A Garden in Harmony with Nature : Celebrating Biodiversity at Bec Hardy

Over the past 15 years, Richard and I have watched the landscape around the Bec Hardy cellar door quietly evolve. What began as a decision to replace exotic plants with native species, along with the simple addition of a bird bath behind the building, has led to a noticeable increase in biodiversity.

In celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity and this year's theme, Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development, we wanted to share the story of how a small, thoughtful approach to planting has created a thriving ecosystem around our McLaren Vale cellar door. 

After the renovations we made to cellar door in 2020 we invited a few friends for a small ‘opening party’, and a friend of us, Shaun, gifted us some Correa seedlings, whose seeds were sourced from Blewitt Springs. These correas have thrived around cellar door, and their nectar-rich flowers have attracted an even greater number of honeyeaters to the property. Among the honeyeater species we regularly see are the New Holland Honeyeater, White-plumed Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, and the distinctive Eastern Spinebill. 

Other regular bird visitors to the garden include;
•    The Superb Fairywren, often seen darting through low shrubs.
•    The Striated Pardalote, who is seen around the birdbath
•    Silvereyes, now a common presence, moving in small flocks through the garden.
•    Both Adelaide and Eastern Rosellas, which add a splash of colour and are becoming increasingly familiar visitors.
•    Tawny Frogmouths can occasionally be spotted sitting on branches of the grey box eucalyptus trees that surround cellar door
•    The occasional Kookaburra, the most distinctive birdcall in the country. 
•    The highly active Grey Fantail, known for its constant tail-flicking and insect-chasing.
•    The beautiful call of the Grey Shrike-thrush, my favourite birdcall

One of the more surprising arrivals has been the native bush rat. Often misunderstood, these small mammals play an important ecological role — dispersing seeds and helping to aerate the soil. We’ve also had a microbat take up residence in the cellar door toilet for a day — an unexpected visitor, but a great reminder of the variety of life around us (and of the value of natural pest control!). And on a few memorable occasions, koalas have wandered through the grey box gums surrounding the cellar door — a magical and distinctly Australian presence that never fails to delight.

What’s particularly rewarding is how all of this biodiversity enhances the atmosphere of the cellar door itself. The garden is no longer just decorative, it’s part of a functioning landscape that supports local fauna. It’s a reminder that small changes can have a meaningful impact when it comes to supporting the local environment.

We hope that when guests visit, they take a moment to appreciate not just the wines, but the life around them. A pause by the bird bath or a look into the garden might reveal one of these species going about its business - evidence of a small but thriving ecosystem right here in McLaren Vale.

Cheers

Bec