“Ecological deserts”: Indigenous plants taking root across more than 500 homes in Whitehorse

The natural environment in Whitehorse has changed dramatically since Europeans arrived to the area in the early 19th century.

Establishing farms and orchards and clearing the land to supply the timber and charcoal industries, they left behind open spaces that current community members have called “ecological deserts”.

In 2022, Sam Russell, then a student at Deakin University studying a Bachelor of Environmental Science, stood up on a table in the middle of his classroom and proposed a solution.

Urban Guerillas was born, a youth-focused environmental group which aims to reintroduce Indigenous biodiversity to urban landscapes, including along Gardiners Creek or “KooyongKoot”.

Following the success of their first project, the Urban Guerrillas and the Kooyongkoot Alliance - an alliance of over 20 environmental groups working along the Gardiners Creek - have turned their attention to another site.

Community gathering

In July, about 50 volunteers from both Urban Guerillas and the Kooyongkoot Alliance participated in a joint planting day in Gardiners Creek Reserve.

They planted small grasses and cleared invasive weeds and foliage from a 1.2-hectare site, the equivalent of 12,000 square metres.

After two hours of working, the volunteers gathered at an outdoor BBQ near the work site. Sam Russell, the founder of Urban Guerillas, and Graham Ross, the Catchment Keeper for the Kooyongkoot Alliance, delivered speeches and commended the efforts of the assembled volunteers. The group planted 2,300 plants in total, far exceeding their ambitions.

For many of the assembled volunteers, the planting day was an opportunity to connect with other members of the community.

Ruth Hudspeth, a volunteer with the Australian Conservation Foundation Chisholm along with her husband Dave, has been participating in plantings with Urban Guerillas for a number of years.

“You build these relationships, and it’s really nice to turn up and see people again,” she told the Eastern Melburnian.

“You’re not just turning up and being used for free labour. You’re actually getting something out of it too.”

For Rosalie Gebert, another volunteer with Urban Guerillas, the planting day enabled her to connect with other people who held similar interests and values.

“I’ve come from having a lot of my university during Covid,” she said, reflecting how online classes impeded her ability to make friends.

“I’ve found that volunteering has been a great way to just connect with people and meet new people.”

Local support for native push

Whitehorse Council runs Whitehorse Gardens for Wildlife, a free, volunteer-led initiative helping to restore Indigenous biodiversity in people's backyards.

Residents who are keen to participate in the program can lodge a form indicating their interest online, with the council then organising two volunteers to conduct a garden assessment.

A report is provided to the resident with suggestions and advice about how Indigenous plants can be incorporated in the garden to make it more friendly for wildlife.

For example, the volunteers may suggest the creation of a patch of mulch to provide an ecosystem for bugs and worms.

Residents receive 20 vouchers for plants at local Indigenous nurseries Greenlink and Bungalook Nursery, as well as further resources and information to assist their gardening activities.

Mee Kwan is a resident of Whitehorse and participates in the Whitehorse Gardens for Wildlife program.

She describes herself as a "homebody" and loves gardening and cooking, with an ambition to make tea out of plants that she grows in her backyard.

Kwan plants Indigenous plants in her garden because she said she wants the ecosystem in her backyard to thrive.

"I like to be in touch with nature and try to consume as little as possible,” she said.

"I really love talking to the people, they seem really knowledgeable.

"You feel connected with the community."

Kwan wants to pass on her passion to her two young children, encouraging them to learn about the natural environments around them.

Academic studies reinforce the experience of volunteers

As of June 2025, Whitehorse City Council had completed 569 garden visits since the Gardens for Wildlife program started in 2017, according to a council spokesperson.

The program is an affiliate of Gardens for Wildlife Victoria.

Gardens for Wildlife Victoria was established in 2016, with the goal of reducing biodiversity loss and cultivating Indigenous flora and fauna in open spaces. The organisation achieves this by fostering and supporting a network of environmental groups.

"It's hard to understand that what's happening on your own patch of land can have an impact," said Gardens for Wildlife Victoria project facilitator, Laura Mumaw.

"People often see 'conservation' as something that's done by specialists and biologists, not little old me working in my garden.

" When I interviewed people, it was amazing talking to them as they discovered, “Hey, there's other residents and other people that care about this”.”