The Urban Wildlife Gardens program continues to achieve its objectives with the support that comes from being part of NICA and the funding provided by Noosa Council through their Alliance Partnership.
In the 2023/24 financial year UWG won the 2023 Noosa Biosphere Award in the Land Category against a strong field of finalists including commercial and eco based enterprises. UWG was nominated by a newly joined member who was blown away by the service we provided. The Award demonstrated the quality of our service to members and recognised that we compared very favourably with other bodies in providing a service that was needed in the community.
Another highlight has been the steady increase in members. From 162 at the end of last year our number has grown to 204, and 250 is in sight.
UWG has successfully achieved its core objective of providing a service for urban landowners who want to create gardens that enhance biodiversity to support and encourage native wildlife.
The provision of ongoing support and information to members and other interested people is facilitated by the Noosa Council Alliance funding. Funding was also gratefully received from Cooroy RSL and Member for Noosa Sandy Bolton MP.
We engage local experts to present regular workshops on a variety of practical urban wildlife topics that support the aims and objectives of the program. We also run a series of open wildlife gardens to show how individuals have used native plants to create wildlife havens.
UWG has been successful in having articles about wildlife gardening in urban areas published in local media throughout the Noosa Shire, including in ‘Your Local Lifestyle’, ‘Noosa Today’, ‘Cooroy Rag’ and ‘Eumundi Voice’.
What’s in the future for UWG?
The Urban Wildlife Garden subcommittee is working on a dedicated website in order to move ahead with its targeted approach to member recruitment and involvement. The subcommittee believe this will increase the UWG reach, provide further resources to the general community and UWG members, and support the administration and governance of the program.
There will also be an increased focus on developing the social aspect of the program to better engage with existing and new members.
Social media is an increasingly effective way to engage and build relationships with UWG members and the wider community. UWG encourages members to contribute on our Facebook Group by providing engaging and useful content.
Improved engagement with Noosa Council and Council Programs.
This year a Council Officer has joined the UWG subcommittee. His role in Council is Climate Change Adaption Coordinator with expertise aligning with the aims of UWG.
UWG is planning a second edition of our Handbook ‘What’s in your Garden’ and we would like to see Council retain copies and make these available as handouts to the general community at local events.
Improved engagement with UWG Members and other groups.
Providing meaningful and relevant information makes us better able to maintain members’ interest in the program and its objectives. This is well managed through newsletters and web-based methods.
We aim to be more effective through further regular workshops covering a range of practical and environmental topics to assist members to improve the biodiversity in their own native gardens.
During the year we have increased our engagement with other groups and programs including:
- A presentation to Noosa Tewantin Garden Club.
- Engagement with Backyards for Biodiversity through a guided tour of John Birbeck’s Black Mountain native garden.
- A Snake workshop presented by Dan Rumsey from Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers.
- A presentation by naturalist and photographer Tony Wellington on regional futures and expansion of land with environmental protection.
- A presentation by Noosa Council representatives on Climate Resilience and Adaptation.
- A month long UWG Promotional Publicity Display in Cooroy Library during June.
- A Native Garden Clinic in conjunction with Noosa and District Landcare at their Pomona Hinterhub.
- A guided tour of the Cooroy Adventure Playground.
