When Lane Cove resident, Alan King, received an environmental newsletter from the Council introducing “On the Verge”, a new verge revegetation program, he knew he had to be a part of it. As an active member in the Lane Cove Council Bushcare and Backyard Habitat programs, he already had a deep appreciation for native plants. He hoped that transforming his verge into a thriving native habitat, would not only add beauty to his property but also inspire his community to do the same.
What is it:
Road verges, the area between public roads and private property, make up a large percentage of the Australian urban landscape. Verge gardens and revegetation have recently been implemented in Lane Cove and other communities around Sydney to fill these spaces with native plants. These programs aim to help with a variety of urban greening projects by supporting residents in planting low native plants on their verges. Lane Cove Council makes it easy to get involved and begin your own verge revegetation project. Interested residents can work closely under the guidance of Lane Cove Council’s Bushcare team members to evaluate the site, plan which plants to use, prepare the site by removing the existing lawn and providing mulch, and will even assist with the planting if you would rather not get your hands dirty.
There is no need to worry about damage to pipes or lines under the soil. With Lane Cove Council’s guidance they are able to ensure that there is no damage to underground infrastructure and since most of the plants used in these programs are native tubestock, they do not require to be planted very deep.
Benefits:
For Alan, one of his main motivations for participating in the program was his visual preference for native plants over lawn. Planting verge gardens creates an aesthetically pleasing streetscape that all members of a neighbourhood can enjoy. In speaking with his neighbour, they also became interested in the program but for a different reason. Switching to native plants would mean that the garden would be easier to maintain, requiring much less water and care than a lawn.
As for the environmental impact, these verges create small pockets of habitat for native pollinators. These habitats help create biological corridors throughout urban areas and allow important species to survive and thrive, ultimately increasing local biodiversity. In addition, these small habitats can play a role in addressing climate issues such as urban heat islands and stormwater runoff.
There is no need to be intimidated or have a green thumb with verge revegetation. With the generous help provided by Lane Cove Council, it makes these gardening projects easy and accessible for everyone. They help to select plants and with the planting process. Because the plants are native species, once planted they are easy to care for, making them ideal for everyone. The Lane Cove Volunteers also provide guidance on how residents can best maintain the gardens.
As more people become involved, it helps to promote the program and encourages other community members to get involved. These verges create an example of other solutions to lawn landscaping, and demonstrate that they do not have to be a messy and weedy area that people often associate with bushland. Show your neighbours that native habitat can be just as, if not more, beautiful than a lawn while also serving an important ecological role.
Interested in revegetating your own verge? There are plenty of resources available through Lane Cove, Ku-ring-gai Council, and Inner West to help find important information for planning and planting. If you live in one of these Councils let them know you are interested and they can help you get started. If your council does not yet have a verge revegetation program, contact the environment or sustainability staff and they may be able to implement a program of their own. Note: If you are planning to DIY your verge garden, check with your Council to make sure you follow any regulations.
Author: Jess Wiggins