The Shady Lanes Project’s Post

From construction sites to backyards, #native plants are an effective and low-maintenance way to increase biodiversity, reduce stormwater and improve the environment. On #PANativeSpeciesDay, learn about the benefits of landscaping with native plants.

You too can make a tiny contribution to reversing ecological devastation by cultivating an “ugly lawn”. And if we all do it, it’ll be a big contribution. This is what adaptation looks like, folks. Another way is by rewilding your lawn: https://lnkd.in/eBd8pVmR "Today one in four UK front gardens are completely paved over and nearly one in three front gardens has no plants." (https://lnkd.in/efjaCS7Y) https://lnkd.in/efvq888X

https://lnkd.in/gdGPNKAV I've been doing, supporting, and encouraging stuff like this for years. You can too. #tacticalurbanism #environment #greenspace #climatechange

Signal boosting this project from Dark Matter Labs. Reconciliation with nature starts in our yards From the summary: Lawns are a desert in biodiversity, yet they are still the default landscaping approach across Canada. In the region of Montreal alone, lawns cover a surface 317 times the Mount-Royal Park. In the United States, it is the largest irrigated crop. Transforming the culture of perfectly manicured lawns therefore represents an enormous opportunity for collective climate action. One of the most devastating causes and impacts of climate change is the global decline in biodiversity. Beyond the development of public policies, legislative strategies and financial incentives, it is essential to increase the capacity for on-the-ground action among individuals and communities through the development of ecological gardening on residential yards. This strategy aims to create spaces that can enrich and support biodiversity and, by doing so, transform our relationship with Nature right at home. This effort involves helping people see that the land they own is part of a larger ecosystem that requires nourishment and care; the land they own is a common responsibility. To achieve this ambitious goal, there is a critical need to develop tools that bring together all the available knowledge about ecological gardening in order to inspire and help residents take action; to legitimize the adoption of this new residential landscape aesthetics of biodiversity by creating a community of interest and practice; and to document and measure the socio-environmental benefits of these local actions at different scales in order to sustain the movement and provide municipal authorities with necessary tools and information to incorporate biodiversity and climate mitigation into landscape planning decisions. Nouveaux voisins / New Neighbors aims precisely at developing a platform bringing together different functions (pedagogical, actionable, evaluational, financial, regulatory, etc.) to support and accelerate this socio-ecological transition through the aggregation of residential and commercial yards. It is about establishing the foundations of a movement that proposes a new form of cohabitation between Nature and us, one yard at a time, across urban, suburban and rural divides. www.nouveauxvoisins.org is meant to be a platform for informing communities, transforming grass into habitats rich in biodiversity, and mapping and measuring the impacts of a movement already gaining momentum. This blog summarizes the case studies and the paper prototype of a platform developed thanks to the generous contribution of The McConnell Foundation as part of the Transition Catalyst Fund, and was done in collaboration with Nouveaux voisins, Dark Matter Labs and S. Karthik Mukkavilli. #urgentoptimism #participatoryfutures #reconciliation

Green roofs are an important part of the way forward for urban food security, energy conservation and education.

🦋 It's as important as ever to contribute to creating sustainable and thriving ecosystems, in line with the new Biodiversity Environment Act. Read our guide to wildlife-friendly landscaping to see how we can assist you in doing just that: https://lnkd.in/eXXPfxib #biodiversitynetgain #wildlife #landscaping

Build healthy soil in your own back yard with these simple steps. #soilhealth #regenerativedesign #urbanregeneration #biodiversity #nativeplants #pollinators #habitbuilding #ecosystembuilding #gardendesigner #landscapemanagement

How are ecology, biodiversity, water and the plastic crisis being considered in #retrofit and sustainable #construction? What is #netzero and does the current definition deliver on #environmentaljustice?  "We all need to be thinking gardeners now. The moral imperative isn’t so much to fit in, or not let the neighbourhood down, it’s to not let the planet down." #3majorchallenges  https://lnkd.in/e2VnBJdD

The article "East Gippsland gardeners planting 'fire-wise' species to help protect homes from bushfires" by ABC Gippsland's Millicent Spencer discusses initiatives in East Gippsland, Victoria, where locals are using "fire-wise" plants in their gardens to mitigate the risk of bushfires. These plants, which are less flammable, can slow down bushfires, giving residents extra time to escape. This strategy was partly inspired by the devastating Black Summer bushfires that affected the area in 2019-2020. In Nungurner, students and the local Landcare network have planted a belt of these plants around their primary school, including native species like seaberry saltbush and Gippsland grey box, which are less prone to catching fire. The aim is to reduce bushfire risks and support biodiversity with indigenous plants. The initiative reflects a shift in attitude towards managing vegetation in fire-prone areas. Instead of removing all vegetation, which can increase the risk of ember attacks on properties, the focus is on strategic planting of fire-resistant species. Additionally, the Far East Gippsland Landcare Network, in collaboration with the Moogji Aboriginal nursery, is propagating native seeds lost in the Black Summer bushfires. This seed bank acts as an insurance policy for the region's plant biodiversity and is part of broader efforts to adapt to increasing bushfire threats. This approach is in line with the work of Landcare NSW, which also advocates applying Landcare philosophy in preparing landscapes and communities for environmental challenges. Landcare NSW emphasises sustainable land management, community engagement, and biodiversity conservation, similar to the East Gippsland initiatives. By promoting fire-wise plants and creating native seed banks, both Landcare NSW and East Gippsland initiatives are working towards enhancing landscape resilience against bushfires while preserving local flora. For more information, you can read the full article on ABC's website: https://ab.co/3vtPEB6 NSW Reconstruction Authority National Emergency Management Agency Murray Watt - Labor Senator for Queensland NSW Government

The article "East Gippsland gardeners planting 'fire-wise' species to help protect homes from bushfires" by ABC Gippsland's Millicent Spencer discusses initiatives in East Gippsland, Victoria, where locals are using "fire-wise" plants in their gardens to mitigate the risk of bushfires. These plants, which are less flammable, can slow down bushfires, giving residents extra time to escape. This strategy was partly inspired by the devastating Black Summer bushfires that affected the area in 2019-2020. In Nungurner, students and the local Landcare network have planted a belt of these plants around their primary school, including native species like seaberry saltbush and Gippsland grey box, which are less prone to catching fire. The aim is to reduce bushfire risks and support biodiversity with indigenous plants. The initiative reflects a shift in attitude towards managing vegetation in fire-prone areas. Instead of removing all vegetation, which can increase the risk of ember attacks on properties, the focus is on strategic planting of fire-resistant species. Additionally, the Far East Gippsland Landcare Network, in collaboration with the Moogji Aboriginal nursery, is propagating native seeds lost in the Black Summer bushfires. This seed bank acts as an insurance policy for the region's plant biodiversity and is part of broader efforts to adapt to increasing bushfire threats. This approach is in line with the work of Landcare NSW, which also advocates applying Landcare philosophy in preparing landscapes and communities for environmental challenges. Landcare NSW emphasises sustainable land management, community engagement, and biodiversity conservation, similar to the East Gippsland initiatives. By promoting fire-wise plants and creating native seed banks, both Landcare NSW and East Gippsland initiatives are working towards enhancing landscape resilience against bushfires while preserving local flora. For more information, you can read the full article on ABC's website: https://ab.co/3vtPEB6 NSW Reconstruction Authority National Emergency Management Agency Murray Watt - Labor Senator for Queensland NSW Government