What lives here

Diversity of life

This site has been planted using local native plant species, creating a seed bank for future planting projects and preserving the living history of the local area. There are both native "terrestrial" (land) plants and water plants here.

The planted area is designed to create a home for local wildlife such as lizards and birds. Plants provide shelter and food for animals – at the wetland you may see freshwater snails eating algae, lizards hiding under leaf mulch, or a turtle eating aquatic insects.

No animals were introduced; they have all made their way here freely. If you are quiet and remain still you might see frogs, skinks, aquatic birds or even a blue tongue lizard living at the wetland.

More than meets the eye!

Sometimes we forget that not all the life going on around us is big enough to see easily. At this wetland there are many small important creatures that make up the "web of life".

Some of the life in the wetland is so small you won’t be able to see it without a microscope. Single-celled animals and plants live in the mud and help keep the wetland working. In the same way we need good bacteria in our stomachs to keep us healthy, wetlands need bacteria to break down waste and make nutrients available for other animals. Small photosynthetic algae provide food for other animals and absorb nutrients from the water.

What lies beneath the surface?

Many of the shimmering insects you might see flying over the ponds started their lives as very small animals that live under water. As they grow they emerge out of the water and live as flying insects. Juvenile dragonflies, mayflies, and stoneflies all start life in the water. So do water boatmen, small freshwater snails, and tadpoles