The educational potential of the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens is beginning to gain momentum.
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Plans to develop an education centre at the gardens has been boosted recently with support from three Highlands groups.
The Rotary Club of Berrima, the Rotary Club of Bowral-Mittagong and local hardware business Gubbins Pulbrook Mitre 10 have all offered support for the project.
The Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens board has a $650,000 fundraising target for construction of the Education Centre.
The SHBG board has touted the shovel-ready project at the gardens as a good way to help kick start the region's economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
The board is currently in the process of seeking grant support to begin work on the education centre and has made a call out to community organisations for support for the project.
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And it would appear with the recent pledges that several community entities have heard and responded to the calls.
Retiring president of the Berrima Rotary Club, Shelley Boyce said the club had decided 12 months ago to make the botanic gardens education centre the beneficiary of a planned major fundraising event.
"We were unable to hold the event so we made a donation of $5000 this year and $5000 next year," she said.
Gubbins Pulbrook Mitre 10 will come to the party with an 'in kind' pledge of materials.
A Gubbins Pulbrook Mitre 10 spokesperson said the business supported several sporting clubs and community groups.
"We see great community value in the botanic gardens education centre project and happily support the initiative via the 'in kind' supply of products needed to make this venture is a success and ensure their money goes further," they said.
"Being a locally owned and operated business, we are only too happy to invest in our community."
Bowral-Mittagong Rotary Club has also donated $2500 towards the education centre project.
SHBG CEO Charlotte Webb said the board had "so far raised about $180,000 towards the education centre project."
"We have applied for a grant, the result of which is due later in the year," she said.
"We are very pleased with the response to our education centre funding campaign so far.
"Following the success of our newly completed playground, the education centre will add another facility in the gardens for the community to share."
The botanic gardens are located on the corner of Old South and Kangaloon Roads in Bowral.
They are open seven days from 9am to 5pm.
The botanic gardens nursery, also located on the site, is opened 9am to 3pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of each week, weather permitting.
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