“One personal aim was to add to the local environment, diversity in flora and habitat through beautification and acutely plant choice. An added benefit has been my expanded knowledge of plants and the environment through others’ expertise.
Meeting extraordinary local people and in turn building and growing in a community while networking with other gardening/greening groups has been wonderful.
New friendships have developed with like minded people. The health benefits physically, emotionally and mentally are well documented and they just improve naturally. Giving back into a broader community as plants grow, non gardeners stop and take the time to enjoy.
Being inclusive to encourage others to participate in whatever way they are able, working across the age/ability spectrum.
Once the garden beds are established with colour and growth –the broader community show greater interest and may even ask about certain plants they admire. Regular working bees bring the community together, building trust and creating new friendships.
After some time, propagation workshops can encourage further community involvement as well as a great education/learning tool for all.
Greening these patches opens up knowledge and skills in the community that can be shared. There may be a weed expert, someone with native plant knowledge, an avid propagator, a historian, an artist to paint stobie poles, someone with strong mosaic knowledge, a herb expert and so much more already in the community. These small groups can give opportunity for those skills to shine, share and develop.”