Mill Road Pocket Forest

" to plant trees is to give body and life to one's dreams of a better world "

Russel Page

A community led initiative ...

The Mill Road Pocket Forest is a bush fire recovery project which we hope will get people talking. We want people to visit with their friends and family, relax and chat. We also want people to have robust, nuanced conversations about the increasingly urgent issues emerging around gardening, the environment; climate change and bush fires. And finally we hope to inspire community discussion about actions we can take both collectively and individually.

We invite you to plant trees in your patch or ideas in your community!

Find out more about how to get involved...

What we set out to do

to use 'fire safer' plants & design principles and combine ornamental, exotic, native and local native plants to create a community green space;
create an attractive entrance statement on the main tourism route between Lenswood and Lobethal;
build community resilience by engaging volunteers with planting and maintaining the 'Pocket Forest';
recognise and acknowledge the work of first responders in saving the mill and the town of Lobethal during the 2019 Cuddlee Creek Fires;
incorporate artworks which tell the story of community experience of the 2019 Cuddlee Creek Fires and encourage reflection & healing.

What we have achieved to date

over 3,000 plants in the ground, including ornamental, exotic, native and local native species;
a beautiful green space at the Lenswood entrance to Lobethal, which is regularly commented on & attracts daily users;
collaboration with Adelaide Hills Council to establish a walking trail along the old disused road and install rock edging;
a small team of volunteers who meet regularly to maintain the garden plus community members who help out with 'big jobs';
a sculpture of a wedgetail eagle which has been dedicated to first responders;
Two podcasts - 'Pocket Practices' a mindfulness series and Fire Safer gardening.

"to really feel a forest canopy, we must use different senses and often the most useful one is

the sense of imagination. " Joan Maloof

The backstory

During January/February 2020, environmental sculptor and garden designer Evette Sunset worked on site at Fabrik, in preparation for the exhibition “Solastalgia”. An installation composed of several trailer loads of organic materials was built, much of it collected from nearby burnt properties. She was privy to the stories, emotions and issues circulating through the adjacent Bushfire Recovery Centre. Of great concern to her was the fear of nature and of trees being expressed by many people, and the lack of specialized knowledge available to them about suitable replanting strategies and fire retardant plants. Evette met with Kim Jordan, member of the Lobethal Community Association and a collaboration emerged.

With 30 years experience in landscape design and having played a key role in the establishment of the Bassett Street Reserve, Evette has been instrumental in creating the vision for the Mill Road Pocket Forest.

the project team

Planting of stage 1 occurred in July 2020 under the guidance of Evette.

Early in 2021, a project team was formed to implement stage 2.

Kim, Deb and Candice have interpreted Evette's preliminary plans for the second & third stage plantings and amended where necessary to accommodate the walking path.

The project team have been supported by a small group regular volunteers and other community members who have volunteered casually to help out with specific tasks.

Since 2020, 45 members of the local community have been involved, the majority in the first year, after the fires.

where to find us

Location

The Mill Road Pocket Forest is located on the corner of Mill Road and Adelaide-Lobethal Road, Lobethal, South Australia.

Situated on approximately 1500 square metres of land, the Pocket Forest is directly behind the heritage listed Onkaparinga Woollen Mills. A key feature of the site is the disused Mill Chimney.

Thanks to our supporters including :