Members of the Benefitz and Channel team attended the opening of the Forrest Hill Community Garden during May. There was a huge turnout of over 200 people.

The opening followed four years of effort and persistence by the husband and wife duo of Forrest Hill locals Phoebe and Dave Atkinson, working with the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board to bring the Seine Road Reserve initiative to fruition.
There was lots on offer at the opening event, most aimed at fundraising for the not-for-profit community project. There was a sausage sizzle, bake sale, coffees, a raffle, as well as games for the kids.
The garden was officially opened with speeches from both Phoebe and Dave Atkinson, as well as Toni van Tonder from the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board, and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills.
“We were blown away by the enthusiasm and support shown by the community,” said Phoebe Atkinson after the event. “We started preparing the site in early 2022, with a big group of volunteers turning up each week to help. To see so many people excited at the opening was very satisfying for all involved.”
“We now garden each Sunday from 2-4pm, with a group of enthusiastic gardeners regularly turning up.”
Phoebe adds that the garden is already producing a lot of vegetables, but says the real purpose of the garden is to pull the local community together, to get to know neighbours, and to learn about gardening.
“We will be running regular workshops to teach organic gardening principals, composting, harvesting, propagation and other practises that contribute towards sustainable lifestyles.”
The garden is run through a charitable trust called Grow Collective by Phoebe and Dave Atkinson, who live nearby. The garden will expand across the site as funds become available, working towards a total of 12 garden beds, a glass house, and teaching space.
The garden is always open to visitors, and harvesting takes place at working bees on Sundays, with food distributed amongst volunteers.
The project is reliant on generous donations from the local community and businesses. You can make a donation via the website below. The project has so far been supported by Albany Central Landscape Supplies, Kings Plant Barn, Common Sense Organics, Benefitz and Channel Magazine, Bunnings, Mitre 10, Love Food Hate Waste, Takapuna-Devonport Local Board and Shakespeare Gastroenterology.

Forrest Hill Community Garden – Seine Reserve, Seine Road, Forrest Hill.
Visit: www.growcollective.co.nz