Appreciating our natural environment

For Bedfordale residents Kelvin and Emma Wright, the City of Armadale’s Environmental Habitat Links program has assisted them to increase their canopy of native plants on their hills property.

Habitat Links is the City’s private land conservation program, which endeavours to conserve natural areas, promoting the importance of ecological corridors and habitat for wildlife to the wider community.

As part of the program Kelvin and Emma, along with other participants, received free native seedlings and the support of a dedicated Environmental Officer to assist in enhancing the biodiversity and health of their properties and its natural environment.

Every year the City encourages eligible residents to sign up to the program with 126 property owners participating this year. The Wrights joined the program in 2021, with a desire to increase their canopy of native plants to attract more birds and bees to their property.

All of the Habitat Links participants are entered in a competition for the Annual Habitat Links Prize. The Wrights were drawn as the winners of the 2023 Prize - a small tree popper, which is a type of weeding tool and will make removing unwanted weeds from their hills property easier.

Mayor Ruth Butterfield said many hands make light work around the garden – and so does a weed popper, which is designed for easy removal of woody weeds.

“Over a number of years the program has provided residents with countless plants, this year alone the program provided over 8,000 dryland and wetland plants to participants.

“Participants also receive advice on native plant species selection, planting techniques to maximise survival, weed management, feral animal management, creating wildlife habitat and erosion management.

“The program has been very successful and every year we attract more eligible landowners who are keen to encourage wildlife to their properties, with suitable native plants, and increase the biodiversity on their land,” said Mayor Butterfield.