ERINDALE NEIGHBOURHOOD GARDEN
ANNUAL SCARECROW FESTIVAL 16TH - 20TH SEPTEMBER 2024!
This year's theme:
'FEATHERED FRIENDS:
OUR BEAUTIFUL BACKYARD BIRDS'.
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It's that time of the year again! Erindale Neighbourhood Garden will be holding its annual Scarecrow Festival in the week of 16th - 20th September 2024. This year's theme is "Feathered Friends: Our Beautiful Backyard Birds".
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We're very fortunate to have so many different types of native birds quite literally in our own backyards and neighbourhood parks here in Canberra: white cockatoos; galahs; crimson rosellas; magpies; fairy wrens .... the list goes on!
Preschools, day care centres, primary schools, families, and community groups are invited to build a scarecrow (as many as you like!) using recycled materials, for display at the Erindale Neighbourhood Garden during Scarecrow Festival Week. It's lots of fun! Click here for details.
The highlight of the Scarecrow Festival is the Children's Scarecrow Concert and Morning Tea
on Friday 20th September,10.00am!!
FEATURING THE
CHILDREN'S FAVOURITE -
WATTAS UKULELE BAND!!
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Would you like to be involved in our Garden?
There are many ways to participate! From growing your own vegetables in a raised garden bed, through to helping with general maintenance of our lovely native garden - it's up to you!
Send us a message through our CONTACT FORM for more information! We love to welcome new gardeners!
About Us
A group of Erindale non-profit organsiations and interested local people have created a community garden on an 830sq m block of vacant land at 39 Comrie Street, Erindale - just across the road from Erindale Shopping Centre in the heart of the Tuggeranong Valley. In the media every day we hear about childhood obesity and unhealthy eating choices; disconnected youth; or isolated and lonely elderly. The aim of the garden is not only to grow vegetables and to encourage healthy eating; it is even more about building links between individuals and community groups in the neighbourhood, and developing a sense of "belonging" for people in the Erindale precinct.
The garden of course has raised garden beds to grow vegetables; but it also includes a native and flower garden to relax in and for children to explore, and is designed to be wheelchair-friendly. The theme of the garden is inclusion.
What features have been constructed in the garden?
- 22 raised garden beds for vegetable growing; some beds designed for wheelchair access.
- Australian native garden with exploration pathways is a great favourite with children. A "bush tucker" bed is growing nicely.
- Herb gardens; children's play features; bird feeder all being put to good use.
- Covered pergola for shelter, conversation, and enjoying the view.
- Utilities area including a storage shed, compost bins and workbench.
- 1,000 litre water tank is in place, and collecting rainwater from pergola roof. Also mains water, with five tap points.
- Mesh fence and gates for security.
Our garden community includes a range of local organisations and individuals from the area that encircles the garden site: members of the Tuggeranong Uniting Church congregation; people who use the Erindale Neighbourhood Centre; Communities@work Family Day Care; people living at the adjacent units; and other Erindale residents. The ACT government licence to use the community-zoned land was issued for ten years from 1 May 2015. Construction of Stages 1 and 2 was completed in 2015-16. Due to demand, four more raised garden beds were constructed in 2018.
What is the garden used for?
- growing fruit and vegetables
- educating children and others about plants, growing food, healthy eating and outdoor play
- sharing gardening knowledge and expertise
- informal mentoring
- enjoyment of outdoors and community connections.
We believe the garden is generating a range of long term benefits for the Erindale and wider community.
Erindale Neighbourhood Garden is a not-for-profit initiative
managed by a community Garden Committee
Under the auspices of Registered Charity
Uniting Church of Australia (ACT) Property Trust
ABN: 17 745 976 530
Garden site before construction
Looking south east from Comrie Street
Sept 2014
Garden today
Growing food
Garden today
Native plant walk