Green Shoots Program

The Green Shoots Program began with the popular Skink Link Project at Scotchmans Creek in Oakleigh to create new habitats for skinks. 

We invited the community to help build the habitats and the idea was enthusiastically embraced, with residents keen to contribute through planting, picking up litter and helping to manage weeds.

Learn more about this project: Skink Link Project

Monash Gardens for Wildlife is a program that supports residents, schools and businesses within Monash to create habitats for native wildlife in their own gardens.

As part of the program members receive free indigenous seedlings for their own gardens and become part of a network of people and groups providing homes and habitat corridors for wildlife.

Members are also eligible to receive free visit from our Garden Guides to provide individual support and advice on how to create a habitat garden.

More information: Gardens for Wildlife

Micro forests are part of a world-wide movement to support afforestation and help introduce dense native forest environments to our urban areas. 

They play an important role in strengthening and preserving our local biodiversity and health of our ecosystems and communities.

Council built Melbourne’s first micro forest at Wellington Reserve in Mulgrave and has since completed Melbourne’s first Tiny Forest.

Learn more about the benefits of micro forests and how you can get involved: Micro forests in Monash

Nature spaces in schools and Bush Kinders are a great way to create or explore natural spaces, giving children the opportunity and freedom to learn through outdoor play.

A child’s wellbeing, as well as understanding of sustainability, can be deepened through connections to natural and healthy environments.

Council may be able to support a bush kinder space near your early learning centre.

Learn how schools and early learning centres in Monash can get involved in nature and gardening, with support and resources from Monash Council: Nature in schools and kindergartens

Further information:

Visit Victorian Bush Kinders to find out more about the Bush Kinder program, education and grants available.

Parks Victoria provides a handbook and more information on how to start and register a Bush Kindergarten.

There are many opportunities to get involved in gardening or local community planting days.

If you don’t have space for your own garden or are looking for a gardening group to join, consider joining a local community garden.

Or, by joining a local Friends Group you can get involved in environmental volunteering opportunities that help protect and maintain local bush and parkland areas. 

National Tree Day occurs in July every year and has a dedicated day for schools. It is Australia’s largest tree planting day, aiming to plant 1 million trees each year.

Learn more about hosting or joining a planting event: National Tree Day

To keep up-to-date with local community events and planting days, subscribe to our Sustainable Monash monthly e-newsletter.

Take part in a global challenge to share observations of nature in your local areas – such as reserves, parks and schools, using iNaturalist. For more information on the annual challenge, visit www.citynaturechallenge.org

Contact us at sustainability@monash.vic.gov.au if you are an individual, community group or school in Monash, interested in taking part in the metropolitan Council challenge or wanting to learn more about iNaturalist.