The native garden at Swan Reserve in Raglan Parade was started in the 1970s by Warrnambool members of the Society for Growing Australian Plants. In recent years the garden has been rejuvenated through the efforts of the Friends of Swan Reserve. It now features a banksia bed planted with indigenous varieties of banksias, a rare and endangered species bed and several feature trees.
Council has worked with the Friends group to improve the entire reserve with additions including a playground and an indigenous marrung – a gathering place which recognises the six tribes which exist in the Maar nation of the South West.
The reserve also features a series of decorated message poles created by a group of 22 students who worked with indigenous artist Tracey Roach and Aboriginal Elder Rob Lowe Senior.
The Nature Glenelg Trust funded the Biodiversity Garden Bed which contains Aboriginal food plants and habitat plants which attract birds and insect life. Signs at the beds help visitors identify plant species which include yam daisies, chocolate lilies and muntries, which are a berry with a flavour described as “spicy apple”.