Friends of the Melton Botanic Garden are promoting sustainable living through a guided tour on Sunday, February 9 at 10am starting at the garden’s depot and nursery.
The guided tour is a part of the National Sustainability Festival, an Australia-wide event that runs through February.
Friends of Melton Botanic Garden president John Bentley said the group operates with a set of underlying sustainability principles.
“Many years ago Sustainable Living Festival, as it was called when it started, we noticed they did garden tours, and we thought that that would fit very well with what we do in the garden,” he said.
“The plants themselves are the main thing that people come to the garden to see, and our technique for planting plants helps maximise water capture from rainfall.”
The guided walking tour is a gentle 90-minute tour that will showcase the northern section of the Melton Botanic Garden to see plants that tolerate a dry climate and have low water requirements.
The Friends of Melton Botanic Garden has been taking part in the National Sustainability Festival since 2014.
“What they can learn through the tour are plants that are suitable for the Melton area, what we have done around the depot and the garden for reusing and repurposing, and work towards sustainability,” Mr Bentley said.
Mr Bentley said the gardens try to be carbon neutral.
“We have done calculations, and throughout the extensive planting we’ve done, we’re doing great carbon sequestration in the botanic garden.
“Plus, creating a green environment helps to reduce the temperature, and the other great thing is we increase the diversity of flora and fauna.”
Mr Bentley encouraged others to “consider planting for sustainability, and look at ways that you can personally reduce your cost because sustainability starts with each of us.”
Tickets and bookings available at: fmbg.org.au/
Faith Macale
