MARCH In The Garden

Plant Guide to the Southern Highlands

There are many choices we can make as gardeners to improve the wildlife habitat of our backyards and

gardens, and this includes choosing local native species as decorative, border, screening or highlight

plants.

Local native species suit our climate and soil type and therefore they usually require less inputs such as

water and fertiliser, however it is important to remember that many native plants require a good pruning

after flowering to improve growth and habit.

Also, native species are a great option when considering the future impacts of climate change. The plants

we choose for our garden need to be resilient. Essentially, if something grows well in your garden with

minimal input then that is a good option.

In addition, many exotic garden plants escape into natural bushland, wetlands and creeks and become

problematic weeds, such as English Ivy, English Holly, Japanese Honeysuckle and Narrow-leaf Privet,

please do not plant weedy plants.

---

Join Habitat for Wildlife

Habitat for Wildlife is a free program to help make our backyards more wildlife-friendly.

Join the program and download lists of suitable native plants for your garden, depending on your

location.

The Backyard Habitat Planting Guide provides you with ideas to get started. This colourful and

informative booklet provides information and tips on how to improve your garden for native wildlife.

Join Habitat for Wildlife to get your free hard copy.

---

Grow Me Instead Booklet Available

The Nursery and Garden Industry of NSW and ACT have produced a helpful booklet, Grow Me Instead.

This booklet provides native and exotic alternatives to invasive weedy plants.

DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY HERE

---

Local projects for our natural environment

The Native Vegetation Mapping Project occurred between 2015-2017 with a goal of collecting data on

native vegetation at a fine scale across the local government area.

Green Web is an exciting landscape-scale project which utilised the completed native vegetation map in

late 2016 to identify priority areas for conservation and investment.

The Green Web project:

• Maps high environmental value lands (HEVL) across the Shire, including important wildlife corridors such as the Great Western Wildlife Corridor; and

• Maps priority investment areas for biodiversity conservation, including private lands.

• Delivers actions to secure public land including Council owned or managed (CCLM) Bushland Reserves.

Read more about Council's Environmental Projects

Council's Biodiversity Strategy

The Wingecarribee Biodiversity Strategy (2003) is a useful source of information about our local native

plants and the communities they are associated with.

The report identifies the type and location of species and communities and interprets this information

into a series of maps designed to help planners and landholders manage their land for optimal

biodiversity.

The report also provides a blueprint for ecologically sustainable development (ESD) and environment

management in the Shire.

Read more about the Wingecarribee Biodiversity Strategy

---

RECIPE OF THE MONTH: Jen's Cheesecake

Pastry

2 tabs sugar

2 tabs butter or margarine

1 egg

1 ½ cups self raising flour

Method

Sift flour

Mix in all other ingredients

Press into tin

Bake blind at 170 for 20-25 mins

Allow to cool

Filling

8 oz Philly cheese

1 tin condensed milk

2 or 3 lemons juiced

Method

Beat Philly cheese until there are no lumps

Add condensed milk and keep beating until smooth

Add lemon juice

Place mixture into tin and refrigerate until set.

Top with beaten cream and passionfruit.

Enjoy!