CERES Community Environment Park

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The CERES Community Environment Park, or Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies, is an award-winning 10-acre urban environmental centre located in urban Brunswick East, Victoria, Australia. CERES is pronounced series, and the name may be partially derived from Ceres the goddess of agriculture in Roman mythology.

CERES received the 1996 Banksia Environmental Award for Education and Training, and has also received many other awards[1].

1 Features
2 History
3 Support
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Features

Community farming garden at CERES

CERES' purpose is to "initiate and support environmental sustainability and social equity with an emphasis on cultural richness and community participation."

The 4 hectare park, adjacent to picturesque Merri Creek, includes:

An animal farm.
Community gardens.
A café open 7 days a week.
Educational walking trails.
Origin Energy sustainable living demonstrations.
Multicultural exhibits.
Facilities for hire.
The East Brunswick Bicycle Users' Group - a group of volunteers who recycle and repair bicycles for the community.

Many events are held at CERES including a community market every Saturday and Wednesday with a focus on organic foods and hand-made/recycled items.

CERES is a popular site for school excursions and research students with around 60,000 students visiting each year.

The property is readily accessible from the Merri Creek Trail.

[edit] History

In 1981, a group of like-minded people dedicated to social awareness, community involvement and environmental issues secured a lease for a 4 hectare plot of neglected land in Brunswick East. Landscaping of the site began and the park was opened in 1982. Since then it has hosted many research projects, exhibitions and events, and seen hundreds of thousands of visitors.

The first tree was officially planted on the site by Dr Barbe Baker—founder of the men of the trees—on 16th September 1981.

[edit] Support

CERES is partially funded through its own programmes, café and events as well as project grants from a variety of Government and private sponsors. While the park is open to the public freely, donations and memberships are appreciated. A popular volunteer program is also available.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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