Bathgate garden good to go

South Dunedin Community Garden co-ordinator Graham Copson is looking forward to getting stuck in...
South Dunedin Community Garden co-ordinator Graham Copson is looking forward to getting stuck in at the Bathgate Park School site as spring approaches. Photo by Brenda Harwood.
The first sods are set to be turned at the Bathgate Park School Community Garden, in South Dunedin, in the next few weeks.

With funding secured for phase one of the $35,000 project, headed by the Rotary Club of Dunedin South, work on the garden's foundations can begin, project leader Graham Copson said.

The three-phase project, now under the umbrella of Grow South, aims to develop the 0.2ha (about half an acre) site behind the school buildings into several zones. These will include a decorative no-dig garden, a large growing bed, a composting area, raised growing beds, a ''BioDome'' greenhouse and a food forest. Virtually everything in the garden will be edible.

A grant of $15,000 from the Otago Community Trust had covered the entire cost of phase one of the community garden, ensuring the work could go ahead, Mr Copson said.

''The grant enables us to get stuck into site preparation and development of the pathways - basically putting the garden's foundations in place,'' Mr Copson said.

After this, volunteers would move into phase two - building raised growing beds and the BioDome greenhouse. An application for phase two funding had been made, with an answer due on July 10, he said.

Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Dunedin South and other community groups will come together to complete phase one and two of the project during the winter.

This would clear the way for community planting days to be held in spring, Mr Copson said.

''We have had such a positive response from funders and the community so far that we are very hopeful that the garden will be a success,'' Mr Copson said.

''It feels like the time is right for a project like this - we hope the garden will become a real community hub.

''Our vision is for members of the community to be able to come and lend a hand in the garden, learn about different styles of gardening, or just relax in the space,'' he said.

The development of the Bathgate Park School Community Garden opened up many possibilities, including supporting learning for local school pupils, student teachers, horticulture students and other community groups.

''There are many ways to take advantage of a garden such as this to support learning in a whole range of areas,'' Mr Copson said.

It was also possible that other community organisations might wish to establish their own community gardens in the future under the Grow South banner, he said.



A SNAPSHOT OFCOMMUNITY GARDENSIN DUNEDIN
• North East Valley Community Garden, North East Valley Normal School.
• Brockville Community Garden, Brockville School.
• South Dunedin Community Garden, Bathgate Park School.
• Dunedin Community Gardens, Shetland St Reserve, Kaikorai Valley.

Source: Dunedin City Council

Involved in a community garden? The Star would like to profile the city's community gardens and the people who work in them. Please send details to star@thestar.co.nz



 

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