Braeside Park in Melbourne’s south east is a large reserve made up of wetlands, grassy woodlands and protected heathland, sitting within a landscape that has changed dramatically over time.

In this episode of Finding Melbourne’s Nature, I walk through the park with Judith Sise OAM, president of the Friends of Braeside Park.

As we move through the reserve, Judith reflects on the long history of the site. Carrum Carrum Swamp, grazing land, horse training tracks, sewage farming, and eventually the creation of the park that exists today.

Walking through the reserve, you start to notice what remains. Old river red gums, some hundreds of years old, wetlands that fill and dry with the seasons, birds competing for nesting hollows, and fragments of heathland holding on within suburban Melbourne.

We talk about the ongoing work involved in caring for a place like this. Rabbits, water, declining orchids, revegetation, old trees under stress, and the challenge of protecting habitat in a changing landscape.

Judith also shares her own story, from growing up exploring bushland in Central Queensland to working in the nursery at Braeside Park and eventually leading the Friends group for more than a decade.

At the end of the episode, Judith also talks about the work of the Friends of Braeside Park, including propagation, planting days, bird walks and community restoration work. If you’re interested in getting involved, you can find out more at braesideparkfriends.org.au.