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
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'll be burnt soon
Instead of mowing, we'll undertake planned burns. Burning grasslands help more plants grow and reduces the use of herbicides.
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.
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
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.
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 our programs
Plant a tree at your home, business or school. It’s as easy as One, Two, Tree!
Help us keep track of nature
You and your phone can help keep track of nature in our city. Record animals and plants to help us measure how we are tracking. You can focus on one species, a particular issue, your favourite spot or join a BioBlitz.
By keeping track, we get an idea of the health of our habitat patches, and we can tell if a wildlife corridor is working. It’s easy to get involved and your data can help us monitor our work and inform research.
The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) is a collaborative, digital, open infrastructure that pulls together Australian biodiversity data from multiple sources. Learn more about bio collecting for citizen science at their website .