OPEN NATURE GARDENS WEEKEND

Some of the most inspiring nature and wildlife gardens – including the Gnarabup native garden of author and plant guru Jane Scott – will be open to the community on October 15th and 16th for the Open Nature Gardens Weekend.

Hosted by Nature Conservation Margaret River Region (NCMRR), it’s the second time the annual event returns after a huge success in the inaugural year last year.

With 70 per cent of land in the Margaret River region privately owned, nature spaces in backyards are becoming increasingly important. These spaces can support wildlife and biodiversity, help cool down our living spaces and by chooses local native species we can reduce our use of water resources. The event is designed to educate and inspire locals on the benefits of planting native species, and give nature a hand in their suburban gardens or on their bush blocks and rural properties.

Tickets are just $15 to attend all gardens on the program during the October 15-16 weekend, with all money raised going back into nature conservation activities. 

“People can tour the gardens, hear about the ways each gardener has incorporated a range of native plants into their garden design as well as a diversity of features which cater to the needs of a variety of wildlife using the space for habitat and humans" 

There will be resources available, some plant lists and this year many of the plants will be labelled in the gardens making it easy to note those of interest. There will also be a major door prize!   

The gardens include landscaped native gardens, dry gardens (not reticulated), semi rural properties to suburban and coastal gardens – something for everyone!

“We have six gardens on the program and you can visit them all over the weekend, or pick and choose the ones of most interest. Come and get some local, practical and hands-on information and inspiration for your garden,” 

What happens if it rains on the day? Gardens love rain! And so do we. The event will carry on as planned, so wear appropriate clothing and come along anyway.

The full program can be found by clicking this link Open-Nature-Gardens-full-program.pdf, but among the gardens open to the public will be Jane Scott’s coastal native and waterwise property at Gnarabup, & Joan and Barry Tilburn of Malley Fowl Way who have incorporated many local natives with the objective of all year colour and fragrance in flowering and foliage providing a transition between cultivation and bush.

As well as coming along to this inspiring weekend, we’re urging people to register with our For Nature Landholder Stewardship Program, registration is free and takes just a couple of minutes. And it comes with benefits like grants for conservation work at your place, free equipment hire, and access to loads of information and workshops to give nature a hand at your place.” See www.natureconservation.org.au/for-nature to join.

The For Nature Landowner Stewardship Program is proudly supported by funding from the West Australian Government’s State Natural Resources Management Program, the Water Corporation and the Shire of Augusta Margaret River.