Care for Nature at home

Natural lawns and gardens have huge benefits.  They are attractive, easy to care for, require little water, and are environmental friendly. Plus, they provide much needed habitat for many species of plants and animals. Whether you have a large backyard, or an apartment deck, there are things you can do that will benefit wildlife.

For beginning native plant gardeners, check out HAT's guide Gardening with Native Plants. Information, links, and ideas can be found in the menu to the right of this page.

More experienced gardeners seeking more information about growing or propogating a specific plant may wish to check out the Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team's site on Native Plant Propagation Guidelines.

Those wishing to salvage and transplant native plants that will be otherwise lost through development should consider participating in the District of Saanich's Native Plant Salvage Program.

It is also a good idea to be familiar with invasive plants, which are often found in wildflower mixes. The Coastal Invasive Plant Committee has a wealth of information on identifying and managing these damaging invaders.

If you are seeking information and detailed plans for wildlife feeding or habitat structures, you should look at Naturescape BC's Provincial Guide (2.5MB PDF) for ideas, sample plans, and more.

Good Neighbours and Habitat Stewards

Do you live in the Hagan Creek Watershed, and want personalised information on how to make your backyard more wildlife and watershed friendly? HAT is offering free, confidential property visits to help you identify ways to make your backyard more environmentally friendly, reduce maintenance and save water. See our Good Neighbours project page for more information.

If you are committed to best practices for wildlife and waterways, and you want to set an example for your community, consider becoming a Habitat Steward.  Habitat Stewards make a voluntary, written commitment to best land care practices that protect rare and sensitive habitats. If you see a Habitat Steward sign in your neighbourhood, you know that one of your neighbours is one of over 350 landowners that have made a committment to nature.