These days it’s easy to feel hopeless about the state of our environment. Insect diversity is plummeting and a lot of our native wildlife is endangered. But as a community we can all make small, positive changes for good. If you have a backyard, a balcony, courtyard or verandah you can grow plants that provide food, safety and security for our endangered wildlife. In this 2 hour workshop I describe how my organic, diverse approach to gardening has created a backyard filled with insects, frogs, reptiles, spiders and birds and explain how you can achieve the same in your garden too.

Topics covered will include:

• How to design a wildlife friendly garden from scratch, including trees, shrubs and flowers that entice wild animals into your garden
• The best plants to grow to improve insect diversity
• Why an organic, pesticide-free approach is essential to maximise insect diversity and protect native birds
• How and where to provide water-access in your garden for birds, lizards, bees, wasps and frogs
• What is a ‘beach’ for your pond, and why is it helpful
• How letting your herbs and salad greens go to flower will improve diversity in your garden
• Why healthy soil is vital in a wildlife friendly garden (and how to improve your own soil)

Light refreshments will be provided.

Piney Lakes Environmental Education Centre is accessed from the westbound lanes on Leach Hwy.

Casey Lister is a writer and passionate gardener living in Cottesloe in a little house with a rambling organic, edible and wildlife-friendly garden. She completed her PhD in psychology in 2019 but her first love has always been the garden. Her experience in academia has given her a passion for teaching and communicating and a drive to pursue scientific understanding in everything she does. These days, that applies to her garden,

Casey believes that the impacts of gardening are both profound and far-reaching. From providing us with food, physical activity and a sense of purpose, to alleviating anxiety, reducing depression, building connected communities and creating safe homes for native wildlife.; Casey believes these humble spaces are filled with enormous possibility.