Care for creation takes root at local parish
Local
As Laudato Si’ Week approaches, the garden at the Church of the Nativity in Aberfoyle Park boasts a simple yet powerful expression - ‘care for our common home’.
Not long ago, the space in front of the church was “just grass that had died off… mostly weeds and the odd olive trees growing wild,” recalls parishioner Sharyn Black.
With the help of a Grassroots Grant from the Green Adelaide Board in 2024, that neglected patch was transformed into a native garden designed for reflection, learning and community use.
“Thanks to one of our parishioners who knew about this grant and helped us apply for it, we were able to transform the sandy and weed-filled patch into something beautiful and useful. The grant helped enormously in putting the garden together,” Sharyn says.
Funding supported essential groundwork, including clearing invasive weeds, installing irrigation and preparing the site for long-term sustainability.
One of the grant conditions was the use of native plants. Working with a local nursery, the parish introduced around 300 plants, carefully planned around existing gum trees. A mix of native species, from grevilleas and banksias to saltbush and flowering shrubs, now attracts birds, bees and other insects. A winding path leads visitors through the garden, which also serves as a reflective space with Stations of the Cross.
“We wanted to give the garden another function,” Sharyn says. “A space where people could meander through, reflect and engage more deeply.”
Rosemary planted at each station adds a sensory element. “It is a symbol of remembrance and also adds a beautiful scent as you walk through.”
Despite challenges, including last year’s drought, most plants have survived and the garden is thriving “in most parts”.
QR codes placed throughout the garden add an educational layer, sharing plant information and their traditional uses by the Kaurna people. “This is especially useful for the children of the three schools that surround us,” Sharyn says.
The initial planting brought together parishioners, students and volunteers, but ongoing care has largely rested with Sharyn and her husband Mark, both retired teachers.
“We used to spend about an hour a week, but we’ve been a bit more time-poor of late. My husband has put in a lot of effort to keep the irrigation systems running. When he was injured recently, that took a bit of a hit.
“Sweeping the gum leaves is another huge task — we can fill the bins in under 30 minutes. Thankfully, the school’s gardener helps us with upkeep as well, especially work that requires handling large tools,” she says.
Looking ahead, Sharyn hopes more parishioners will get involved.
“We would love families or small groups to adopt a section of the garden and help it continue to look good. I really hope we get more volunteers.”
In this little corner of the parish, care for creation is not an idea—it is something lived, week by week by those who willingly show up.
Laudato Si’ Week 2026 will take place from May 17–24, 2026, focusing on the theme “From Hope to Action” to celebrate the anniversary of Pope Francis’s landmark encyclical on care for creation
