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 Naturescape
BC is a program that provides educational support to protect, maintain and enhance wildlife habitat. Naturescape encourages creating diversity, layers, edges and using native plants when designing and retrofitting landscapes. These principles support Official Community Plans, local area plan policies, and the management goals of natural areas of Saanich's Parks Department.
The basic principles of Naturescape are:
- A commitment to stewardship
- Habitat creation & preservation
- Preservation of biodiversity
- Water conservation
While the use of native plants is encouraged, the main goal is to create habitat. Many non-native plants are recommended in the guide. Habitat creation can be as small as a window planter box or a larger butterfly garden plot consisting of bright colours and interesting textures. Alternatively, designs can be more 'naturalistic', covering large expanses of land and recreating the feel of a natural meadow or woodland. Many examples exist of beautiful, well-kept landscapes which incorporate the Naturescape principles and blend well with traditional maintenance landscapes.
With proper design your urban yard can become an extension of natural areas as wildlife habitat. The additional benefits to Naturescaping include:
- Water savings
- Reduced use of fertilizers
- Elimination of pesticides and imported peat moss
- Reduced cost for mowing
- Increase air quality and human health
- Reduced cost of purchasing, planting and tending annuals
- Reduced impact of invasive plant species
- Support for plant species which are at risk of loss
regionally
- Helping to define an image which is unique to our part
of the region
For more information visit the Naturescape BC web site.
See winner of the Saanich 2003 Naturescape contest.
SAANICH
2003 NATURESCAPE CONTEST
Winner "Most Artistic" category
"The house and lot we purchased was a mess - neglected
for over 10 years...Because of financial constraints we
are very creative when it comes to plant and material acquisitions!
Our mature rhodos and ferns all came from leaky condo construction
sites, salvaged from compost piles, etc. We built
a rustic retaining wall out of broom and holly plants we
removed from the lot and neighbourhood, and we've had so
much fun planning and observing the life returning to this
yard." - S Zupanec -
AFTER
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