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A Harvest Carnival to promote the Community Garden Programme and mark the establishment of 18 community gardens was held this afternoon (January 8) at the Kowloon Park mini-soccer pitch.
Featuring display of the 18 LCSD community gardens, display and sale of produce, plant care workshop and green stalls, the Carnival attracted many people to participate.
The Community Garden Programme launched by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) in early 2004 has established 18 community gardens throughout the territory. More than 5,000 city dwellers have shared the fun of gardening and the joy of harvests through the gardening courses under the Programme.
Speaking at the Harvest Carnival today, the Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho said the Community Garden Programme provided a chance for city dwellers to become a city gardener and enjoy the fun of gardening with friends and relatives. It encouraged 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 could increase their awareness of greening.
The Programme provides a four-month gardening course for 30 to 50 participants each round, through which they can learn how to grow plants, 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.
Dr Ho added that many produce on display today were the hard work of participants of the Community Garden Programme. He also encouraged them to share the fun of gardening with their friends and relatives.
A prize presentation ceremony on "Community Garden Competition" was also held today. Winners of "Best Harvest", "Best Planting", "Best Planting Plot Design", "Best Vegetable", "Best Tomato", and "Best Melon" selected from the small plots of the 18 community gardens were awarded.
Also officiating at today's ceremony were the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Anissa Wong; and members of the Community Involvement Committee on Greening of the 18 District Councils.
Organisations participating in the Carnival included Produce Green Foundation, Garden Farm, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association - 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 18 community gardens are located at the Lion Rock Park in Wong Tai Sin; Tung Chung Tree Bank on Lantau Island; Wai Tsui Crescent 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.
Ends/Sunday, January 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:18
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