Episode: Ten
Date: 10th May 2008
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane
Story Title: Eden Gardens and Garden Centres- Community Hands

Eden Gardens and Garden Centres, Community Alliances

You know you are purchasing from a quality store when you see their fantastic examples of community work and involvement. Ranging from educational focuses and pure community charity help and donations, Eden Gardens is a prime example of a retail role model for their outstanding achievement and improvement in their wider community. With the much greater help of Anna Ainsworth the Director and Community Development Coordinator for Eden Gardens, these seven commendable partnerships would not be possible.

The Cancer Council
Eden Gardens and Garden Centres along with the Cancer Council NSW have created a beautiful daffodil garden. The daffodil garden provides a place of thanks, remembrance and hope featuring plaques to benefactors on walls of recognition and memory. They also promote sun awareness protection to all of their staff, those attending Eden Education courses and to all customers. Eden Gardens also supplies Cancer Council products available for purchase. Lastly Eden Gardens and Garden Centres provide wonderful facilities for the Cancer Council to hold functions and acknowledge those who have made outstanding contributions to fund cancer research, education and support.

Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off The Streets

Eden Gardens is working with YOTS to support chronically homeless and drug addicted young Australians as they work to turn their lives around through education, development of living skills and employment. Eden Gardens offers these deserving youth the opportunity of excursions, work experience, traineeships and apprenticeships at Eden Gardens. Eden staff are the mentors to support this Eden Youth program.

Community Greening

As part of our social and environmental commitment, Eden Gardens is proud to be a major sponsor of Community Greening.
Community Greening is a valuable community service jointly coordinated by the Botanic Gardens Trust and the New South Wales Department of Housing. Community Greening encourages and supports social housing residents and communities living with disadvantage to establish and participate in communal gardening projects.
Eden Gardens’ sponsorship includes financial assistance to the program as a whole and the supply of a wide range of plants and materials for community gardens and community nurseries.

North West Business Education Network

Eden Gardens is working with the NWBEN to increase the employability skills of youth in the Ryde, Hunters Hill and Kur-ing-gai areas. NWBEN works collaboratively with local schools, TAFE, industry, employer and community groups for the benefit of young people aged 13 - 19 years. This network will deliver the three Career Advice Australia programmes of Structured Workplace Learning, Career and Transition Support and Adopt-a-School. Eden Gardens will support these programs.

Botanic Gardens Trust

Eden Education is the education and training division of Eden Gardens and is conducted with assistance from the Botanic Gardens Trust. Eden Education offers lectures, courses and practical workshops suitable for adults through to children ranging from the basics of gardening and floristry to arts and crafts.

University of Newcastle

Eden Gardens and Garden Centres works with The University of Newcastle Faculties of Education & Arts and Science & Information Technology to provide the opportunity for student art and sculpture to be displayed to a wider audience through the unique environment of their Art gallery, display gardens and retail spaces.
Eden Gardens hosts an annual exhibition of final year students in their Art gallery. Other works by the artists retail through their gift shop and garden centre.
Eden Gardens provides a site of sculptural, environmental and architectural gardening inspiration for students to experience whilst completing their external projects.
Together they are working on a collaborative grant to support post graduate students in further study.

TAFE NSW – Ryde College

Eden Gardens is working with TAFE NSW - Ryde College, to promote horticulture through education in the workplace. Eden Gardens provides opportunities for TAFE students including involvement in displays and exhibitions, a site for excursions and a venue for work experience.

Contact

Eden Gardens & Garden Centres PTY LTD
301-307 Lane Cove Road,
North Ryde NSW 2113
Australia

• Anna Anisworth

E: annaa@edengardens.com.au
P: 02 9491 9900