The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney’s Youth Community Greening program started in 2008 and is an environmental outreach education program targeting less advantaged youth from birth to 25 years across the state of New South Wales, Australia.  Youth Community Greening has a commitment to take its expertise ‘beyond the garden walls’ and to serve the broader community through innovative outreach programs.  The program has worked with over 100,000 participants in almost 500 sites developing gardens, green spaces and a passion for the environment.

After listening to Liz Ware speak at a Botanic Gardens Congress in New Zealand in 2019, Youth Community Greening was inspired to place Silent Spaces in schools and community gardens to see their impact. Three very different spaces have been set up in schools in low socio-economic areas in Sydney.

Macquarie Fields High School – The Silent Space forms part of a ‘learning circle’ near the school’s entrance and within their arboretum.  The school uses this space during personal development classes, promoting silent time for personal reflection amongst the native flora.

Lawrence Hargraves School – This is a school for specific purposes, supporting students who might need extra help with emotional or behavioural difficulties.  The students have created an amazing garden where the Silent Space is located, providing a calm place for students to go to.

Shelley Public School – The signage at this school is transportable.  It can be moved to various sites within the amazing school garden.  The Silent Space will be used to provide time and space for the growing number of new arrival students to connect with nature with support from the school’s refugee support teachers..

Images © Youth Community Greening, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney