The Friends of Kyneton Botanic Gardens group is ending 2024 with increased membership and major progress in the gardens.
Members are also celebrating two successful tours as part of the Daffodil and Arts Festival, a successful plant sale with Kyneton Horticultural Society in November and significant plans for the year ahead.
The Friends have worked with Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s horticultural team on several key projects in the gardens which have either been completed, started or planned.
A bulb planting day in May resulted in a colourful display of daffodils, tulips, ranunculi and freesias along the Clowes Street boundary in spring with the addition of a meandering pathway through the area enabling visitors to enjoy the blooms. Significant structural work on pathways, spoon drains and steps in the central section of the gardens proved essential during heavy rain events.
Every month throughout the year working bees have progressively weeded many of the garden beds.
Some of these are now awaiting new plantings in autumn and others have already been re-planted, for example, four big beds at the Ebden Street entrance and a new hedge line along the lower section of the Clowes Street boundary.
MRSC engaged renowned horticultural consultant and local resident, Simon Rickard, to assess the current plants and design layout in the gardens and advise on a planting scheme to guide any future work.
During November two MRSC contractors also cleared the steep roadside embankment of weeds and elm suckers and restored the historic bluestone pathways in the Fern Gully. The works are in preparation for staff and FKBG volunteers to rejuvenate this long neglected part of the gardens in the New Year.
FKBG is also hopeful that, subject to council funding, a major upgrade to the front entrance on Mollison Street will go ahead soon.
The Friends group has made a submission to the council’s 2025-2026 Budget priorities for consideration.
FKBG’s submission aligns details four key priorities for capital works funding: a new toilet block, new plant labelling and way-finding signage, upgrading the western entrance off Clowes Street, and, restoring and adding new pathways within the gardens to improve flow and connectivity.
The FKBG committee thanked all members and supporters who attended events, meetings, working bees and plant sales throughout the year. The final Working Bee for FKBG members is December 17 at 9.30am.
