Transforming Our Nature Strips into a Resource for Nature by: Jim Williams

Nature Strip Update

Some 32 months ago, we commenced the transformation of our nature strip from a misused and neglected wasteland into a wonderful “native” nature strip. The intent was for the land to be used by nature and to walk the walk.

The first comment is that the endeavour has been supported wonderfully by our neighbours and indeed has now spread to include some of their areas and is ongoing. Being someone who champions nature’s ability to restore itself, the species planted are indigenous to the local area whilst meeting the BCC generous guidelines. It really does hearten me to see our council support residents, who are wanting to do this.

The project continues to evolve with climate and time, as I witness nature reclaiming the microenvironment. In reflection, would I have changed any of the journey? Probably not, for me the key is to respect what nature intends, to the best of my ability and knowledge.

Seeing Nature

One example for me was accepting that the soil is indeed very poor, just as evolution has deemed, so no effort was needed in trying to change this. Indigenous plants have this provenance and in our circumstance an exposed location with full sun, NW aspect.

The other often overlooked aspect is forest litter (mulch.) What and how much? Well, the answers are very simple to determine, look at healthy weed free natural bush of a similar environment, down on hands and knees. You will see very thin layered forest litter (typically only maybe 10 -30mm).

Once again, this is the result of evolution, in the natural world. It is illogical to think that we somehow know better, I find it all very straight forward and achievable, simply by not trying to control nature and try simply respecting it instead. Nature is my educator, not my servant and I like an “Eco Driven” approach rather than “Ego Driven”.

Competition in the natural world is everywhere, it aids resilience for species that manage to survive and adapt (C Darwin). Once again to see this, simply go into an area of healthy bush and observe how the natural world shows us the results of competition. For me, the point to be observed here is that very rarely do we see plants growing in isolation in a natural environment. It would be a foreign unnatural world. So, when planting natives, I always plant crowded communities, a variety of indigenous species of different lifeforms. Being close to one another, thereby promoting competition. In the long term the toughest will survive, as nature intends.

A challenge

Gardening is not my forte, I am very much aligned with natural bush regeneration, allowing nature to be in control and not my ego. So, the nature strip project had placed me outside of my preferred place. 32 months ago, a naturally occurring grass (Cyperus gracilis) and a herb (Plantago debilis) had somehow managed to survive, everything else was to be gardening and needed planting, watering and lightly mulching.

One small area, maybe only 2m x 1m has been mass seeded with a variety of locally collected grass seed. One section (1m x 1m), the seed has been treated with fire and smoke whilst the other, not. Time will tell and may be of some interest.

Messy is good.

The bush (our natural world) is messy and I love the natural world. So, our nature strip intrinsically reflects this. It gives me a wonderful sense of “welcome home to nature” when I approach home, often with kookaburras sitting on the fence eyeing the lizards darting between the clumps of tussock grasses, fallen branches and forest litter.

I would prefer to place some rock and hollow decaying logs; however the guidelines do not allow for this, which I respect. It is also rewarding to see the postie drive along the “native grass pathway” each day, sharing a journey through the evolving landscape.

Maintenance

Up to 15 minutes a month is spent maintaining the nature strip. If a long dry period presents itself, I will water from tanks once every couple of weeks, until the plants are well established. The 1.2m width footpath space (council requirement), is kept short grass (mass planted with Cyperus gracilis) and any overhanging branches are kept pruned well back to allow for foot traffic and the postie’s motorbike. If the native tussock grasses grow above knee height, they are pruned back.

As the environment evolves it does tend to support the natural germination of native trees that would not normally be welcomed on a nature strip (Eucalyptus etc), so these are kept well pruned back. The gutter is regularly kept free of debris so that the overall endeavour is well presented to the public.

Then and Now:
So good, So easy, So worthwhile.

March 2022 compared to November 2024. Click to enlarge.

See the original listing including the plant list here.