Biodiversity

One of PlantingSeeds’ missions – to support and propagate native bees – was the key focus of a recent Sydney Morning Herald and The Age feature. With mid-year’s World Bee Day generally shining the spotlight on the yellow and black European bee, we choose this time to promote our 1700 + native bee species to draw attention to their plight. Many native bee species are threatened, and we need them to support our native plants. They are also being shown to be helpful little pollinators with many agricultural crops. The SMH article interviewed PlantingSeeds’ Dr Judy Friedlander and other academics…

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The bogong moth (Agrotis infusa), once an abundant presence in the Australian skies, is now vanishing. Known for its extraordinary migratory patterns and revered in Aboriginal culture, this unassuming insect plays a vital role in both ecological balance and Indigenous heritage. But in recent decades, the bogong moth has faced a dramatic population collapse and is now listed as endangered—threatening not only biodiversity but also cultural traditions intimately tied to its life cycle. The journey of the bogong Moth Each Spring, the bogong moth embarks on one of the most astonishing migrations in the insect world. Born in the lowland…

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Have you noticed different bird species appearing in seasons that are different to your childhood memories? Sydneysiders will have noticed the yellow-tailed black cockatoo in greater numbers in summer. In the Sydney region, they have traditionally been more visible during cooler months, but in recent years, their presence has been increasingly recorded during summer. This shift is believed to be connected to climate change, as altered rainfall patterns and heat stress affect the availability of food in their usual habitats. The yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Zanda Funerea) is found along the south-eastern mainland of Australia and Tasmania. It is listed as…

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This May 20th marks World Bee Day 2025 - a day to celebrate our pollinators and the many integral roles they play in our ecosystems. The 2025 theme is ‘Bee Inspired by Nature to Nourish us All’, emphasising the irreplaceable role of bees in both our global agriculture systems, and our natural ecosystems. While the European honeybee is widely celebrated, on this World Bee Day, PlantingSeeds wants to highlight the importance of our native Australian bees, with over 1700 species we can learn about and admire! Bees & Australian food security In terms of food security, the importance of bees…

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Through Penfolds Evermore Australia Grant PlantingSeeds’ B&B Highway officially establishes itself in Adelaide this April 2025 thanks to a generous Penfolds’ grant. The Penfolds Evermore Australia grant funding has allowed PlantingSeeds to take root in South Australia to build a pollinator-friendly regenerative and educational community initiative.  Our B&B Highway program – Bed and Breakfasts for Bees, birds and biodiversity – creates urban sustainability hubs where locals learn about local plants and pollinators and, importantly, the skills and practices to support them. We were thrilled when Penfolds recognised PlantingSeeds and its alignment with the Penfold organisation’s focus areas of food, winemaking,…

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