Urban Forest knowledge hub

Hear from Renata Chaplin from Harold Hawthorne Centre about their Urban Forest Grant experience.

What project did you use the grant to complete?

We used the grant on a very exciting project, we designed and planted garden areas around the Centre which represent and are themed around the WA Noongar people's important knowledge system, the Six Seasons calendar.

The six seasons being Makuru (June-July), Djilba (Aug-Sept), Kambarang (Oct-Nov), Birak (Dec-Jan), Bunuru (Feb-March) and Djeran (Apr-May).

We wanted to not simply plant trees but use the opportunity to ensure that the project had meaning, was educational, paid respect to the local first nations peoples wisdom of native fauna and flora and utilised this wisdom to ensure that the urban forest we are contributing to will be appropriate for our environmental conditions, tell a story and engage the community.

What made you apply for a UF grant with the Town? 

The Centre has a close relationship with the Town and aligns closely with the Town's strategic community plan.  Our Centre is located within the ToVP and we strongly support the Town's goal to increase green canopy. We identified opportunities around the Centre where we could contribute to this goal by planting more trees and greenery, and we were excited to apply for the UF grant to assist us to fund our greening project.

As a non-for-profit organisation, we rely on grants to be able to deliver such projects with the ultimate aim to benefit the community. This was a perfect opportunity for us to contribute to the Town's goals and bring together the community to be part of something meaningful which will have lasting benefits.

Are you happy with the result?

We are extremely happy with the results. After the Six Seasons gardens we planted, we held a walk around information session with the local community to tour them through the spaces we created. Our Horticulturalist ensured this was an interactive and informative activity which included telling the story of each space, how each space reflects one or more of the six seasons, and the meaning behind the design and the plants themselves.

We've received lots of positive feedback from the community, not only on the look of each space but also the feedback on having learned something new. It has been really rewarding seeing the plants growing and the spaces keep changing over time as the plants are developing and coming together.

How did you find the process of working with the Town?

We have always found the process of working with the town positive. We really appreciated the regular updates and check ins and the consultation meeting we had with the Town's urban forest staff was helpful in clarifying the process, the timeframes, and confirming that we were on the right track.

When some things needed to be changed due to availability of plants or unforeseen circumstances, the Town was always understanding and flexible which was greatly appreciated.   

Do you have any advice for others who are thinking of applying?

I encourage others to apply, as the initiative is such an important one and highly rewarding to be part of. Where opportunities to involve and collaborate with others in a community focused project arise, I would encourage others to get on board. The process is not too onerous and the support from the Town has been great. I would also offer to assist, share our experiences with others who may be interested if they wanted to reach out.

What role do they play for the Jirdarup Bushland?

“Slime moulds are part of an ecosystem and play a role in the Jirdarup Bushland and anywhere else in the world where there is vegetation, as part of the web of life in this Bushland ecosystem,” explained Karina.

“Slime moulds are part of an ecosystem and play a role in the Jirdarup Bushland and anywhere else in the world where there is vegetation, as part of the web of life in this Bushland ecosystem,” explained Karina.

“They are the food source for small invertebrates in this Bushland that then become the major food source for other insects that cycle nutrients, pollinate plants, disperse seeds, maintain soil structure and fertility, control populations of other organisms, and provide a major food source for other important and more visible fauna.”

An interesting fact that Karina shared is that slime moulds can get ‘smarter’ as they get bigger. They also can move quite fast and able speed up the journey to find food.

What can we do to preserve slime moulds in our bushland ecosystems? 

“There is still very little known about slime moulds in Australia, as there is hardly anyone truly dedicated just to collecting and documenting slime moulds,” said Karina.

“Yet there are 250 species recorded in WA out of 1000 species globally and so far two considered currently endemic to just our state, mainly found through the work of citizen scientists.”

“We probably still have a lot to learn about slime moulds, and especially in Australia as they rely on growing on vegetation and of course being an old country with endemic plant species, just here in the Jirdarup Bushland there might be some very unique slime moulds.”

“If you have some spare time and/or would like to learn more, I can recommend getting in touch with the Slime Mold Identification and Appreciation Facebook group to kick-off your learning on the basics such as where to find slime moulds in a Slime Safari event.”

“You can also head to iNaturalists online to record your observations and share your findings for discussions with scientists and other fellow naturalists around the world.”

For more information on slime moulds or to hold a 'Slime Safari' event, email Karina at wamyxophile@gmail.com