We arrived at Uambi Reserve in Heathmont, east of Melbourne, between the city and the Dandenong Ranges. Protected by Trust for Nature and surrounded by suburbia, it's feels like a time machine for nature in this developed landscape. The reserve supports mixed stringybark woodlands, native orchids and a range of regionally significant plants that are becoming increasingly difficult to find close to the city.

I'm thrilled to be joined by Dr Kaori Yokochi from Deakin University for a walk through the reserve. I really admire her work. I've seen Kaori speak before, and every time I'm blown away by her knowledge. She has this incredible ability to explain complex ecological ideas in a way that's warm, engaging, practical and genuinely exciting.

This episode takes us into the hidden world of Melbourne's bats and explores why darkness is every bit as important to nature as daylight. Before this conversation, I understood light pollution as a concept, but I don't think I'd ever fully appreciated just how important natural darkness is to healthy ecosystems. Once you start thinking about it, you realise it's affecting far more than you ever imagined.

We talk about light pollution, dark corridors, urban ecology, and the surprisingly simple things we can all do to make our suburbs better places for wildlife.

Every time I speak with Kaori, I come away understanding Melbourne's ecology a little better. This conversation uncovered another layer of the city that I'd never really thought about before, and I hope it does the same for you.

https://experts.deakin.edu.au/38667-kaori-yokochi

https://australasiandarkskyalliance.org/

https://trustfornature.org.au/reserves/uambi-reserve/

https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/how-to/garden-light-pollution-lightbulb-moment/106785892