Share the fun of gardening at Harvest Carnival on January 8
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    More than 5,000 city dwellers have shared the fun of being a city gardener and improved their horticultural skills under the Community Garden Programme.

     The scheme launched by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) in early 2004 has established 18 community gardens throughout the territory.

     To further promote greening in the community, LCSD will organise a Harvest Carnival on Sunday (January 8) from 2pm to 5pm at the Kowloon Park mini-soccer pitch where members of the public can share the fun -- and the harvests -- of city gardeners. Admission is free.

     Programmes of the Harvest Carnival are suitable for people of all ages. They include display of the 18 LCSD community gardens, display and sale of produce, plant-care workshop, and green stalls.

     Participating organisations are Produce Green Foundation, Garden Farm, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, New Life Farm, Hong Chi Plant Nursery, the Warehouse Teenage Club, The Federation of Vegetable Marketing Co-operative Societies Ltd, and Ching Chung Hau Po Woon Secondary School.

     The carnival will also announce the winners of "Best Harvest", "Best Planting" and "Best Planting Plot Design", selected from the 18 community gardens.

     The Community Garden Programme organised by the LCSD encourages people to participate in greening activities at the community level and to take part in greening activities as part of daily life through which they can increase their awareness of greening and environmental protection.

     The programme provides a four-month gardening course for 30 to 50 participants each round, through which they can learn how to grow plants, including fruit and vegetables under expert guidance. Each successful applicant will be allocated a plot of 2.25 square metres on which to practise gardening and then take home the harvest.

     The programme has been well-received by members of the public since its launch.

     The 18 community gardens are located at the Lion Rock Park in Wong Tai Sin; Tung Chung Tree Bank on Lantau Island; Wai Tsui Cresent Tree Bank in North Point; Fa Hui Park in Sham Shui Po; Kwai Fuk Road near Kwai Shing Swimming Pool in Kwai Tsing; North District Park in Sheung Shui; Tung Tze Nursery in Tai Po; Tsuen Wan Park in Tsuen Wan; Ocean Park Road in Southern District; Tin Sau Road in Yuen Long; Che Kung Miu Road Playground in Sha Tin; Kowloon Bay Sports Centre in Kwun Tong; Pui Shing Road in Sai Kung, Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park in Central and Western District; Tuen Kwai Road in Tuen Mun; Kowloon Tsai Park in Kowloon City; King's Park Recreation Ground in Yau Tsim Mong; and Wan Chai Park in Wan Chai.

     For enquiries, please call 2601 8963.

Ends/Monday, January 2, 2006
Issued at HKT 11:02

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