Volunteers bounce back at WBBNL
After two difficult, COVID-affected years, Westgate Biodiversity and Bili Nursery Landcare is set to relaunch its volunteer program. Starting soon in the nursery, potential volunteers who have previously expressed an interest will be contacted with the aim of ramping up activities through April. WBBNL’s…
Yabbies’ many roles in ecosystems
Whether eating or being eaten, yabbies play a vital role in wetland ecosystems such as Westgate Park. Yabbies have been recorded in the park for more than a decade. Here’s a sighting from a survey conducted on 15/11/2010: “It was exciting to find a…
Channel 9 ‘postcards’ at Park
On Sunday, 13 Feb, Channel 9’s Postcards went to air featuring Westgate Park and a ride on the punt to Newport. If you missed it, see it here.
Unlocking secrets of samphire
Westgate Park is home to the only area of saltmarsh to be found between the Yarra and the Mornington Peninsula. And native samphire (Sarcocornia quinqueflora), a succulent and edible plant, is a vital part of the saltmarsh environment. But there is a big problem…
How many river red gums in a propagation tray?
We’ve been having some notable successes at the Bili Nursery over recent months. Here’s a tray of river red gum seedlings (eucalyptus camaldulensis) prior to pricking out. Have a guess how many potentially towering trees there are in this tray. I seriously underestimated the…
January break at nursery
Bili Nursery will be closed on Saturday – 15, 22 and 29 January- opening again Saturday 5 February. If you need plants, the nursery is still open Monday to Friday. See you there!
Opening hours over the break
Bili Nursery Open over Christmas, other than public holidays: 9 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday. 525 Williamstown Road, Port Melbourne Bili Landcare Resumes Monday and Wednesday working days at Westgate Park after 10 January 2022 Call 0492 972 652 for information on…
Garden gift ideas for Christmas
The tree that just keeps giving Black she-oak (allocasuarina littoralis) is available at the Bili Nursery in mantelpiece- or shelf-friendly sizes, perfect for a splash of seasonal greenery and decoration. And once the celebrations are over, plant a sapling to mature into a very…
Weed fightback
Weeds are now a major problem at Westgate Park and the focus of our volunteer efforts there. However, we have discovered that many of our indigenous species are holding their own against the invasion. Dense shrubs like Pomaderris paniculosa – Coast Pomaderris and Dodonaea…
Bili Nursery reopens to public
We’re back from 9 am Friday 20th October, and we’re having a bit of a sale to welcome customers to our outdoor home in Williamstown Road. Now that COVID restrictions have been eased, Westgate Biodiversity’s Bili Nursery will once again be able to sell…