HUNDREDS of people are expected to head to Central Road in Port Macquarie this weekend for the official opening of The Lost Plot community garden.
The official opening between 10am and 2pm on Sunday (6 April) will be a celebration of years of hard work.
Special guest on the day will be Costa Georgiadis from ABC’s Gardening Australia, who will also conduct a workshop in No Dig gardening.
The community garden has been many years in the planning with initial investigations first commencing in 2009.
The council received funding through the NSW Community Builders program to establish the garden as a place where people can come together to grow fresh fruit and vegetables, meet, learn about gardening and healthy living and to play.
It is a project designed to increase connections between residents, celebrate community and develop and strengthen skills.
Mayor Peter Besseling is encouraging neighbours of the community garden, keen gardeners, want-to-be gardeners and members of the public in general to turn out in force for Sunday’s opening.
The community garden is already being well utilised with membership expected to soar after the official opening as more and more people take an interest in gardening and healthy living.
“This project has an exciting future and we are keen for as many people to benefit as possible whether it be through meeting new people, changing their lifestyles or just enjoying a fabulous new community space,” Cr Besseling said.
Local school students are being encouraged to get involved by participating in a scarecrow competition with Costa to announce the winning entries on the day. A number of ‘live’ scarecrows will also be making an appearance on the day.
There will also be food stalls, live music, street performers and workshops on ‘no dig’ gardening, propagation, worm farming and raw food preparation.
Local residents wanting to attend the opening are being encouraged to walk, ride or car pool. Alternatively they can travel by bus on route 325 (departing Port Central at 9.12am and 11.12am and Settlement City at 9.25am and 11.25am.
