After hearing a radio interview about Canberra’s fledgling microforests, Jennifer Bardsley started one in her suburb of Holt in the Australian Capital Territory. Supported by a group of keen residents they got cracking.
Guided by Jennifer, they visited potential sites and created social media accounts to spread the word.
They also created a word map so they could see what new features were desirable to locals.
Jennifer Bardsley and the volunteer team raised $25,000 via crowdfunding to help fund their bushy neighbourhood microforest. In 2022, they installed 1500 plants with the help of primary school students and the community.
The Climate Factory chats with Jennifer about busy family life and why she wanted to create a neighbourhood microforest.
TCF: What’s your day job?
I am currently on maternity leave with our 7 month old baby. I also have a 10 year old and 8 year old son. Family keeps me pretty busy! When I’m not on leave, I am a public servant working in Information Technology.
TCF: What’s a ‘typical’ day look like for you?
At the moment night and day merge into a blur, we are still up through the night quite a lot with bub. Generally the morning focus is getting the children ready for school, followed by school drop-off, housework, walking the dog, school pick-up, afternoon sport activities, dinner and bed routines. In between that I try to spend some time with family and on writing, books and the micro-forest initiative.
When you are passionate and persistent, so many things are possible.
JENNIFER BARDSLEY
TCF: Why are you passionate about volunteering to create a microforest in your suburb?
My family and I love being outdoors. We love being surrounded by nature. It brings such a sense of fun, adventure, happiness and peace. It’s good for our mental and physical health. We are also worried about global warming and threats to biodiversity. We want to play our part in combating climate change and nurturing the natural world around us.
TCF: What’s a surprising fact about you?
Two of my other passions are writing and martial arts. I have recently published my first children’s book ‘A land of muddy puddles‘ and I am assistant instructor at a local Tae Kwon Do club.
TCF: Do you have any words of advice about being a leader? And if people are hesitant to have a go at being a ‘leader’ what would you say to them?
Be the change you want to see in the world. When you’re passionate and persistent, so many things are possible!
While it might seem daunting knowing where to begin, Jennifer says to check out the Microforest Blueprint. This is a series of eight easy-to-follow steps on how to make a community-led microforest.
