Baulkham Hills Community Garden
The increase in apartments in our town centres and around transport brings with it an important need for access to open and green space for residents. The importance of this need cannot be understated given the direct links between good physical and mental health and open space.
Community gardens are becoming more common as a way of providing a space for those who live in apartments who don’t have access to their own gardens as well as for those who live on smaller lot sizes with little to no backyard.
Community Gardens provide an opportunity for residents to dig around the dirt, grow their own herbs, fruits and vegetables, find some stress relief, enjoy the outdoors and connect with other community members.
In 2021, the first Community Garden opened in Conie Avenue, Baulkham Hills, driven by the Hills-Kellyville Rotary Club. For many years, the Hills-Kellyville Rotary Club have run the Orange Blossom Garden Competition and have seen the joy gardens and gardening itself bring to people.
President of the Rotary Club of The Hills-Kellyville John van den Burg said: “Our involvement in the Garden Competition revealed an opportunity for a Community Garden given the increase in higher density living in the area. We believe that this initiative could benefit many in the Community for decades to come.”
The Club saw the need for a Community Garden that would bring together residents who live in the apartments in and around the Baulkham Hills town centre and to contribute to their well-being.
With a lot of hard work and determination particularly by Rotarian Keith Stapley, the Hills- Kellyville Rotary got the Community Garden in Baulkham Hills off the ground with assistance from the Hills Council, local businesses, community members and a grant from the Federal Government.
To visit the Baulkham Hills Community Garden shows that the effort in establishing and running the Garden is well worth it. There is a sense of community and belonging by the members of the community who are no longer strangers but friends.
It is a place to learn and share knowledge on gardening, nature, cooking and to trade produce and recipes. It is bringing together residents of all ages and backgrounds and is adding to the community spirit of the Hills. The Community Garden is a great place to spend time and is so popular with residents that it needs to expand in the near future.
Anyone can join the Baulkham Hills Community Garden and it is not restricted to residents living in Baulkham Hills. There is a small fee to join with all funds going back into the maintenance and running of the garden. Regular gardening sessions are held on most Saturdays between 9am and 12pm so why not pop down and check it out?
For more information on the Baulkham Hills Community Garden including upcoming events such as Open Days go to https://www.hillscommunitygarden.com
