Geelong Botanic Gardens shows off new landscaping

NEW landscaping at the Geelong Botanic Gardens opened late last month.

The newly landscaped area around the Conservatory includes group seating spaces that are accessible and inclusive with space for prams and wheelchairs.

Visitors with young children can choose a book from the Storytime Bookcase and have a great time reading together.

The new seating has been made from timber salvaged from sugar gums that were removed from the Eastern Park arboretum due to structural damage. The new space features a collection of hedge plants with a nod to the historic hedge maze that opened in Eastern Park in the early 1900s as a visitor attraction.

Garden enthusiasts will be inspired by plants not commonly used for hedges.

Visitors will have wonderful views to the rose garden and beyond.

While the Conservatory is not yet open to the public, the tropical plant collection on display can be easily viewed by walking around the building.

Geelong Botanic Gardens is a favourite spot for families and friends to relax and catch up over summer. The teahouse is open daily for snacks and light meals. Old fashioned picnics on a blanket on the beautiful garden lawns are encouraged.

“The new group seating around the Conservatory is a welcome addition to the Geelong Botanic Gardens,” the city’s acting director of city services Debbie Leeson-Rabie said.

“It provides an additional spot for groups to relax while enjoying the peace of the gardens.

“This area is a great asset for the frequent school visits and public programs which the gardens team welcomes throughout the year.”