The University of Melbourne is running a long-term trial planting program with Greater Dandenong City Council called the Woody Meadow. Woody Meadows are diverse plantings of Australian shrubs and small trees maintained by hard-pruning to promote flowering and create dense canopies to exclude weeds and encourage biodiversity. These plantings are part of a network of Woody Meadow sites across Australia. These trial sites will inform design and management of future Woody Meadows to improve the function and appearance of public landscapes.
Greater Dandenong has three Woody Meadows at Burden Park, Ross Reserve and Dandenong Park (Princes Highway). The Woody Meadows were planted in June/July 2021.
The sites were coppiced (cut back) in May 2026 and will be coppiced again biennially thereafter.
The photos below show the site plan, the first coppicing event and images of the site, one year after planting.
Visit the Woody Meadow website to read more information about this project
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Site of Burden Park Woody Meadow -
Burden Park Woody Meadows - Preparation of site -
Burden Park Woody Meadows - Preparation of site -
Burden Park Woody Meadows - One year after planting -
Site of Ross Reserve Woody Meadows -
Ross Reserve Woody Meadows - Preparation of site -
Ross Reserve Woody Meadows - Preparation of site -
Ross Reserve Woody Meadows - One year after planting -
Site of Princes Highway Woody Meadow -
Princess Highway (Dandenong Park) - Preparation of site -
Princess Highway (Dandenong Park) - Preparation of site -
Princess Highway (Dandenong Park) - One year after planting
