Looking Beyond the Surface: How to Read a Landscape and Work With It

When we look at a landscape, it’s easy to focus on what’s right in front of us - the dry grass, the dusty soil the dry dam, maybe a couple of brave weeds clinging to life. But every patch of land holds so many more stories than what meets the eye.

Take our little patch of land in Amphitheatre, for instance.  Right now, it’s bone dry thanks to a long stretch of drought. But underneath that parched surface? Life is buzzing and crawling  - quite literally!  Our farm sits within a “Dry Grassy Forest” ecosystem.  It’s a name thought up by humans, but it helps us understand how everything fits together - the plants, the soil, the beetles, the spiders, the birds, and yes, the bees.

But I’ve been thinking: What used to be here? What lived and thrived on this land before fences went up and invasive species like rabbits and goats moved in? And maybe more importantly, what could this land look like in the future?

Our farm sits within a “Dry Grassy Forest” ecosystem

Using Tools Like NatureKit to Travel Through Time

One of my favourite tools for exploring these questions is a free online platform called NatureKit. It’s basically a treasure map for biodiversity nerds like me!  Using it, I can zoom in on our farm and discover what plants and animals used to live here — before colonisation, before agriculture, before roads.

NatureKit shows something called Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) - a fancy way of saying “this is what nature looked like here.” It even lists the species that would have grown in the canopy, understorey, and ground layer — plus the typical weeds to watch out for.

This info is gold if you’re trying to restore or rewild a patch of land. Because when we understand what should be growing in a space, we can work with nature, not against it.  

Pelargonium rodneyanum is a small, perennial herb that is very resilient and endemic in our area

Not All Native Plants Are Locally Native

You’ve probably heard people say, “plant natives!” - and that’s great advice.  But did you know not all native plants are locally native?  A plant might be Australian, but not adapted to your specific patch of earth.

That’s why I always encourage people to ask: “Is this plant locally native?” Plants that are endemic (which means they only grow in a specific geographic area) are often perfectly tuned to the local soil, climate, and insects - which makes them super resilient and low-maintenance.

Climate Change & Poleward MIgration

Of course, the climate is changing, and that’s forcing plants and animals to change too. Species are slowly moving toward the poles in search of suitable habitat - something known as poleward migration. It’s like a slow-motion shuffle, as species try to find the conditions they need to survive.

But that also means we need to plant with care. Even native species can become invasive if they’re plonked into the wrong spot and start taking over. That’s why it’s so important to look at the landscape - and really look.

Drought Conditions - the dams are empty!

Let Nature Be Your Guide

One of my favourite things? Seeing nature take the lead. This year we’ve had some beautiful surprises: eucalyptus, gravillia and acacia seedlings popping up all on their own. That’s nature thriving.  And when I do my own plantings, I always try to listen to what the land is telling me.

Exploring local reserves and even roadsides is another great way to get inspired. Every park, every creekline, every overgrown verge is like a window into what could be growing on your patch.

Want to Learn More?

If you're curious about how to use NatureKit and other amazing biodiversity tools, I run hands-on workshops to help people connect with their local ecosystems, decode their landscapes, and plant with purpose.

Check out the Workshops tab on our website or drop us a line.