Announcing my favourite park in Brisbane

A short drive from the CBD, Bellbird Grove is located inD'Aguilar National Park, formally the site of Brisbane Forest Park.It is a favorite example of a parkland space set in Brisbane Eucalypt Forest.  The expansive recreational spaces are fringed with open eucalypt woodlands, scribbly gum forests and, in the lower regions wet eucalypt forest.  This diversity of ecosystems create a large habitat, supporting a variety of native creatures.

Many of our local native animals to South East Queensland are in population decline so it is exciting to find spaces so close to the city which support such diversity.  Some of the species that I have seen include brown bandicoots, lace monitors, and hundreds of bird species.  These animals congregate in different sections of the park according to their favoured habitat and it is exciting to meander through these spaces, able to experience native animals living in harmony.

Most of us living in the city would love the experience of seeing native animals more often, but believe they cannot afford the space to host a large naturalistic environment in our backyard.  Luckily, there are ways to emulate the natural landscape at all scales, and with consideration creatures can be drawn into our garden and courtyard spaces.

Some simple starters include:

• Plant native species either to replace exotics, or plant in combination with favorite species (it's delightful to see so many beautiful, lush native available in nurseries).
• Plant food species as a boundary planting (such as Lillypilly, Syzygium austral) to provide food for possums (and direct them away from other species!).

The key to creating a successful habitat is by inviting all creatures.Providing space for insects you encourage many bird species, butterflies and bees.For example, in a tiny courtyard you could provide a Sedge (Lepironia articulate), attracting our native blue bummed bees who like to socialise at dusk on the fine sedge stalks, or offer a Cunjevoi (Alocasia brisbanensis) to attract the Cruria donowani butterfly.

By these small considerations being employed in backyards across Brisbane, patches of rich habitat will eventually link to create corridors supporting our native animals.

Both enriching our own lives and supporting the green footprint of South East Queensland.

Image : SEED Landscape Design