Geraldton’s Maitland Park is now home to a botanical garden thanks to the combined efforts of community groups

Maitland Park is looking greener after a new botanical garden was planted by the local community over the weekend. Members from the Friends of Geraldton Garden and Chapman River Friends came together on Saturday morning last week to plant hundreds of seedlings at the park. The seedlings planted were all local flora, coming from Chapman River’s regional park, so it will not damage the ecosystem. More than 30 volunteers gathered to make the garden possible, helping to bring some colour to the city park. Chapman river friend’s coordinator Virginie Furhmann said the garden will bring vibrancy to the city centre. “The botanical garden will bring our beautiful and colourful local native wildflowers in our vibrant city,” she said. “We hope the garden will inspire more gardeners to plant our local species.” With people of all ages volunteering their time to plant the seeds, Virginie said the kids eagerly helped the project come to life. “It was wonderful to see children so keen to plant these little seedlings,” she said. “They will proudly be able to see them growing just as they are growing themselves.” The event was sponsored by Iberdola Australia’s walkaway community fund and had support from the City of Greater Geraldton.