Habitat : A Practical Guide to Creating a Wildlife-Friendly Australian Garden

Cover; About the Author; Dedication; Title; Contents; A wildlife-friendly garden; Part One: Biodiversity for life; Chapter One: Connect, protect, respect and future proof; Case study: Butterflies on the roof; Chapter Two: The gardener-ecologist; Case study: Tullawonga wildlife refuge; Feature: Reconnecting habitat; Chapter Three: The backyard ecosystem; Case study: The whisper garden; Part Two: Backyard habitat; Chapter Four: Plants for your habitat garden; Case study: Recreating the bush on a suburban block; Feature: Plant directory; Chapter Five: Earthworms and insects.;An inspirational and practical how-to guide for people keen to attract fauna into their garden: for their own enjoyment and as a contribution to the health and sustainability of the environment. An inspirational and practical how-to guide for people keen to attract fauna into their garden: for their own enjoyment and as a contribution to the health and sustainability of the environment. In a world where suburban nature is declining and diversity is shrinking, Habitat is a practical guide for those of us who want to encourage insects, reptiles, frogs, birds and animals into our garden. Not only for our own enjoyment, but as a direct contribution to the health and sustainability of our local environment and wildlife. AB Bishop shows how to design, plant and maintain fauna-friendly landscapes, stressing the importance of understanding how all aspects of the backyard ecosystem are interlinked in order to create a truly authentic and effective habitat. This information-packed resource includes a detailed plant directory; information on what plants (native and exotic) suit what creatures and why; and advice on how to factor in the shelter, nesting, food and water requirements of different types of wildlife. A practical projects chapter features step-by-step instructions for soil testing; making compost tea; building and planting a frog pond; and constructing nesting boxes and insect hotels. Cover About the Author Dedication Title Contents A wildlife-friendly garden Part One: Biodiversity for life Chapter One: Connect, protect, respect and future proof Case study: Butterflies on the roof Chapter Two: The gardener-ecologist Case study: Tullawonga wildlife refuge Feature: Reconnecting habitat Chapter Three: The backyard ecosystem Case study: The whisper garden Part Two: Backyard habitat Chapter Four: Plants for your habitat garden Case study: Recreating the bush on a suburban block Feature: Plant directory Chapter Five: Earthworms and insects. Case study: A garden shaped by natureChapter Six: Frogs and reptiles Case study: Enhancing local habitat Feature: Undesirable visitors Chapter Seven: Birds Case study: Habitat Filter -- restored balance Chapter Eight: Animals Case study: A biodiverse produce and habitat garden Chapter Nine: Designing an ecological garden Case study: Building an ecosystem from the ground up Feature: What else can I do? Chapter Ten: Practical projects Feature: Australia's biodiversity hotspots Further reading Acknowledgments Index Image credits Copyright. In a world where suburban nature is declining and diversity is shrinking, Habitat is a practical guide for those of us who want to encourage insects, reptiles, frogs, birds and animals into our garden. Not only for our own enjoyment, but as a direct contribution to the health and sustainability of our local environment and wildlife. AB Bishop shows how to design, plant and maintain fauna-friendly landscapes, stressing the importance of understanding how all aspects of the backyard ecosystem are interlinked in order to create a truly authentic and effective habitat. This information-packed resource includes a detailed plant directory; information on what plants (native and exotic) suit what creatures and why; and advice on how to factor in the shelter, nesting, food and water requirements of different types of wildlife. A practical projects chapter features step-by-step instructions for soil testing; making compost tea; building and planting a frog pond; and constructing nesting boxes and insect hotels.