13 August 2008

Multi-award winning Melbourne horticulturist Wes Fleming, whose work has been celebrated at the world's most prestigious garden show, will demonstrate the best way to plant fruit trees to Victoria University (VU) students at VU's Community Garden on Monday 18 August.

Fleming's Nurseries have generously donated the trees to the Community Garden.

Media are welcome to attend

As director of Fleming's Nurseries, Wes has helped lead Australian victories at the Chelsea Flower Show in London for the past five years, working alongside celebrity gardener Jamie Durie as the team's project manager.

Wes said he was delighted to donate a variety of fruit trees to the garden, which is a well-loved project for students aged 16 to 55 years with a range of abilities, challenges and goals. The garden offers the students practical and meaningful training, an opportunity to re-engage in education, and a pathway to future employment.

Wes said: "Victoria University should be commended for its efforts to establish this community garden which undoubtedly plays an important role in educating students as well as improving the urban environment."

The Community Garden project began two years ago when an overgrown vacant block of land at 115 Albert St, Seddon, was allocated to VU's General Education students.

The 14 metre x 48 metre site is now a productive community asset that helps students develop employability skills in various areas, including planning, communication, teamwork, design, problem-solving and information technology. The program also consolidates their literacy, numeracy, personal development and social skills in a workplace setting. The integrated approach has links to VU's Certificates in General Education for Adults.

Joanne Carpenter, 16, from West Sunshine, who started studying in the program earlier this year said: "I like learning in an outdoor environment and using my hands. I like to prepare the soil, plant and harvest the produce. Working in teams is great because we all help each other."

Majella Grainger, a teacher from VU's School of General Education Programs and Services, said students also learn about environmentally sustainable gardening practices such as being water-wise; crop rotation; garden-waste recycling; and worm farms.

Wes Fleming will be available for interview on the day

Where: VU Community Garden, 115 Albert St. Seddon (Footscray)
When: Monday 18 August
Time: 11.00 am - 12.00pm

Media Contact: Ann Marie Angebrandt, Media Officer,
Marketing & Communications Department, Victoria University
Ph: (03) 9919 5487; mobile: 0403 556 001