BUSH FRIENDLY GARDENS – DESIGN STUDENTS HELP

The Wolli Creek Preservation Society is happy to have a group of final year design students working with us to promote bush-friendly gardening to residents living alongside the Wolli Creek Regional Park.

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) runs a Shopfront program which connects students with not-for-profit organisations to work on authentic real-world projects as part of their learning experience.

The students will work with us to develop a video, flyer and online information about the impact gardens can have on the Regional Park.

WCPS President Chris Jordens and I walked with the students from Tempe station through to Girrahween Park. The first stop was to visit Lydia Feng whose small garden is close to the entrance of the Regional Park. Lydia took us through her native plantings, many of them indigenous to the area, and described the results she has had with insects and small birds visiting the garden. She also described the plants she has removed or avoided to prevent them escaping into the bush and becoming pests.

Our walk continued through the Regional Park, giving the students a chance to better understand the beauty and history of the valley, climbing Nannygoat Hill and visiting the bat camp. There were plenty of invasive weeds to show them, and areas where run off from urban stormwater is being managed.

It was great to see young people enjoying the bush and to hear their enthusiasm for helping us protect it.

Susie Cornish

Committee Member