Community Centre launches disabled access garden

COMMUNITY: The Community Disabled Access Gardens were launched by Yass Valley mayor Rowena Abbey on Wednesday.

The gardens have been built to make access for people with movement or other disabilities as easy as possible.

They gardens also take advantage of the “wicking garden” process which uses a water reservoir in the base of the garden to reduce watering needs and prevent overwatering by providing a drain point so the soil cannot be saturated.

It is estimated that crops or gardens using the wicking process use up to 50 per cent less water.

Watering is not required daily or as frequently to produce at least the same, if not better crops.

The gardens were funded the NSW Coalition Government under a 2015 grant obtained for the Shed by former local member Katrina Hodgkinson.

The  truck mudguards used in the project were donated by the Wagga Wagga Men’s Shed.

The official opening was very well attended, with some 15 Shed members there as well as about 25 to 30 Valmar Support Services, Yass Friendship Group and council members.

Yass Men’s Shed spokesman Wayne Stuart said the gardens were another great asset for the Yass area.

“The gardens have been embraced by their intended users,” he said.

“The photos also show how recycling otherwise “useless” mudguards can provide great pleasure and extend the life of valuable resources with a bit of imagination.”

– Contributed

A new access-friendly garden built with recycled materials has been installed by the Yass Valley Men’s Shed. PHOTO: Supplied.