Growing Home
Cooling Our Neighbourhoods
Cities are full of roofs and roads which trap significantly more heat than green spaces. The heat retained in these impermeable surfaces make our neighbourhoods even hotter during heatwaves particularly at night in a phenomenon known as Urban Heat Island Effect.
Brimbank is highly vulnerable to heat island effect as more than 60% of our municipality is covered in impermeable surfaces such as roads, carparks, house roofs and footpaths.
An easy way to begin to reduce heat in our neighbourhoods is to use nature! Trees and other vegetation provide shade and cool the air through evapotranspiration. They also provide a wealth of other benefits including reducing air pollution, reducing heating and cooling costs, providing food and increasing biodiversity.
Over the coming year, we will be distributing trees and other plants to Brimbank residents for planting in private gardens or on nature strips.
We are keen to hear about your experience of extreme heat and what methods you are currently using to stay cool during extreme heat.
If you are interested in adopting a tree and/or planting a nature strip garden, please complete the survey and tell us about what type of tree would suit your home.
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Stay up to date with this project by completing the COOLING OUR NEIGHBOURHOODS SURVEY or email coordinator@kcnh.org.au to join the mailing list
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This project is supported by Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation and Brimbank City Council's Community Grants Programs
ADOPT A TREE!
So far we have distributed 836 trees to residents in Brimbank for planting around their homes!
The project is providing productive, deciduous, native and indigenous varieties.
Our next tree collection will be happening in September with details sent out via email.
If you haven't yet signed up to adopt a tree, you can register by completing our survey at:
NATURE STRIP GARDENS
Tapping the potential of our nature strips!
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Our nature strips gardens are well under way, with a nature strips garden in various stages of creation in Sunshine West, Sunshine, Albion and Ardeer.
Each nature strip is being planted out with a mix of indigenous grasses and flowering herbs. The species we are using can be found HERE
In May we held a workshop facilitated by Edible Eden's Karen Sutherland looking at ​Increasing Biodiversity, Habitat and Pollinator Corridors on Nature Strips.
In coming weeks, we'll have some boxes of indigenous plants available to giveaway to support community to begin to create their own wildlife gardens using indigenous plants.
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Climate Adaptation and Tackling Urban Heat Island
Interested in learning more about how you can use the strategic placement of trees, shrubs and annual crops to both cool your home (and in some cases help reduce winter drafts)?
Come along to one of our upcoming workshops focussing on how to use plants to provide shade and cool the air around your home.
We'll be holding a mix of face-to-face and online sessions, over coming months, with the next session at Sunshine Library.
​Introduction to Cooling your Environment with Plants
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An introduction to nature-based strategies to cool your home with Edible Eden's Karen Sutherland. Suitable for homeowners and renters, session will cover topics including: tree selection and placement, protecting your buildings and root management; temporary plantings using annual vines and vegetables; using potted shade; and looking after your trees to maximise the cooling they provide.
Attendees will receive a voucher to order a tree for home delivery from the Diggers Club.
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Wednesday 16 August, 6.30pm, to 7.30pm
Sunshine Library, Harvester Rd, Sunshine