Garden grows to raise spirits

A COMMUNITY garden is a good way to grow community spirit.
Noble Park English Language School’s Springvale campus has recently built a raised garden bed to bond and nurture its students, parents and staff.
The campus teaches English to primary-school-aged students from migrant and refugee backgrounds, many of them fleeing from traumatic situations in their homelands.
Campus co-ordinator Georgina White said the garden – full of vegies, herbs and flowers – was inclusive to their parents and families who are often prone to social isolation.
She said the projcct followed on from a book launch in June, which involved parents coming into school to help their children to write stories.
“We didn’t want to lose that partnership but strengthen it,” she said.
Bunnings Springvale helped with the garden’s installation and supplied materials.
Braeside firm Contract Slitters supplied the garden bed.
– Cam Lucadou-Wells