Biodiversity is the variety of living things in an ecosystem. When there are lots of different plants, animals, insects and fungi, the ecosystem is healthier.

Higher biodiversity landscapes can provide many benefits to people, including mental and physical health benefits.

Snakes are part of Merri-bek’s biodiversity. They have always been present in certain areas where they can find prey such as frogs, reptiles and rodents.

Snake bites are very uncommon. Nevertheless, we advise exercising caution around areas of long grass during spring and summer when snakes are active, and to keep dogs on-leash in areas of long grass.

If you do see a snake, remember to keep calm and move away slowly.

We are maintaining a short mown buffer around all test sites where visibility for snakes will be best.

We have conducted a risk assessment process and continue to uphold our responsibilities under the Metropolitan Fire Brigades Act 1958, and undertake this trial in accordance with our Municipal Fire Management Plan.

Trial areas are all within low fire risk rated areas, and will be mown at least once prior to summer to reduce fuel loads and the risk of grass fires.

We will continue to monitor fuel loads and weather conditions throughout the trial.

Reducing mowing should allow more plant species to grow. It’s likely that most of these will be exotic (non-native) plants, including weeds. Exotic plants and weeds can still provide valuable habitat and food for native insects.

We will be looking at the abundance of weeds as part of the trial and monitoring the surrounding garden areas for increased weeds.

We have avoided situating trial sites close to sensitive vegetation to minimise risk of weeds spreading.

Trial areas will be monitored for weeds and mown to intercept seed-set where possible. We will continue to respond to environmental weeds as needed.

So far, the trial has looked at changing our management practices and gathering community feedback.

The next step is to develop a framework for collecting data. We'll work with ecologists and entomologists to collect and analyse data. These experts will guide us on how to proceed.

A successful trial will provide useful data on how a reduction in mowing affects the diversity and abundance of insects and plants.

The continuation of reduced mowing will depend on the biodiversity outcomes and public feedback.