to Saturday 30 May 2026
6:30pm - 8:00pm
360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122, Australia
Free
Discover the joy of transforming your garden into a safe haven for native animals and birds. This engaging project offers hands-on workshops, garden tours, and expert consultations designed to inspire and equip you to enhance local biodiversity.
You will receive personalized landscape gardening advice from a professional designer and a voucher for 20 native tubestock to kickstart your habitat garden. This is a wonderful opportunity for families and residents across Boroondara to connect with nature right at home.
The program includes interactive evening workshops, guided tours of local gardens, and a special visit to the Victorian Indigenous Nurseries Cooperative to collect your native plants.
The project runs from Thursday 7 May to Saturday 30 May 2026, featuring a series of events:
- Workshop 1: Soils – 7 May, 18:30 to 20:00 at Hawthorn Arts Centre
- Workshop 2: Creating a habitat garden – 14 May, 18:30 to 20:00 at Hawthorn Arts Centre
- Maranoa Gardens tour – 16 May, 10:00 to 11:30 at Maranoa Botanic Gardens, Balwyn
- Workshop 3: Small birds – 21 May, 18:30 to 20:00 at Hawthorn Arts Centre
- Previous participants garden tours – 23 May, 10:00 to 11:00 in Ashburton
- VINC tour and tube stock collection – 30 May, 10:00 to 11:30 at Victorian Indigenous Nurseries Cooperative, Fairfield
Additionally, you can book a free landscape garden consultation for your garden, balcony, or courtyard. Only one consultation and voucher per household is available.
Most workshops are held at the Hawthorn Arts Centre, located at 360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn VIC 3122, a well-equipped and accessible venue.
Garden tours take place at Maranoa Botanic Gardens in Balwyn and in Ashburton, offering a chance to see biodiversity in action.
The final event, including tube stock collection, is at the Victorian Indigenous Nurseries Cooperative on Yarra Bend Road, Fairfield.
All locations are accessible by public transport and have parking options nearby. Families are encouraged to attend multiple events to maximize their learning and enjoyment.
Places are limited and registration is essential to secure your spot in workshops and consultations.
Members of the same household can apply, but only one voucher and consultation will be provided per residence.
If you are renting, please obtain written permission from your landlord before planting native tubestock.
For those unable to attend in person, online biodiversity-themed webinars will be available throughout the year to continue learning and engagement.
Participation in the Backyard Biodiversity Project is free of charge.
To register, contact the Urban Biodiversity team by phone at (03) 9278 4333 or via email at [email protected]
Early registration is recommended due to limited places. Take advantage of this free opportunity to enhance your garden’s wildlife habitat and connect with your community.
