Council and our community have an important role to play in helping to look after nature in Moonee Valley. Read on to discover some of the precious natural spaces and how you can help care for our wildlife, native plants and natural spaces.
Our native grasslands
Native grasslands have been discovered in 3 reserves in East Keilor and Avondale Heights - The Crossway South Reserve, Arcade Way Reserve and JH Allan Reserve.
The Natural Temperate Grasslands of the Victorian Volcanic Plain are critically endangered and protected by both the state and federal law.
Less than 0.5% of the original grasslands remain making the patches in our backyard extremely rare and precious.
We didn't forget to mow, here's why we let the grasslands grow
We are saving species
Our grasslands are one of the world's most diverse ecosystems with up to 80 flora species per metre. In ecological terms, this patch of grass is as important as the Great Barrier Reef.
They help combat climate change
They have really deep roots (some as deep as a human's height) that can pull carbon into the soil and capture it as well as trees do.
They'll be burnt soon
Instead of mowing, we'll undertake planned burns. Burning grasslands help more plants grow and reduces the use of herbicides.
We're only beginning to unlock their potential
They could be revolutionary in the fields of farming and medicine and the seeds are so unique specialists collect them to save species.
Yay for nature play!
Nature play is a wonderful way for children to connect with the outdoors, explore, and learn through hands-on experiences. You can download our postcards filled with fun and simple ideas to encourage nature play at home, in your local park, and at special places nearby.
Whether it's creating mud pies, observing how water moves, or planting a native seedling, each activity helps nature creativity, problem-solving skills and a love for nature. We hope these activities inspire you to spend quality time outdoors, and don't forget to share your nature play moments with us!
Go wild!
Explore Moonee Valley's wildest parks! Afton Street Conservation Park, Spring Gully Reserve, Canning Tea Gardens, Thompson Street Reserve, Strathnaver Grasslands, Napier Park.
Download one of our nature-inspired crowds at One, Two, Tree
- Visit the animal play structures at Cross Keys Reserve - we have a microbat, a peacock spider, a ringtail possum, a tawny frogmouth and a pobblebonk frog!
- Visit the pontoon at Riverside Park or Canning Reserve to spot the crabs in their mud burrows as the tide goes out.
- Visit the peregrine falcons nesting on the cliffs at Valley Lake, Niddrie.
- Stomp across a footbridge - Maribyrnong River, Afton Street, Woodlands Park, Rosehill wetlands.
- Visit the Aberfeldie Men's Shed to purchase a bug abode and install it in your garden.
- Visit Woodlands Park ponds - listen for ponds, look for water birds.
- Check out our community gardens to see how vegetables grow.
- Roll down the grassy hills and explore the Moonee Ponds Creek at Boeing Reserve, Strathmore Heights.
- Be gentle and kind to nature - borrow, enjoy, and return to nature in the same place you found it.
- Be curious and kind. Animals and bugs don't want to be touched, but we can watch them, pretend to be them, let them be our guides, and even try to make their noises.
- Look after yourself, look after each other, look after nature.
- Wear your 'play' clothes - it is OK to get dirty, messy and dance in the rain.
Download our nature play postcards, take them out with you and have fun in nature!
Art in the wildflowers
To highlight the importance and beauty of the grasslands, our Conservation department teamed up with the Incinerator Gallery to create an open-air art gallery in the Crossway South Reserve.
Taking inspiration from the native wildflowers in the grasslands, artists Abbey Rich and Jimmy Dvate have created murals on the walls that border the reserve.
Watch the video to see the murals and learn more.
The project was funded through the Victorian Government’s Caring for Our Local Environments program.
Video subtitles are available in Greek, Italian and Vietnamese.
Have a go at creating your own work of art inspired by our precious wildflowers.
If you're unable to visit the grasslands yourself, you can download a colouring adventure and treasure hunt.
To find out more about the plants and animals of the grasslands, download our Native Grassland Reserve brochure below, available in the following languages:
Grasslands brochure - Croatian (PDF)
Grasslands brochure - English (PDF)
Grasslands brochure - Greek (PDF)
Wildlife corridors
Wildlife corridors connect isolated ecosystems. They allow animals, and the seeds they carry, to move through the tree canopy, under bushes or among the ground cover.
Moonee Valley’s key wildlife corridors are along the Moonee Ponds Creek, Steele Creek, Five Mile Creek and the Maribyrnong River Valley. Council is working to enhance the habitat along these corridors.
Private gardens play a vital role in strengthening existing corridors and creating new stepping stones for birds and other wildlife. Your backyard frog bog could be an important hopping spot for local frogs to travel between a wetland and a creek. Native wildflowers in pots can boost habitat beneficial insects, including pollinators for our vegetable gardens and natural pest control for our street trees.
Join in
One Two Tree Campaign
Plant a tree at your home, business or school. It’s as easy as One, Two, Tree!
Wildlife friendly gardening
Bring nature into your home by planting local native vegetation.
Native gardens are good for you and our local wildlife. By adding local native plants to your garden you’ll:
- grow plants which are adapted to our soils and climate, so they won’t need too much work or watering
- help keep our wildlife naturally healthy and happy for generations to come
- be joining a network of gardeners creating connections between habitats across Melbourne
- help to look after native pollinators who keep our vegetable gardens productive
- bring beneficial insects to the garden for natural pest control
- help to reduce populations of pest animals (including Common Myna birds)
- contribute to keeping our urban forest healthy and our suburbs cooler.
Read more in our wildlife-friendly gardening guide (pdf, 6MB).
Nature strip planting
Help care for our pollinators and trees by adding some nature back into your nature strip. The Nature Strip Planting Guidelines (PDF) will help you plan, plant and maintain your nature strip. You do not need approval or a permit to plant on the nature strip in front of your residential address if you garden in accordance with these guidelines.
Picture guide for planting native seedlings
Click here to download a copy of our accessible picture guide (PDF) for community planting days. The guide illustrates how to plant a tubestock seedling for the best chance of survival.
Junior Rangers
The Junior Ranger program is a fun way for kids to interact with local flora and fauna in parks across Moonee Valley.
Junior Rangers use their kits to explore and discover plants and animals.
Rangers will discover ducks, water hens, cockatoos, and even rainbow lorikeets, along with native plants such as the banksia and various eucalyptus species.
Junior Rangers also help to spread the words of a clever little fellow called Zac: "To save the ducks, don’t feed them".
Find out why this is important for the health of our birdlife by watching this short animation.
Print your own guide and map at home before embarking on your outdoor adventure. If you have binoculars or a magnifying glass you can even build your own kit.
- flora and fauna map of Moonee Valley (pdf, 1.15MB)
- guide to help kids find the plants and animals (pdf, 1.60MB)
- Moonee Valley wildlife bingo
A full ranger kit including the guide, map, binoculars, magnifying glass, and a sticker for all your hard work can be borrowed from Sam Merrifield Library (762 Mt Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds) on the day. School classes and large groups should contact 8325 1950 to book in advance.
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