The Holt community has a vision to establish a Micro-Forest and Nature Play area within suburban Holt in 2021-22!
You are invited to join the journey and help shape this exciting initiative.
Image Above: Holt Residents at the Crowd Funding Video Shoot on 16 May 2021
At A Glance:
- Park landscape design
- Earthworks designed and completed to harvest
water and enrich soil quality - 1,500 native plants to be planted
- Nature play space
- Permanent orienteering course
- Edible plants
- Signage and seating
- And more!
The Community will be invited to be involved in all stages including site selection, design, planting and maintenance.
Image Above: Holt Residents at the Site Tour Walk on 18 April 2021
A Micro-Forest for West Belconnen!
The Holt Micro-Forest will be an urban sanctuary - a dense pocket of vegetation consisting of 1,500 native trees, shrubs, grasses, ground covers and creepers. It will cool the local environment and improve the health and biodiversity of the local ecosystem.
Climate ready vegetation will be selected to tolerate long, hot and dry summers, frosty winters and ensure bushfire resistance. Plant selection will also reduce vulnerability to invasive plants and animals.
The Micro-Forest will increase habitat for native birds and insects, and absorb carbon.
A creative nature play area for children will be established, encouraging and educating the community to build skills, deepen their connection with nature, and increase physical activity.
The project will nurture Indigenous contributions, knowledge and traditions through engagement at all stages including design and plant selection (e.g. selection of bush foods).
The initiative will deliver health, well-being and educational benefits to the local community (and visitors). It will provide an attractive, safe and comfortable place for locals to gather. It will strengthen community ties and provide commercial benefits to local businesses.
What have we done so far?
- Established our logo, Facebook group, Instagram channel, website and email communications channel
- Participated in a radio discussion on 666 ABC afternoons on 7 April 2021 with presenter Adrienne Francis
- Developed a site tour map of the 5 sites under consideration
- Held a community walk through of the 5 sites on 18 April 2021
- Collated feedback from the site tour and posted this to the Facebook Group
- Submitted grant applications in the Environment ACT, Nature in the City Grant process which closed on 28 April 2021
- Submitted an application in the Heart Foundation Innovation Challenge for a permanent orienteering course incorporating nature play which closed on 26 April 2021
- Received in-principle support from Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS) for the initiative
- Completed a community poll for the preferred site via the Facebook group
- Scheduled a site walk-through with TCCS on 4 June, to walk and talk through the site options and jointly agree on site selection
Checkout the FAQ on our website!
Image Above: Holt Residents at the Crowd Funding Video Shoot on 16 May 2021
Image Above: Holt Residents undertaking soil samples at the Site Tour Walk on 18 April 2021
