The Port Elliot Community Garden celebrated a milestone yesterday, Thursday 3 November, with a tree dedication ceremony for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Tree Planting program.

Federal MP for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie planted a tree at the afternoon tea, organised by the Friends of Port Elliot Community Garden and supported by Alexandrina Council.

The community garden project started in May 2020, gaining council approval to proceed at Reserve 60 on Elliot Street in December 2021.

Since then the Friends group has put many hours into working bees and has been hugely successful in gaining grants to make the garden happen.

Preparing afternoon tea - Elizabeth Ganguly, Meg Klecko & Bronwyn Lewis. Photo supplied

The $10,000 grant from the Queen's Jubilee Program is funding the planting of native windbreaks and shade trees in the garden, as well as ground preparation, mulching, tree guards and installation of drip irrigation.

A federal Stronger Communities Grant of $7,000 has funded a lockable tool shed and weather shelter.

An Alexandrina Council Wellbeing Community Grant of $3,950 funded fencing materials and the SA WaterCommunity Partnerships Program granted $10,000 to help install wicking garden beds and timber raised garden beds with drip irrigation.

Chair of the friends group Elizabeth Ganguly has thanked all those who have helped with working bees to build fences, rabbit-proof the boundaries and plant tree seedlings.

She says they are now looking forward to tending and harvesting summer vegetable crops.

The Friends of Port Elliot Community Garden is a subgroup of the Port Elliot Town & Foreshore Improvement Association.