Gawari Mada

Gawari mada, meaning Bush Land, is the Ngunnawal name given by local Custodians to the Holt Microforest.

In 2021, Jennifer Bardsley, a mother of three young boys was inspired by a radio interview about Canberra’s microforests. That evening, with two children in tow she met Purdie Bowden and Edwina Robinson at a funding raising dinner for the Watson Microforest.

On maternity leave, Jennifer, was determined to create a microforest in her suburb to provide natural play experiences for her growing family.

Like Purdie, she followed the Blueprint steps and over a marathon planting weekend in May 2022, with community planted 1500 plants. The microforest includes pollinator patches, nature play elements, water harvesting trenches and a dry creek bed. Nearby the community has created a food forest.

Also integrated into the forest were sections of a locally threatened ecological community dominated by Black Cypress Pine, Callitris endlicheri.

 Like the Watson project, the Holt Microforest has empowered community leaders to make continuous improvements to their local park. This regreening initiative has brought the community together, transforming a once barren space into a vibrant hub of activity and interest.

Gawari Mada has now become the site for an ANU and ArtsACT visual arts and design program. This program promotes accessible and inclusive art-based engagement with urban spaces, addressing climate change, urban biodiversity, well-being, and conservation.

Read more at Climate Choices.