It is not often one gets the chance to make a fresh start and think about how best to cater for the widest range of users but that was the case when Woollahra Council agreed to renovate the Holdsworth Playground.

The Holdsworth Community Playground, first opened in 1940, has been extensively rebuilt with exciting new equipment and with synthetic grass replacing the rubber softfall and new trees and garden beds. The new playground is a treasure trove of adventure for young children and families with brand new equipment including a pirate ship, nest swing and a large sandpit. The design also incorporates special sensory equipment to ensure the space is welcoming to children living with disabilities and sensory issues.

Staff, parents and children are thrilled with the results of the new playground and many more families from around the area are enjoying the space which is welcoming to children living with disabilities. This is something Holdsworth has been wanting to do for some time given the extent of our work with children and the importance of accessible play opportunities. Children can swing, jump, squeeze, sniff, feel and listen as well as having spaces for quiet times.

The playground was re-dedicated to the community on Friday 19 August with the Prime Minister and Member for Wentworth, The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, the Mayor of Woollahra, Councillor Toni Zeltzer and Alex Greenwich, Member for Sydney, in attendance. To celebrate the dedication, Holdsworth Family Services hosted a special pirate party for local families and an amazing cake to match.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who contributed funding to the project through the Stronger Communities Programme, recalled having been at Holdsworth with his children and grandson. His daughter Daisy, her husband James and their son Pirate Jack were there to join in the fun.

Woollahra Council provided the bulk of the funding for the upgrade with additional money from Alex Greenwich, Member for Sydney, through the Community Building Partnership program, and from local families. Georgia Cleary made a generous donation of the Nest Swing.

Holdsworth Community Playgroup has resumed in the new playground every Monday to Friday morning during school term, with record numbers attending each day so far.

For more information on the Holdsworth Community, see their website.

The prestigious suburb of Centennial Park is primarily devoted to the magnificent expanse of greenery known as Centennial Parklands – Sydney’s answer to Central Park. Dedicated by Sir Henry Parkes as a public open space in 1888, it was the venue for the inauguration of Federation in 1901.

Live

Covering more than 360 hectares, this much-loved urban open space is around 4.5km from the CBD and comprises three parks – Centennial Park, Moore Park and Queens Park, along with sporting facilities including the ES Marks Athletics Field, an 18-hole golf course and driving range, an equestrian centre, tennis courts, netball courts and sporting fields. It also incorporates Fox Studios, with its live music venue Hordern Pavilion, Royal Hall of Industries, cinemas and professional film studios.

Love

It’s conveniently located moments from Paddington’s trendy retail hub, Oxford Street, as well as cosmopolitan Woollahra village, while the retail mecca of Bondi Junction is just minutes away on the other side of the park. The park itself provides a diverse range of recreational and cultural attractions, including the Moonlight Cinema in the summer months and numerous outdoor music festivals.

Sell

A Centennial Park address is rather rare and often exclusive – just a handful of streets are devoted to residential purposes and they differ greatly. The salubrious parkside boulevard of Lang Road and the secluded Martin Road/Robertson Road enclave are home to magnificent Victorian and Federation mansions – some of Sydney’s finest – while Cook Road is lined with terraces and apartments from the Art Deco era through to the ‘60s and ‘70s. Centennial Park couldn’t be more central.

Every year, the Great Spring Show, better known as the Chelsea Flower Show, showcases incredible examples of gardens and plants, attracting throngs of visitors from all over the world.  For five days, the show inspires lovers of all things garden to admire what green thumbs have created and possibly recreate elements in their own homes.

This year’s theme, ‘Health, Happiness and Horticulture’ emphasised the advantages of green spaces and adding a touch of nature to drab outdoor spaces.  This got me thinking; how many times have you seen a garden that isn’t quite complete? Or, an outdoor area that is stark, uninviting and boring?  Just like the interior of a home reflects the style of the owners, so too do the outdoor areas. With spring just around the corner, why not get some inspiration from the Chelsea Flower Show and spruce up your gardens with the latest trends.

Not everyone’s big out back

Every home I see has a different amount of garden space. They vary from expansive backyards, huge frontages, tiny courtyards and even no outdoor green area at all. But, despite these challenges there are some nifty tips to transform even the smallest ‘grey’ front yards into a lush escape.

• Pull up boring, tired pavers and lay down small garden beds.
• Plant shrubs with berries and colourful flowers to attract bees and butterflies. Agapanthus varieties are lovely.
• Think about mixing vegetables and other plants. There’s nothing more enticing than seeing an edible garden from the footpath.
• Cover unsightly or tired fencing with climbers or a quick growing hedge.
• A dwarf tree will provide shade and beauty to even the smallest area.
• Big pots can brighten up even the darkest corner and require very little maintenance.
• Don’t underestimate the power of scents. A herb garden is always a good idea.

 Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Mariesii’

A touch of beauty

Experts at the Chelsea Flower Shower picked 8 ‘show stealers’ that were chosen for their enhancing qualities. While the flowers selected are suited to the Northern Hemisphere, many can be grown in Australia and or you can ask advice from your local nursery for an alternative.

• Valeriana officinalis ‘Valerian’ – flowering plant, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers
• Orlaya grandiflora ‘White Lace Flower’ – A lacy spring annual from the Mediterranean, this flower does well in Sydney
• Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Mariesii’ – attracts birds and butterflies
• Ballota pseudodictamnus ‘Greek Horehound’ – great in dry areas, drought tolerant
• Eremurus × isabellinus ‘Pinokkio’ – Great for sunny borders, dramatic
• Yucca rostrata ‘Beaked Yucca’– eye-catching and good for landscaping
• Isatis tinctori ‘Woad or Glastum’ – honey-scented yellow flowers
• Lysimachia atropurpurea ‘Beaujolais’ ­– works well with border plants

Objet d’art

You all know I’m an art lover and enjoy collecting interesting pieces that excite the sense. Why not incorporate ‘art’ into your gardens? At the Chelsea Flower Show, many garden products were showcased including sculptures, fire pits, seats and water features. Think about extending your indoor art style into the outdoors. This will create an extension of your flair and reflect your individual stamp in a holistic manner. Have fun with it, but remember to choose items that are more elegant than gaudy. Please, no more Balinese Buddhas.

Outdoor spaces – gardens and courtyards – can be your own private sanctuary. Take the time to create an area that increases your health and your happiness.