A critical element in sustaining biodiversity is to engage with all stakeholders. The Urban Development Institute of Australia (WA Division) have recently released a Policy Document (to view click here).
It is encouraging that their recommended actions include ‘Improve environmental outcomes’. They also include ‘Foster a liveable city’ and while their vision and ours may not immediately align – these areas provide points contact to open a conversation.
NatureLink Perth will be assessing this document to assess their perspective, identify opportunities and barriers and inform potential ways forward for nature sensitive urban design. We would value your thoughts. Email us.

Events

Upcoming events are provided here. Do you have an event coming up? Let us know.

So much happening at the moment! We’ll keep this brief and you can click on the links to find out what’s on offer. Thanks for sending in your events – the network grows…

EnviroFEST

NatureLink Perth will be presenting this event.
DATE: Saturday 30 March | 10am–3pm
VENUE: Village West, Whiteman Park
COST:  Free
For more information click 
Here or for the program click Here
Discover ways to become more ‘green’ and sustainable at home at this fun, family-friendly environmental event!

Birdlife Australia: Act for Birds

Community Forum 
DATE: Tuesday 9 April | 6pm–8:30pm
VENUE: Tamala Room, WA Ecology Centre, Bold Park
COST: Free 
For more information click Here
Join the BirdLife Australia campaigns team in Perth alongside our local branch for an update on the movement for stronger nature laws to protect our birds and their habitats.  You will hear a compelling local story of love, loss and why we need change, you will also have the opportunity to share your story with like-minded nature lovers. 

Local and Lovely:
Native gardening workshop

DATE: Saturday, 6 April 2019, 10am – 12pm 
VENUE: Piney Lakes Environmental Education Centre, 555 Leach Hwy, Winthrop
COST: Free (we think)
BOOK click here

A great way to engage keen gardeners in your area into biodiversity conservation. Join us for a relaxed morning at Piney Lakes, learn all about your soil type and the diversity of flora it supports. Explore the beauty and benefits of native gardening and find out how you can save both time and money, while supporting the natural environment.

Family Nature Day

Bring your family closer to nature at the Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre
DATE: Sunday 7 April | 2-4pm
VENUE: The Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre, Cnr Flynn and Selby Streets, Wembley
COST:  $5 individual/ $20 family/ FREE for Friends of the WA Gould League
The Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre will be open from 2 – 4pm with a range of Nature-based activities such as scooping for aquatic fauna, nature crafts, and a guided bird walk at 2:30pm. Register online: https://www.wagouldleague.com.au/events/family-nature-day-7-april-2019
Please bring a hat, water bottle & closed in shoes

Local Native Plantings on the Verge

DATE: Saturday, 27 April 2019, 9am – 12pm
VENUE: Duncraig Edible Garden in the forecourt of Duncraig Public Library cnr Warwick Rd and Marmion Ave, Duncraig WA 6023
COST: Go to link
BOOK click
here

Join us as “The Native Gardener” Richard McDowell shares his expert knowledge and guides us planting out, on the upper verge at DEG, tubestock of plants native to this geographic area, soil type and rainfall pattern. A hands-on workshop, this is a prime opportunity to find out what will work in your City of Joondalup verge location.

In the News:

We’ve been seeing some interesting articles in the news lately and thought we would share. Many of these aren’t new news but you may have missed them

Melbourne, like Perth, is growing very rapidly and last year lost its most liveable city crown. Ideas to retrieve the title include increasing the biodiversity of the city and making Melbourne a “national park” 
These sustainable urban idea designs could help Melbourne reclaim most liveable city crown in ABC Arts  22 March 2019

The biodiversity concept was explained in an earlier article
Here’s how to design cities where people and nature can both flourish
in The Conversation October 24, 2018
and describes much of what NatureLink Perth is trying to achieve 

And good news for a species thought extinct
Extinct’ broad-headed bee found in Perth’s northern suburbs
in WA Today, March 8, 2019
highlights the importance of saving banksia woodland, itself a threatened ecological community.

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for your interest in NatureLink Perth.  Actions you can take are highlighted by a and resources with a 

Our stakeholder meetings are on hold the moment as we are reviewing our operational procedures. We will return to them soon. 

However, Jane visited both Stirling Range and Porongurup National Parks earlier this week and was mesmerised by their beauty. It was amazing to see roadside plants on the verge that were native, no weeds. Such pristine beauty really uplifts the soul. But it also made me think Perth’s natural areas are rarely in such amazing condition. The majority of Perth residents view more weedy and disturbed bushland and consider this the norm. This is a dangerous condition called shifting baseline syndrome (or generational amnesia) and something we need to address. It is not enough save what we have, we need to improve what we have – a difficult task in the city and one I know many of you strive towards constantly. A consideration for NatureLink Perth and the way forward. 
  
Please email us any information you have, people you think we should contact or events/activities that are happening – so we can share with everyone through NatureLink Perth and make all of us more effective agents of change. 

Cheers,

Jane and the NatureLink Perth team