Test Garden Open Day – Birds in the Big City

Dr Jacinta Humphrey

Jacinta is an Urban Ecologist and Senior Research Fellow at The University of Melbourne. Her research focuses on urban bird conservation, including the decline of small woodland birds and the rise of noisy miners. She investigates how Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design can support native wildlife and enhance biodiversity in cities.

The Melbourne Arts Precinct Plant Trials is a three-year research project conducted at Burnley, led by Associate Professor Claire Farrell and Dr Dean Schrieke, that evaluates the plant species and mixes best suited to thrive in Laak Boorndap – the new 18,000 square metre urban garden that is being developed as part of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation.

Each month, we hold a small in-conversation event focused on gardening and planting design.

You can hear from gardeners, designers and horticulturists about the garden’s naturalistic planting. We also invite plant-loving writers and creatives to share their experience with us.

The talk may be followed by a hands-on workshop demonstrating artist-led practice with plants, such as cyanotype and botanical printing, and practical workshops, including propagation techniques and planting for your own garden.

Registration for our Test Garden Open Days is free and spaces usually book out fast. Make sure you’re following @laak.boorndap on Instagram to hear when we open registrations.