Backyard Conservation

How to help wildlife in your own backyard

Easy DIY Projects

These simple DIY projects turn any backyard into a wildlife haven — start small and see who moves in!

BUILD A POSSUM DREY

Give ringtail possums a cozy, weatherproof place to snooze and raise their young.

You’ll need:

  • Two wire hanging baskets
  • Two coconut fibre basket liners, dried leaves, shredded paper, or hay
  • Cable ties or wire for attaching the baskets

How to build

  1. Line your basket with fibre and fill with soft nesting materials.
  2. Secure the drey high in a sheltered tree fork or dense shrub.
  3. Make sure it’s stable and out of reach of pets.

Tips

  • Avoid disturbing active dreys once they are in use.
  • Place more than one to reduce territorial disputes.
  • Position them near flowering or fruiting native plants for easy food access.
  • Don’t make the opening too large or the ringtail possums won’t feel safe and secure.
  • When you hang the possum drey make sure it is not in an exposed area and is hidden in the tree canopy
  • Don’t put it in an isolated tree, as the possums will have to come down to find food and to move around.
Two sets of hands are working on a possum drey, attaching a variety of leaves and greenery to it. One of the people is wearing a red Moonlit Sanctuary t shirt

BUILD A BUTTERFLY PUDDLER

Give butterflies a safe place to sip essential minerals and water in your garden.

You’ll need:

  • A shallow dish or saucer
  • Sand or fine gravel
  • Water
  • Small rocks or pebbles for perches

How to build

  1. Fill the dish with a layer of sand or fine gravel.
  2. Add water until the sand is damp but not flooded.
  3. Place a few small rocks or pebbles so butterflies have a place to land
  4. Position ina  sunny, sheltered spot near native flowers.

Tips

  • Keep the puddler damp, topping up water daily in hot weather.
  • Avoid deep water – butterflies can’t swim!
  • Surround with nectar-rich native plants for a butterfly buffet.
  • Don’t make the opening too large or the ringtail possums won’t feel safe and secure.

Invite nature’s delicate garden guests – your puddler will be the hottest spot in town!

BUILD A FROG HOTEL

Give local frogs a cool, safe place to rest and feed with this simple backyard project!

You’ll need

  • PVC pipes (3–4 widths)
  • Bowl or tub that holds water
  • Gravel or pebbles

Optional: native water plants, decorative rocks, solar light

How to build

  1. Cut PVC pipes to different lengths and smooth the edges.
  2. Arrange pipes upright in your bowl or tub.
  3. Fill around them with gravel or pebbles to hold in place.
  4. Add plants or rocks for shade and decoration.
  5. Fill with dechlorinated water — your frog hotel is open!

Tips

  • Top up with water every few days.
  • Keep the water level just below the gravel to deter mosquitoes.
  • Add a solar light nearby to attract insects for frogs to feed on.
  • Choose frog-friendly natives like common rush, bog primrose, native violet or frogsmouth.

Help your garden come alive — one hop at a time!

A variety of white pvc pipes are standing upright in a wooden pot that contains water and floating plants. Three additional pipes stand beside it and there are two green frogs on the pipes. Some pipes are straight and others have curved joins.
Many bamboo sticks are grouped tightly togther

BUILD A BEE HOTEL

Give solitary native bees a safe nesting spot and help pollinate your garden!

You’ll need

  • Hollow bamboo stems or paper straws
  • Timber block with drilled holes (4–10 mm wide)
  • Rope or wire for hanging
  • Shelter from rain

How to build

  1. Bundle bamboo or drill holes into timber.
  2. Ensure holes are smooth and closed at the back.
  3. Mount your hotel in a sunny, sheltered spot about chest height.
  4. Keep it dry — bees don’t enjoy soggy rooms!

Tips

  • Avoid treated or painted wood.
  • Replace materials every 1–2 years to prevent parasites.
  • Plant nectar-rich native flowers nearby.

Let the buzz begin!

BUILD A NEST BOX FOR MICRO BATS

Give microbats a safe, warm roost in your backyard with this simple DIY project! Nest boxes are also available for purchase from many online businesses.

You’ll need

  • Backboard (350 mm × 150 mm)
  • Baseboard (140 mm × 150 mm)
  • Front board (200 mm × 150 mm)
  • Top/lid (200 mm × 150 mm)
  • 2 Side boards (200 mm × 150 mm)
  • 2 Timber spacers (150 mm)
  • Self-tapping wood screws
  • Small piece of shade cloth (150 mm × 200 mm)
  • Staple gun & staples
  • 2 Eye bolts & washing line wire
  • Natural waterproofing oil

Tip: All pieces can be cut from a single plank of timber (150 mm × 1340 mm × 30 mm). Make sure to use untreated wood.

How to build

  •  Mount the timber spacers to the backboard.
  •  Attach the side boards with screws.
  •  Line the inside with shade cloth, stapling securely.
  •  Screw on the baseboard, leaving a 15–20 mm gap at the back for bats to enter.
  •  Attach the front board.
  •  Fix the lid with a slight overhang to keep the box dry and draught-free.
  •  Install eye bolts and thread through washing line wire for hanging.
  •  Paint or coat with natural waterproofing oil.
  •  Hang from a tree or mount vertically, 4-6m above the ground, in a sunny but sheltered spot with a clear flight path.

Tips & safety

  • Patience is key — don’t disturb the box, or bats may avoid it.
  • Never handle bats — they can carry diseases and should only be observed from a distance.

Create a quiet, safe haven for these amazing night-time pollinators and insect controllers — and enjoy watching your backyard come alive after dark!

A close up of a microbat showing its face with one wing folded beside it
A wet lorikeet stands in a stone bird bath

Make a Bird Bath

A simple bird bath can be a life-saver during dry spells.

You’ll need

  • Shallow bowl or dish
  • Rocks or pebbles for perching
  • Stand or safe elevated spot

How to build

  1. Place your bath in a shaded, open area away from hiding predators.
  2. Add a few stones for footing.
  3. Refill with fresh water daily.

Tips

  • Keep it clean — scrub weekly with a brush and rinse well.
  • Avoid deep bowls — shallow water is safest.
  • Position near shrubs for quick escape cover.

Every sip helps!

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