Habitat Gardens
Habitat Gardens is a free program through Ipswich City Council's Enviroplan initiative.
This is an urban partnership designed to help people with smaller blocks to make a positive contribution to Ipswich’s environmental outcomes.
The program provides incentives such as free native plants, quarterly updates, professional advice and flora and fauna identification materials.
How to apply
The preferred method of applying for the Habitat Gardens partnership is to fill in the application form online.
Fill in the online application form here
Alternatively, download the application form(PDF, 197KB) and email it to council@ipswich.qld.gov.au or return to the Concierge Desk in the council building at 1 Nicholas Street, Ipswich.
Eligibility criteria
Properties can be any size and in any Planning Scheme or Nature Conservation zone. Properties that are in Habitat Gardens are ineligible for other Landholder Conservation Partnerships.
Requirements:
- Intent to remove all environmental weeds and replace with native species
- Willingness to actively engage in the program
- Intent to improve sustainable practices
- Five-year commitment with the option to renew
- Submission of a report every five years (see more information below)
Incentives:
- Quartely e-newsletter updates
- Workshops and other networking and learning opportunities
- Resources, where available
- 20 additional plants a year through council's Free Plant Program
- Professional advice
Claiming free plants: Visit the Queens Park Nursery and show your Rates Notice (or other proof of residency) and Habitat Gardens certificate to Nursery staff. Habitat Gardens members are eligible for up to 20 additional tubestock each financial year. Please note that plant species change regularly. More information is on the Free Plant Program webpage.
Landholder report
Once a Habitat Gardens member reaches the end of their five-year agreement, a report on their progress and feedback on the program is required for acquittal.
Tips:
- Make sure to take lots 'before' photos when you join the program. You will need to supply 'before' and 'after' photos for the acquittal
- Keep a record of the free plants you collect through the program, and notes on your progress and challenges
- Keep a note of any workshops or events you attend, or if you access any resources and advice
- Keep a record of environmental weeds that you remove during your program membership
Five-year report - online survey
Alternatively, download the report document(PDF, 990KB) and email (along with required images) to partnerships@ipswich.qld.gov.au
Habitat Gardens iNaturalist
iNaturalist is a free platform to identify and document living things in our natural environment. You can use a smartphone or your desktop computer to provide observations.
Habitat Gardens members are encouraged to join the ‘Habitat Gardens’ Project within iNaturalist, to both show off your findings and see what other members have spotted!
More information is in the How to use iNaturalist brochure(PDF, 868KB) .
Brochures are also available at the Queens Park Environmental Education Centre.
Workshop presentations
Habitat Gardens members receive exclusive invitations to a range of workshops and presentations.
We encourage members to attend in person – they are a great opportunity to gain tips that you can use in your backyard project.
Please see below some recent presentations. It may not be possible to provide notes or slides for all presentations.
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