The storm on June 9, 2021, saw approximately 25,000 trees fall across the Yarra Ranges, particularly in the hills.
These trees were a loss to the community but also to the native fauna across the municipality. Species that relied on these trees for roosting, feeding, shelter and breeding lost vital habitat.
Many native animals such as Crimson Rosellas, Rainbow Lorikeets, Australian Wood Ducks, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Southern Boobook Owls, Common Brushtail Possums and Kreft’s Gliders require hollows to reproduce.
At Yarra Ranges Council we recognise the need to support native fauna in their recovery from the storm by installing habitat hollows and nest boxes in reserves across the Yarra Ranges to ensure breeding success and stable populations.
These nest boxes will compliment ongoing land management programs across Councils roadsides and reserves, which promote natural regeneration and assist where required with weed control and revegetation. Council will be targeting a wide range of species through this project as many different animals have been displaced.
Some of the trees that fell during the June 2021 storms were sent to a Mill in Macedon Ranges to be milled into many usable projects such as fence posts, sleepers, planting stakes and timber lengths. Many of these materials have been returned to the Yarra Ranges for use in Council parks and reserves. Through collaboration with the Macedon Ranges Shire Council the Healing in Our Gardens Program team requested timber lengths to pass onto Men’s Sheds.
Eight of the Yarra Ranges Men’s Sheds are making two types of nest boxes’: specifically for Rosellas or Kreft’s (previously known as Sugar) Glider boxes. These boxes are going to be gifted to storm affected residents many ofwhom have lost habitat tress on their property.
How can I provide habitat on my property?
A wonderful place to start when considering providing habitat to native animals is planting locally native plants on your property. Native plants will provide an abundance of species with food and shelter, it will also aid in stabilising the landscape if there has been significant disturbance e.g., storm clean-up works. The Yarra Ranges Council has a Local Plant Directory that can assist you in selecting the correct plants. Additionally, there are a few local nurseries with experienced staff to assist you.
If you would like to investigate having nest boxes or hollows installed in trees on your property, the following contractors engage in this type of work and may be able to help you.
- Ironbark Phone: 0415 607 375 Email: admin@ironbarkenviroarb.com
- Habitat Innovation and Management Hollow creation only. Phone: 0438 580 342 or 0400 216 206 Email: mick@habitatinnovation.com.au or carl@habitatinnovation.com.au
- Treetec Phone: 0419 349 268 Email: admin@treetec.net.au Wildlife Experiences Phone: 0409 090 955
Alternatively, if your property experienced storm damage and you would like one free nest box made from one of Yarra Ranges talented Men’s Sheds please complete the form below:
Please note, installation of the box and associated costs will be the responsibility of the landowner. Properties unaffected by the storm can purchase a nest box from the following Men’s Sheds.
- Croydon Men’s Shed Phone: 0490 329 449 Email:croydon@mensshed.org
- Belgrave Men’s Shed Phone: 0405 229 481 Email:jandfpodger@bigpond.com
- Badger Creek & District Men’s Shed Phone: 0412 165 420 Email: badgercreek@mensshed.org
The Healing in our Gardens team would like to sincerely thank the Yarra Ranges Shedder’s from the following Sheds for all their hard work in bringing the nest boxes to life and gifting them to the residents.
- Badger Creek and District Men’s Shed
- Montrose Men’s Shed
- Belgrave Men’s Shed
- Morrison’s Men Shed
- Croydon Men’s Shed
- Mooroolbark Men’s Shed
- Monbulk District Men’s Shed
- Yarra Glen and District Men’s Shed