Woodend Primary School’s Community Children’s Garden is having a makeover, thanks to generous locals and a Junior Landcare Biodiversity Grant.
The latest addition to the space is an indigenous garden that was planted by grade four-six children. Each species in the native garden will have an informative label, making the garden an educational self-guided tour of vegetation native to the area, including the threatened black gum.
An initiative of volunteer gardening facilitator and Woodend Landcare member Nicole Middleton, the Indigenous Plant Garden borders the vegie patch, and will form habitat for native birds, insects and lizards, who will help to pollinate vegetables and eat garden pests.
In addition to the new native section, the revamped space will include a sensory garden, fruit and berry areas, raised vegie beds, and a log-seat outdoor classroom.
The Woodend Community Children’s Garden was originally constructed 10 years ago by a group of dedicated parents, and maintained by school identity – Barb Lonsdale.
After Barb retired, the garden became overgrown.
Now it is having a facelift in line with the school’s redevelopment plans. New raised garden beds, weed mat made of old Midland Express newspapers, and woodchips from school landscape works, have helped to tackle the weeds.
Ms Middleton expressed gratitude to local groups that had assisted with the project, including the Woodend Men’s Shed for constructing the 10 new raised vegie garden beds, Newham Landcare for propagating the native seedlings, and Woodend Landcare for providing plant equipment and support on the planting day.
“While the Junior Landcare Grant enabled us to purchase soil, gravel, plants and signs, it did not include labour,” Ms Middleton explained.
“The bulk of the work restoring the garden area has been undertaken by school children and generous volunteers from the community.
“The work is not yet complete. We still have a mountain of gravel to move onto the walkways!”
Ms Middleton asks that anyone with a small loader or bobcat who is willing to help contact the school on 5427 2455.
