TOWN AND COUNTRY GARDENS

Saturday and Sunday April 16 & 17, 2011

In April 2011 the Friends of the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens co-ordinated the opening of six local gardens from Burradoo to Burrawang which brought almost 1500 people into the district from far afield following extensive publicity in metropolitan and regional areas including Canberra, Sydney and the South Coast.

A huge plant stall numbering 2000 different species was a huge success with visitors taking the opportunity to purchase unusual and well established plant specimens that had been propagated by the Friends Group over a long period.

The event raised $25,000 towards the establishment of the Southern Highlands Botanic Garden to be located at the corner of Old South Rd and Kangaloon Rd Bowral.

“We are indebted to the Friends who have supported the Botanic Garden concept and this initiative that has resulted in such a wonderful financial outcome for SHBG” said President, Charlotte Webb.

“We are now pushing forward with the next phase of the development that will include fencing and the professional design of the site together with the infrastructure to bring the site to fruition” said Charlotte Webb.

Wingecarribee Shire Council has recently approved the Plan of Management to allow further stages to now commence and following the dedication of the site by Her Excellency The Hon Professor Marie Bashir last September.

“The completed site promises to be an integral part of the visitor tourist’s list of things to see in the Highlands and will provide an ideal eastern gateway to Bowral” said Charlotte Webb.

It is planned that future Open Garden Weekends will be a feature in ongoing planning by the Friends of the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens which promises to be a draw card for the Highlands.

Steve Rosa, Executive Manager, Tourism Southern Highlands explained “this inaugural event is the perfect partner to our expanding event strategy and existing open garden days.”  He continued “the Southern Highlands has always held a fascination for garden enthusiasts and the creation of this annual event will compliment and enhance the Autumn visitor experience to the Southern Highlands”.