10/09/2026
An inspiring evening exploring the future of the Rotary Wildwood Environmental Garden Project! 🌱✨
The Rotary Club of North Melbourne was absolutely delighted to welcome guest speakers John McCaskill and Peter Berg to our meeting. They delivered an insightful presentation detailing the incredible vision, strategy, and community-driven plans for the garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Here are the key takeaways from their presentation:
Ecological Restoration: The project focuses on boosting local biodiversity by installing habitat structures like insect hotels and wood stacks, enriching the soil, and creating safe havens for birds and vital pollinators.
Protecting Our Pollinators: John and Peter highlighted the critical decline in bee health due to habitat loss and the devastating impact of the Varroa mite. The Wildwood project is taking a stand to protect these essential insects.
Cultural & Indigenous Connection: The garden deeply respects First Nations heritage, recognizing ancestral summer camp lands. Plans feature native flora used traditionally for food, tools, and medicine, alongside a dedicated yarning circle for community collaboration.
Education & Creative Engagement: To spark environmental awareness, the project introduces sustainable gardening education for all ages, using hands-on learning, school partnerships, and even creative outlets like music and choreography to engage students.
Citizen Science & Research: By collaborating with academic experts and mobilizing citizen science volunteers, the project will actively measure ecological impact and drive species regeneration.
Strategic Partnerships: Progressing through complex financial and urban greening challenges requires strong community networks. The team is actively collaborating with botanical architects, local councils, and philanthropic partners to bring this park to life.
Thank you, John and Peter, for showing us how local action can create a profound, lasting environmental and cultural impact! 🤝🐝
