Students get their hands dirty for wildlife

A group of early learners from Haileybury’s City Campus in West Melbourne have learned more about local wildlife and increasing biodiversity within the school’s terrace gardens as part of the City of Melbourne’s Gardens for Wildlife program. 

Lord Mayor Sally Capp visited the group of three- to four-year-old students on December 8 at the school’s terrace, which is used throughout the year by students, as well as Gardens for Life volunteers, educators and families. 

A partnership with Westgate Biodiversity: Bili Nursery and Landcare and community members, the free program sees trained volunteers visit private land to provide insights on improving spaces for wildlife.

With the support of volunteers and educators, Haileybury’s terrace garden is maintained to provide a place for plantings of natives, edibles and further learning opportunities – including cooking with home-grown produce. 

The program also places a big focus on Indigenous learning, with Haileybury’s Early Learning Centre having engaged an Indigenous artist to create a gathering circle for the children on the terrace which has held cultural classes on topics such as story symbols.

With around three quarters of the land in the municipality under private ownership, the council said landowners played a big role in ensuring the city had healthy ecosystems and thriving biodiversity. •