Finding Melbourne's Nature

Send us Fan MailAt the edge of the Birrarung, beneath the West Gate Bridge, sits one of Melbourne’s most unexpected urban landscapes.Westgate Park wasn’t always like this. Once a heavily modified and neglected site shaped by landfill and industry, it has been transformed over decades into a mosaic of wetlands, grasslands and habitat.In this episode of Finding Melbourne’s Nature, we walk through the park with Naomie Sunner, who in the late 1990s, as a young woman, led and established the Friends of Westgate Park.Naomie shares the story of a seven-day walk along the Birrarung that brought her here, and how that moment led to decades of restoration, community effort and learning on the ground.We talk about the early days of the project, the challenges of rebuilding a landscape from scratch, and the people who helped shape what the park has become today.The Friends of Westgate Park remain an incredible, active community, continuing that work and caring for this place.This episode is about persistence, community, and what it takes to bring nature back in the middle of a city.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Finding Melbourne’s Nature, we walk through Banyule Flats Reserve with urban ecologist Dr Jacinta Humphrey.Moving through wetlands, billabongs and remnant vegetation along the Birrarung, Jacinta shares her journey into conservation and her work exploring how birds persist, adapt and even thrive in urban environments.We talk about what cities are missing, and what they need to better support biodiversity. From the importance of dense understorey vegetation, to the challenges posed by species like noisy miners, this conversation looks at how small changes in habitat can have a big impact.Along the way, we also get into skinks, bird calls, backyard conservation, and the role people can play in supporting nature, whether it’s planting habitat, joining a Friends group, or simply putting out water.This episode is about rethinking the spaces around us, and how cities like Melbourne can support the species that live alongside us.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I’m joined by urban ecologist Dr Kylie Soanes.We meet in Docklands, in Melbourne/Naarm, beside the floating wetlands Kylie helped bring to life. It’s not a typical conservation setting. Concrete, water, buildings and movement surround us, and right there, a small patch of habitat quietly doing its work.We talk about how these wetlands came to be, what they’re already supporting, and what they represent in a city like Melbourne/Naarm right now.Kylie also shares her journey into conservation, and how that’s shaped the way she sees cities. The conversation explores the kinds of places we create, and how they can invite biodiversity back into our cities.This episode looks at how we might shape our future, making sure we’re living alongside nature rather than at the expense of it.

Send us Fan MailIn this first episode of Finding Melbourne’s Nature, we walk through Darebin Parklands with Peter Wiltshire, long-time ranger with the Darebin Creek Management Committee.Once a quarry and later a tip, Darebin Parklands is now a much-loved nature reserve with wetlands, thriving wildlife and rich native flora.Peter has spent over 40 years working in this landscape. As we walk, he shares his journey as a ranger, the history of the reserve, and what it has taken to restore and care for this place over time.To learn more about the work of the Darebin Creek Management Committee, visit dcmc.org.au or follow along on social media. 

Send us Fan MailFinding Melbourne’s Nature is a walking conversation series exploring the wild places within the city.In each episode, guests choose a reserve and walk together with Traditional Owners, conservationists, scientists and community voices.They talk about what lives there, what has changed, what needs protecting, and the personal journeys that have shaped their connection with nature.This trailer introduces the series and what to expect as the walks begin.