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Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), a Harvest Carnival was held today (December 9) at the Kowloon Park Piazza where participants of the Community Garden Programmme shared the fun and the harvests of gardening with members of the public.
The Carnival will also open tomorrow (December 10) from 10am to 5pm. Admission is free.
Featuring display of the 18 LCSD community gardens, display of produce, plant-care workshop, horticulture demonstration, herb garden and green stalls, the Carnival attracted crowds of people.
Since the launch of the Community Garden Programmme in early 2004, 18 community gardens have been established throughout the territory. More than 10,000 city dwellers have shared the fun of gardening and the joy of harvests through the gardening courses under the Programme.
A prize presentation ceremony on "Community Garden Competition" was also held today. Winners of "Best Harvest", "Best Planting", "Best Planting Plot Design", "Best Leafy Vegetable", "Best Tomato/Egg-plant", and "Best Melon/Gourd" selected from the small plots of the 18 community gardens were awarded.
Officiating at the ceremony were the Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mr Thomas Chow; and members of the Community Involvement Committee on Greening of the 18 District Councils.
Participating organisations in the carnival included Produce Green Foundation, Hong Kong Organic Agriculture & Ecological Research Association, New Life Farm, The Warehouse Teenage Club, The Federation of Vegetable Marketing Co-operative Societies Ltd, and Yan Oi Tong Madam Lau Wong Fat Primary School.
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 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.
Ends/Saturday, December 9, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:34
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