This group was established to support, encourage and resource the young (and their grown ups) to explore, enjoy, appreciate and learn in and about the Gardens.
The BotaniKIDS group utilises the natural beauty and cultural aspects of the Gardens precinct to provide an exciting engaging array of opportunities that enriches the experience and learning possibilities.
The Gatekeepers Cottage Nursery Drive, North Gardens Reserve
It could be said The Gatekeepers Cottage is the newest oldest building in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens!
The Gatekeepers Cottage is a newly restored 1860s architecturally designed timber cottage that was originally built to house one of the gardeners and his family within the Gardens precinct. The Cottage was built near the Northern Gates which were closed and locked each evening ‘to keep the riff raff out'! The Cottage was relocated to 1414 Gregory St in the 1933 at a cost to the owner [gardener] of 100 pounds.
From that time the cottage housed the gardener his family and then relatives until 2013. It was then the owners that had inherited the estate gifted the Cottage to the Friends of the Botanical Gardens as it was the wish of the family to return the Cottage to the Gardens.
After a few years of delays, heritage protection and subsequent lifting of that protection the fate of the Cottage was in serious doubt. Finally and happily it was agreed by all stakeholders the Gatekeepers Cottage would be relocated back to the Gardens further encouraged and funded by a generous donor the Cottage was in 2017 removed from its Gregory st home to Nursery Drive in North Gardens Reserve, Ballarat Botanical Gardens.
The Cottage has been expertly and beautifully restored by the CoB in partnership with the Friends of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. The work of the CoB Gatekeepers Cottage Restoration Project Committee in consultation with Heritage Victoria and Heritage architect Wendy Jacobs. The Cottage is a wonderful example of how a unique timber modest building of the 1860s in Ballarat is saved restored and reused. It is now the ‘home’ of Botanikids and will be developed into an interpretive centre for visitors to learn more about the Ballarat Botanical Gardens and its unique plants, collections and cultural heritage.
Learning from Trees
Life lessons for future generations. National tree day.
Learning From Trees
Nature Play
"Why Nature's Play is Good for our Children!"
www.natureplaysa.org.au
Nature Play WA
Getting children more involved with nature. Includes Things To Do, Nature Workshops, Family Nature Clubs and heaps more.
Website: www.natureplaywa.org.au/home
Connecting Children with Nature
"Benefits of Connecting Children with Nature"
www.naturalearning.org
Why our children need to get outside and engage with nature
"Why Playing in the Mud is More Than Just Fun" by Hyahno Moser 21 Feb 2015
www.natureplayqld.org.au
Hope you enjoy our new Adventure Trail Walk in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, created by Ballarat Botanikids!
Ballarat BotaniKIDS invite you to download....
Trees Please (for under 5 quests)
.jpg "Trees Please - Under 5s Quest")
Tree Quest (pdf here)
Come to the Gardens and enjoy....
Hope you enjoy our new Adventure Trail Walk in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, created by Ballarat Botanikids!
This walk was created by one of the BotaniKIDS team. 'Heather' grew up quite close by Fairyland and spent many happy hours as a child playing imagining, listening, watching and picnicking in Fairyland.
Please enjoy and know this 'walk' was shared as a special gesture to those that wish to enjoy and discover the magic of Fairyland too!
Click the image below to download our Fairyland Walk pdf.
We had an unexpected visit from Costa when he was filming in the gardens!
He was so impressed with the Cottage and what Julie and her team do with Botanikids he did a live video stream on facebook. Click on the link below to see it. It is such a fantastic promotion for the Friends, the Gatekeepers Cottage and the Botanikids!
Costa's visits the Botanikids at the Gatekeeper's Cottage Video
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