Griffith area landholders combine gardening and conservation
On Tuesday 19th June 30 landholders and gardeners from Griffith, Coleambally, Rankins Springs and the surrounding area gathered in Griffith to visit the inspirational farm gardens of Trevor and Gerardine Hill, and Nayce and Helen Dalton. 
Helen and Nayce Dalton's multi-layered garden at 'Merribee'
Organised by Murrumbidgee Landcare and the Ricegrowers' Association and presented by Cathy Semmler, Murrumbidgee Irrigation's Environmental Project Officer, the day started with a tour of the water-wise native garden at Murrumbidgee Irrigation, Hanwood. Cathy discussed the benefits of using native plants to provide year-round, low-maintenance shade and greenery around the home and farm, boosting aesthetics whilst decreasing fire risk, and providing shelter for the home, stock, crops, and wildlife alike. Local native plant species were promoted for their hardiness to local conditions, and their conservation value.
The group then visited the Dalton's and Hill's properties and saw first-hand how these landholders have incorporated local and non-local native and exotic species to create beautiful, functional, and biodiverse gardens around their homes, supported by conservation paddock-plantings and shelter-belts.
Attendees learned the importance of providing levels of habitat cover to encourage birds and other native wildlife in their gardens and biodiversity corridors: ground-layer, shrub layer, and taller trees. Cathy also shared some tips about collecting and propagating native seed. (More information about native seed collection is available from Greening Australia's Florabank.)
Despite chilly weather in the morning, the day proved enjoyable, engaging and informative, and Murrumbidgee Landcare and our allies are looking forward to organising further events on this and similar topics in the near future.
Admiring the gums in the Hill's garden at 'Ingleden Park'.
If you would like to be kept informed of upcoming events like this one, please subscribe to the MLi monthly enews (see the link to the left of the screen), or contact your Regional Landcare Facilitator.
