A new community garden has been set up at the Invercargill Plunket rooms to help families connect with each other.

The garden has been set up by community champion and mother Cathy Jordan and has been supported by multiple partners, including Healthy Families Invercargill and Plunket, and sponsors WellSouth, Jennian Homes, Elles Road New World, Diacks, Speedy Signs and Anneke Kawau.

“The idea is to create a relaxed space for people to come, learn some new things, and connect with each other.’’

"It's about providing a fun and welcoming environment for parents and children to get involved in the community. 

Invercargill is an amazing place to raise a family and I want this garden to be really inclusive and have a health and wellbeing focus,” Jordan said.

The garden will be officially opened on Thursday March 1, at 11am.

Light refreshments will be served and a new 5 Ways to Wellbeing mural, which underpins the true messaging behind the garden, will be unveiled.

“It’s about taking that holistic approach, and helping our community thrive,” Jordan said.

Support for the garden has come from all over the community, including from health networks, garden centres and building companies.

Incorporating the 5 Ways to Wellbeing in a garden mural was a co-design project involving the WellSouth Primary Health Network.

Healthy Families Invercargill manager Jared Cappie said the garden was a great way to bring the community together to share ideas.

The plan was for guest speakers to come along each week and talk about their areas of expertise, but in a very relaxed and informal setting.

“It’s a fantastic initiative that has been driven by a community champion, and that is very empowering for our city,” Cappie said.

Anyone who wants to attend the official opening of the garden is welcome.

When: Thursday, March 1, 2018

Where: Invercargill Plunket Rooms, 132 Kelvin St.

Caption: Georgia Peters, 2, has some fun with her friends at the Plunket Community Garden. Photo: Cathy Jordan

February 2018