Robe’s 2023 Health Harmony & Happiness festival in January has led to a donation to support the Nature Glenelg Trust Community Nursery.

The nursery, located at Vansittart Park in Mount Gambier, makes a valuable contribution to the conservation of rare and threatened plants in the Limestone Coast region.

Festival spokesperson Heather Gibbons said one of the important roles of the nursery was to conduct research into propagation techniques.

“This research will eventually lead to an increase in the diversity of species available for regeneration projects and for home gardens,” she said.

“Spring and summer is when they do the bulk of the seed collecting for the following year.

“Employees and volunteers head out to the bush to collect seed material from targeted species.

“This material is then dried, processed and stored.

“Sowing takes place all year round, depending on the species being grown.

“A selection of local native wildflowers are available for purchase from the nursery so that people can add plants to their gardens that support native wildlife including butterflies and bees.”

Ms Gibbons said during the next few months, the festival committee will lead free community well-being sessions at the Town Hall in Kingston.

The sessions will include learning simple movement techniques to reduce stress and improve focus.

The next Health Harmony & Happiness festival will be held on June 10 and 11.

“We urge you to come and join us and spend some time at the Robe Institute enjoying the stallholders’ expertise and products,” Ms Gibbons said.