The Lismore Rainforest Botanic Garden was ‘A proposal that has been in the wind for 24 years and working on this site for 11 years,’ said Lismore Mayor at the time Jenni Dowell at the opening of the gardens almost ten years ago.
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the garden there will be an open day on Sunday 28 May at 313 Wyrallah Road East Lismore 3kms from the Lismore CBD.
‘Now of course, our gardens look very different. Featuring Specialty Gardens and Walks, such as the Hoop Pine Forest Walk, Rainforest Walk, Wilson’s Park Species Garden, Sensory Garden, Palm Gully, Useful Plants and Encounters 2020 Gardens, the gardens are thriving,’ said president of Friends of the Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens (FLRBG), Tracey Whitby.
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The dream of establishing the garden started in 1988 with the FLRBG, a not for profit group of volunteer forming in December 1998.
‘The first plantings took place in 2002. Since then, thanks to the enormous efforts of the wonderful team of volunteers and with the support of the Lismore City Council, the Gardens have become a wonderful example of rainforest regeneration. It showcases only plants from within 200 kilometers of Lismore, the Gardens are a new style of Botanic Gardens. Native ground covers and grasses are encouraged,’ said Ms Whitby.
The Gardens are on Widjabul country and have been established on land given to the Friends by Lismore Council officially opening in June of 2013.
The garden provide a range of experiences with picnic areas, cubby house, sensory gardens, labeled trees and plants and information as well as Palm Gully and the Hoop Pine Fores and more.
Celebrating ten years
‘There will be an official celebrational gathering at the Visitors Centre at 10am. The Friends of the Gardens would love to see anyone who has been a volunteer at the gardens at any time since 1992 at the anniversary event,’ said Ms Whitby.
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