Botanic Garden begins to grow

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Friends of Geraldton Gardens Chairperson Irene Ghannage is joined by group members and volunteers as she plants the first Banksia seedling in Stage 1 of the Maitland Park Botanic Garden Project. From left to right Roxanne Grant, Cheryl Galloway, Leslie Colliver, Stan Maley, Ray Morton, City of Greater Geraldton Councillor Natasha Colliver and Member for Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney.

Friends of Geraldton Gardens Chairperson Irene Ghannage is joined by group members and volunteers as she plants the first Banksia seedling in Stage 1 of the Maitland Park Botanic Garden Project. From left to right Roxanne Grant, Cheryl Galloway, Leslie Colliver, Stan Maley, Ray Morton, City of Greater Geraldton Councillor Natasha Colliver and Member for Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney.

The staged transformation of Maitland Park into a botanic garden has begun with the first native seedlings being planted by Friends of Geraldton Gardens (FroGGs) members and volunteers on Saturday.

The first project in Stage 1 of the Maitland Park Botanic Garden Master Plan involves replacing the shrubs at the existing park entry wall with a variety of native plants to show case the Mid West’s diverse plants and wildflowers.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said he was pleased to see Stage 1 of the project Council endorsed in July 2016 finally take root.

“This project which is supported by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City has been a number of years in the making and it’s great to see ‘in’ ground works finally starting to happen,” he said.

“The first step in the transformation of Maitland Park into a botanic garden featuring local native trees, shrubs and wildflowers is an excellent and sustainable use of public open space and Council is pleased to be able to support a community group’s passion.”

FroGGs Chairperson Irene Ghannage said the first plantings have successfully laid the foundation for the project.

“Since signing an MOU with the City in November 2016 to create the botanic garden, FroGGs has been growing its member base and working diligently towards this day,” she said.

“I am thrilled that the project is finally starting and we are turning our master plan into reality.

“Now that the entry wall is completed we can concentrate on the remainder of Stage one plantings which will be spectacular cross section of a few of our region’s diverse and unique flora.”

The 160 local native seedlings including Geraldton Wax and Banksias planted in an around the entry wall were provided by the Community Nursery and The Drylands Permaculture Nursery.   Everlasting wildflower seeds were also sown between the plants.