After nearly two years of planning, The Rotary Club of The Hills-Kellyville has proudly established a Community Garden at Conie Avenue Reserve, Baulkham Hills which will be officially opened on Saturday, May 1.

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Keen gardeners who have snapped up the plots and have already been planting and the Garden is beginning to take shape.

The community garden has been established with the support of The Hills Shire Council, a Federal grant along with help from members of the community and local businesses.

Community gardens have shown to contribute to a better and healthier lifestyle by:

• providing fresh, safe, affordable herbs, fruits and vegetables

• helping to relieve stress and increase sense of wellness

• Getting people active to help improve overall physical health

• Providing social opportunities that build a sense of community and belonging

• Giving people an opportunity to learn and share knowledge on gardening, nature, and cooking

• Providing an inclusive meeting area where all interested people of all ages and cultural backgrounds can come together to share experiences

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The idea for a community garden grew from Orange Blossom Garden Competition which The Rotary Club of The Hills-Kellyville has been involved with running for several years.

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.”

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With the help of generous donors including Bunnings Castle Hill, Turtle Landscape Supplies and Cooks Plumbing, members of the Rotary Club of The Hills-Kellyville along with interested community members prepared the site and built the garden beds.