You may have noticed the BCLN River Garden taking shape next to the Bass River bridge as you drive down the Bass highway, just in the paddock below the Landcare office.
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The 1ha River Garden community site is a space for our community to gather, learn and grow healthy food using regenerative growing techniques. We demonstrate these by establishing growing spaces using various horticultural innovations, and anyone can participate in our educational activities for all ages to learn more.  This space has been conceived as a co-creation with the local community and we  invite you to participate!
To date we have planted a ‘water-wise’ orchard, a series of swale beds on our slope, including a kitchen garden demonstration and espaliered heritage fruit trees, a nuttery, and a berry trellis. A range of different raised garden beds and wicking beds for annual vegetables have been installed, with a variety of perennial herbs, companion plants and annual vegetables also growing in the swale beds.
​In 2024 we planted a Conservation Zone and Seed orchard, comprised of a border of indigenous plants with over 60 different species. This acts as an attractor of pollinators, wind protection, a place to grow hard plants with harder to collect seed, with signage soon to be installed. A bushfood garden and wetlands area help to filter any water running off the site into the adjoining Bass River. We area also creating an eco-trail incorporating all of the above into an educational resource for passive recreation and walks for our community to enjoy. 
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There is space and the opportunity at the River Garden for much, much more.... Future plans include establishing educational activity spaces for school groups, including a Training Nursery and an all-weather education shelter to be used in our various activities and workshops.

River Garden LIttle Kids is back!

We are hosting 2 more River Garden Little Kids sessions for 2025!
These themed environmental activities for 3-5 year olds are super fun, consisting of a story time, an activity in the River Garden, then morning tea and a craft activity in the Bass Hall. 
Thanks to funding from Andrews Foundation, these sessions are free for parents and preschool children from 3-5 years.
Click the links below for further info and to book.
November 21st - Growing Great Veggies 
November 28th - Super Seeds and Plants
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We can't wait to involve you in a range of Volunteer Blitz sessions and Master Classes with guest horticulture and permaculture trainers, as well as our knowledgeable Landcare staff who are always on hand to welcome new volunteers and participants.
​We also have local groups participate in organised activities. If you, your group or organisation is interested in getting involved at the River Garden, please let us know by filling out the contact form below. ​

River Garden Blitz sessions are back for 2025!!  

Thanks to funding from our BCLN Public fund, with proceeds from our 2024 Landcare art show, as well as funding from the Andrews Foundation, we are hosting River Garden Blitz sessions again, beginning on Saturday 10th of May 2025. These will run on the second Saturday of the month, with guest speakers including Rick Coleman from Southern Cross Permaculture sharing his wealth of practical permaculture knowledge, our own Lisa Wangman, Education, Training and Communications Manager who oversees the River Garden management, and Jess from Backyard Botany, sharing her extensive plant knowledge. 
Two of our sessions will also be a part of the Living Lightly program, generously sponsored by the Bass Coast Shire Council in partnership with Bass Coast Adult Learning Centre trainer, Harriet Pellizzer. Please keep checking our calendar below for updates and openings for bookings for the sessions. 

December River Garden Blitz
Planting Summer Veggies & Waterwise Gardening

For our next River Garden Blitz on Saturday 13th of December from 930-1230 we will welcome back Permaculture Guru Rick Coleman from Southern Cross Permaculture Institute.  (we had to cancel our November session so will run this at the December session instead.) This session will be for new and experienced gardeners alike, with tips on timing for growing different plants, space considerations for sowing our hotter summer veggies. Every session with Rick you learn something new as he is always happy to share his over 30 years of experience.

​Our own Lisa Wangman, Education Training and Communications Manager will also do a short presentation on waterwise gardening to get us through the summer.

This workshop is proudly presented by BCLN with funding from the BCLN Public Fund.
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Bring along your water bottle, we provide all tools, morning tea, guidance and space to socialise, learn and help create this great community space! Parking is between the Bass Hall and Op Shop, session starts in the Hall, entry to the River Garden is via the gates at the side of the Landcare office.

River Garden Guiding Principles

  • Biologically centred, minimal chemical approach
  • Minimum waste
  • Sharing of knowledge, ideas and resources
  • Maximising energy flows and nutrient cycling on site
  • Growing for nutrient density and long term fertility
  • Increasing soil volume over time
  • Maximising production for available space, multiple use
  • Use of local resources

Community Projects

  • Collaborative and communal
  • Respectful and friendly
  • Tolerant, inclusive and embracing of differences
  • Self directed
  • Sourcing and sharing of skills and knowledge from cultural traditions in our wider community
  • Working with multiple partners                                       

Current Projects

  • Swale beds for retaining water on slopes
  • Community garden
  • Nuttery, Heritage espalier trees and berry trellis
  • Water filtering, biodiverse wetlands area​
  • Conservation zone on river and roadside boundaries, including Seed orchard for indigenous plants

upcoming projects

  • Education shelter and  under cover gathering  space
  • Community Training Nursery
  • Self guided eco-walk with interpretive signage

    Expressions of Interest in Volunteer program