Monday 4 April 2016

Homes and habitat

As the smoke wafts through the air are you wondering how to find a happy balance between lifestyle choices and habitat values for wildlife? A publication from the Nature Conservation Council- Creating bird-friendly gardens in bush fire prone areas can provide an answer. Here’s an excerpt.

Many people live near the bush to see and hear native birds and other wildlife. Having them visit makes a garden more interesting and habitat gardens help wildlife by providing stepping-stones to bushland. 

However, living near the bush can also bring the risk of bush fire. One of the main ways to reduce the risk is a well-designed and maintained garden that acts as an Asset Protection Zone (APZ). An APZ is a fuel-reduced area surrounding a built asset such as a house or shed. It is a key element in reducing the impact of bush fire along with house and property maintenance and a Bush Fire Survival Plan. 

An APZ can also provide habitat and offer food, shelter and water for native animals. This fact sheet is a guide to creating an APZ that attracts birds and other wildlife and helps protect your home from bush fire. 

A local resource is Landcare Fact Sheet 9- Fire Retardant Plants . It contains plants suitable for our area. You can pick up a copy at the Landcare Office or download it. 

A visit to the demonstration garden at the Toronto Fire Station is also inspirational to view the Fire Retardant Garden.

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