If you are a student, staff or alumni of UWA, you are probably familiar with the biannual plant sales hosted by the Friends of the Grounds that usually result in a few more purchases than needed.
Attracting dozens of plant-enthusiasts from across campus, it may be the Friends of the Grounds (FoG) most well-known activity, yet it is only one of the many they volunteer to do.
Remarking on their importance at UWA, Grounds Team Leader Jamie Coopes and Lead Horticulturalist Tanya Taylor, from UWA Campus Management, said this about the group.
“They are absolutely integral to our community. Without their help, publications such as “A landscape for Learning” would never exist, and the history of the grounds would be lost.”
The Friends of the Grounds were established in 2000 through the Hackett Foundation, and the group now has around 40 members who volunteer their time to everything from propagating for plant sales to running events around campus.
Much of their work is focused on conserving the beauty and richness of UWA’s flora and educating others about the unique story of the Crawley campus.
Some of their yearly activities include;
- Supporting conservation of endemic plant species on campus, such as the Jarrah trees and Zamias,
- Installation of sculptures and art, such as the recent “Cellular Curios” sculpture by Kate Cullity in Prescott Court,
- Propagation and maintenance of the many thousands of plants across the grounds,
- Guided tours of the Crawley Campus
The Friends of the Grounds also support students through their award, given to high-achieving students studying environmental science, geoscience, landscape architecture or biological science.
"They are absolutely integral to our community. Without their help, publications such as "A landscape for Learning" would never exist, and the history of the grounds would be lost."
Jamie Coopes and Tanya Taylor, UWA Campus Management
The 2021 Awardee, Jessie Weller, researched the health of the iconic Norfolk Pines which surround Somerville Auditorium, finding they were untouched by the deadly fungal pathogen that has resulted in deterioration of the species along the coast.
Friends of the Grounds President and UWA Alumni, Marion Cambridge, says the group is hoping to further investigate and improve the health of the many iconic trees across campus over the next few years, including some that are over a several hundred years old.
Looking forward to more campus walks planned this year, a film afternoon and a public lecture, the Friends of the Grounds is a thriving volunteering group that has been part of the fabric of UWA’s community and continues to generously give their time and work to the campus.
If you would like to get involved, or simply say thanks, the Friends of the Grounds can be found on Facebook, where they update regularly.