In 2021 our neighbours informed us they wanted to fence between our properties and we saw it as an opportunity to make a feature of the fence line. Where there had just been a narrow mulched garden bed, we decided to create a more diverse habitat area that we could appreciate from our kitchen window. Mark built a post and rail fence and ‘gate’ in front of the dog wire fence. We installed a bird bath, dug and landscaped a small pond and started planting.
Lomandras, carex, knobby club rush and goodenia were planted around the pond with some other potted sedges, rushes and nymphoides in the pond for frog habitat. To the right of the gate we planted some macaranga trees and in front some feature grasstrees and cordylines in tubs. An existing acacia growing on an angle over the pond was getting lower and had to be removed.
The macarangas grew very quickly and the grasses and ground covers around the pond thickened within months. Since then we have been excited to see the variety of wildlife that has been attracted to the small habitat area and drinking from the pond and bird bath. The local kangaroos visit and a brush turkey, pheasant coucal and more recently a buff banded rail have taken up residence in the trees and grasses to the left of the pond. I have enjoyed taking photos from my kitchen window of all our visitors.
Vanessa and Mark Presling
