Lobethal’s Mill Road “Pocket Forest” is blooming in colourful flower decorations created by the community as a show of gratitude for emergency services who saved the town from bushfire approximately one year ago.
The red and yellow of the CFS is represented, as well as the white and blue of Santos, the major sponsor who makes today’s Festival of Cycling event possible for locals to experience. Decorations were crafted by local volunteers, with help from Henstock Engineering for the metal sculpture structures.
The Pocket Forest project is a bushfire recovery project that aims to demonstrate how community members might create a fire-safer garden that combines ornamental, exotic, and native plants using ‘fire safer’ design principles.
It also acts as an entrance statement for the route from Lenswood to Lobethal, and a social community opportunity for local volunteers.
Stage one of the project was designed by artist and landscaper Evette Sunset, and planted by community volunteers in mid-2020. Stage two will commence in the autumn of 2021.
The Pocket Forest was funded by grants from Open Gardens SA, Commonwealth Bank Bushfire Recovery Grants Program, and is supported by Adelaide Hills Council.
