19/06/2026
As friends of the very active Whittlesea Climate Change Action Network (WCAN), we joined a visit to Nugal Biik Plants and Seeds in Wollert. Nugal Biik is a production nursery specialising in indigenous flora from Melbourne's northern region and operates as a social enterprise supporting First Nations initiatives and conservation activities.
Walking through the nursery and seeing the incredible diversity of plants being grown was inspiring, and we left feeling really optimistic. There were grasses, shrubs, and trees, including many species that are now rare or endangered. These species are so important for restoring Victorian grasslands.
Hearing about the team's work in Indigenous horticulture and plant propagation was particularly fascinating. They are learning and applying techniques that work with nature rather than against it, including specialised seed mediums with no phosphorus and, for some species, creating smoky conditions to encourage germination. There is just so much knowledge here and so much for all of us to learn.
At one stage, our founder Maggie McDonell held a tiny seed of a River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) in her hand, expressing how it was almost impossible to comprehend how something so small contains everything needed to become one of Australia's most iconic, long-lived, and magnificent trees.
It was wonderful to see organisations like Nugal Biik doing such important work, and equally encouraging to see so many people across our community contributing their time, knowledge, and passion to conservation and restoration efforts.
