Balwyn Rotarian 
Murray Wilkinson has been instrumental in creating over fifty biodiverse nature strips in just over 2 years. Murray was inspired when he attended a Rotarians for Bees event (“Bring Back the Buzz” organised by Canterbury Rotarian John McCaskill in March 2022.)
Murray Wilkinson has been instrumental in creating over fifty biodiverse nature strips in just over 2 years. Murray was inspired when he attended a Rotarians for Bees event (“Bring Back the Buzz” organised by Canterbury Rotarian John McCaskill in March 2022.)Ke
ynote speakers were Costa Georgiadis (Host of ABC Gardening Australia) and Rotary Environmental Sustainability ambassador, Alick Osborne (Rotarian and Seasol CEO), Fiona Sutton-Wilson (Earthwatch CEO), Fiona Chambers (Wheen Bee Foundation) and Ian Riseley (Past Rotary International President). Boroondara Council officers Amy Shaw and Penny Coulson (great supporters of the Balwyn Rotary Biodiverse Nature Strips) also attended.
ynote speakers were Costa Georgiadis (Host of ABC Gardening Australia) and Rotary Environmental Sustainability ambassador, Alick Osborne (Rotarian and Seasol CEO), Fiona Sutton-Wilson (Earthwatch CEO), Fiona Chambers (Wheen Bee Foundation) and Ian Riseley (Past Rotary International President). Boroondara Council officers Amy Shaw and Penny Coulson (great supporters of the Balwyn Rotary Biodiverse Nature Strips) also attended.Murray’s interest in horticulture had been sparked in the preceding year, when he and other Balwyn Rotarians, led by the late Dick Menting (Balwyn Rotarian and co-founder of Bendigo Bank), grew seedlings from seed to help revegetate fire ravaged Mallacoota. Somewhere in Mallacoota are Black Cockatoos feasting on She-Oaks raised by Murray! Starting with a modest pilot of ten nature strips, the project has quickly grown to fifty nature strips through a combination of “What’s Happening Here” signs, letter box drops and word of mouth. Fellow Balwyn Rotarians Chris Finley, Clarke Ballard and Marc Mirams joined Murray on the project.
Cathy, a homeowner in Balwyn, now has a biodiverse nature strip designed by landscape architect Jen Martin, explained that she was motivated to make the switch from grass and weeds to a biodiverse nature strip because “there are better things to do with this patch of dirt.” Cathy’s new nature strip softens the look of the street, improves street tree health by reducing soil compaction and contributes much needed support for bees, lizards, and birds. The regular chore of mowing and edging the nature strip has been replaced by removing some occasional emergent weeds.
The Balwyn Rotary Nature Strip team is looking forward to engaging and training other Rotary Clubs as well as the ‘beautification’ of the Riversdale Station precinct in partnership with Keep Australia Beautiful, other local Rotary Clubs and the community.
If you agree with Cat
hy and the many others involved with the project that a biodiverse nature strip “sounds like a good thing to do” and want to put ‘Nature’ in your nature strip get in touch with Balwyn Rotary – naturestrips@balwynrotary.org.au.
hy and the many others involved with the project that a biodiverse nature strip “sounds like a good thing to do” and want to put ‘Nature’ in your nature strip get in touch with Balwyn Rotary – naturestrips@balwynrotary.org.au.Edited article from the Eastside News.