If you’d like to attract more wildlife to your garden, a team of volunteers is happy to share their expertise.
Sunday December 5 is International Volunteer Day, as observed by the United Nations. The theme in 2021 is: Volunteer now for our common future.
And helping out the environment is one of the best things we can all do to make our common future a bright one.
Warrnambool City Council established the Gardens for Wildlife program in May 2020.
Despite several delays due to COVID-19, a team of dedicated green thumbs has been offering free on-site consultations with property owners looking to make their gardens more appealing to local birds, animals and insects.
One such green thumb is Merran Moir.
Ms Moir said that she had volunteered at her children’s school before, but branching out with the Gardens for Wildlife program was something new.
“It’s been a really wonderful experience because the volunteers you meet have similar values and there’s such a bank of knowledge, I’ve learnt so much already,” she said.
“We do a site visit with the owner and they talk about what kind of wildlife they would like to attract to their garden and we go away and write a report.
“The property owners get that report with suggestions of what they can do, and they get a booklet full of ideas as well as some plants to start them on their journey.”
Ms Moir encouraged everyone to consider volunteering in an area that they have a passion in.
“I think you meet like-minded people and it’s just a really good feeling to be doing things to improve the world,” she said.
The first phase of the Gardens for Wildlife program is already fully booked, but you can learn more about it at www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/gardens-wildlife
