where to find biodiversity SITES
Biodiversity sites featured on this website have been 'adopted' by Friends of Sturt River Landcare Group in partnership with City of Marion and City of Holdfast Bay councils.
The sites we create and/or care for range from small bush gardens (sometimes called wirras), through to larger, more natural-looking bushland sites. Whether the sites are large or small, they share a common aim of creating a reverence for nature that is uniquely in and of this place.
In this place, of this place
For example, we replant only local-native seedlings grown from seed or cuttings collected as near to the intended site as possible. We do not add water, weed matting or fertiliser to the plantings. We do not prune the plants, or clean up leaf litter. Once seedlings are established, we maintain them using minimal disturbance bush regeneration techniques. We encourage natural regeneration wherever possible. We select vigorous ground covers and self-seeding grasses to help us contain weed species.
Let nature be the gardener
We are not aiming to make biodiversity plantings dependent on us for their survival. By working with nature, we can enjoy each unique site as it grows and changes, while also gaining a better understanding of our own place in nature.
where to find biodiversity sites
Supported since 2013
237-265 Oaklands Road, Oaklands Rd Oaklands Park.
Supported since 2014
Kenton Avenue
Oaklands Park.
Supported since 2018
237-265 Oaklands Road, Oaklands Rd Oaklands Park.
Supported since 2019
off Highland Ave,
Glenelg North
Supported since 2019
off Stewart Avenue,
Glenelg North
Supported since 2021
off David Avenue,
Glenelg North
Coming soon: a eucalypt and sheoak grove with an understorey of native grasses & wildflowers...
More to explore
Sturt River Linear Park
The sites featured above are supported by our volunteers - they are all connected by the Sturt River. Walk or cycle the Sturt River Linear Park to find wonderful examples of natural soaks (sometimes called 'rain gardens'), habitat/revegetation zones and remnant grasslands. These additional revegetation sites were created by council work teams.
Parts of the river retain majestic 'sentinel' gums - lone trees from the original Redgum/grey box woodland - living within the SA Water drainage channel or the larger road or rail verges nearby.
Warriparinga Wetlands
Follow the Sturt River further south to Bedford Park to visit Warriparinga Wetlands. This 3.5 hectare site contains the only remaining natural river bank of the Sturt River on the Adelaide Plains. Some of our members also volunteer to maintain the river bank with the Friends of Warriparinga.
Kaurna heritage
Warriparinga Wetland is also home to the Living Kaurna Cultural Centre. The whole Sturt River (Warripari) remains highly significant to Kaurna people as a living place of heritage, culture and identity. We recognise and celebrate this connection.
We encourage you to visit the Living Kaurna Cultural Centre to learn more about the Kaurna people and their connection to country.
a community of people, a community of plants
One of the absolute joys of volunteering or regularly visiting biodiversity sites is observing nature in action.
It is quite intoxicating to watch and learn as nature reveals more of the natural character of this place. Which animals come back? How did they find their way? What plants thrive and self-seed in the first season? Which take years to establish?
Volunteers and visitors grow too as we begin to understand how truly dynamic nature can be.
Whether it's citizen scientists reporting a bumper year for dragon flies, hearing a new frog call, or seeing a nesting box occupied for the first time, there is always something happening.
Where is that photo-point, exactly?
Some of our earliest plantings are now so well established that it is hard to recognise the photo-points as being the same spot. Many markers have long since disappeared under a riot of wildflower, grasses, scramblers and shrubs. There are too many plantings to record them all here, but the selection below are shots from some of the better-known planting sites.
before & after shots
from volunteer sites
Roll your mouse over the before shot to compare it to the shot next door. We keep records of all planting sites, but not all sites are shown here.
