Global Gardens of Peace

Global Gardens of Peace began with one powerful question from humanitarian Moira Kelly AO: “If you can create a beautiful garden for the dead, why not for the living?” That question became the heart of a movement — creating inclusive and sustainable gardens that bring healing, dignity, and hope to people living with illness, disability, or disadvantage. - Our Purpose To make a difference by supporting the human right to access beautiful gardens. - Our Vision & Mission We build inclusive, accessible gardens that inspire, heal, and empower communities, working with our partners to create spaces that change lives and make a positive impact. From hospital courtyards and disability residences to community healing spaces, every garden we create tells a story of care, connection, and hope. Together, we grow peace, one garden at a time. 👉 Learn more : globalgardensofpeace.org #GlobalGardensofPeace #MoiraKelly #HealingThroughNature #InclusiveGardens #TherapeuticDesign #SustainableSpaces #CommunityWellbeing #SocialImpact #greeningcommunities

More incredible details from our tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. As twilight settled in, attendees were immersed in a breathtaking landscape designed to showcase the soothing essence of Australian Flora. Keep an eye on our page for more botanical beauty and exciting updates coming soon! Photography by @sandra.d_photography #gardentour #melbournegarden #botanicgarden #naturephotography

SUNDAY 17TH MAY | MELBOURNE AUTUMN MEET UP – World Therapeutic Horticulture Day Join us this Sunday 17th May 2026 2:00pm for a hearty conversation with @globalgardensofpeace 🌿❤️ Join us as we mark World Therapeutic Horticulture Day with a special event at the Australian Drylands, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. We’ll gather for a conversation with Andrew Laidlaw, President of Global Gardens of Peace and Landscape Architect at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, alongside Tanya Bearup, Vice President of Therapeutic Horticulture Australia. Together, Andrew and Tanya will reflect on what World Therapeutic Horticulture Day means from both a global and local perspective, including the work of Global Gardens of Peace, the role of gardens in healing, connection and restoration, and the relationship between people, plants and place. Please bring snacks to share, along with a rug or chair so you can settle in for an afternoon of connection, reflection and celebration of the growing impact of therapeutic horticulture & restorative garden spaces. World Therapeutic Horticulture Day (WTHD), is a global initiative aimed at raising awareness of how plant-based activities improve mental and physical health. It highlights the work of practitioners and encourages communities to experience the healing power of nature through gardening, horticulture therapy, and nature-based sensory experiences. Global Gardens of Peace: Australian Drylands at Royal Botanic Gardens: /melbourne-gardens/interactive-map/australian-drylands/ Register link in bio.

Join us for a moment of serene reflection in the stunning natural beauty of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. We feel incredibly fortunate to be able to revisit the magic of our last event through these vibrant images, expertly captured by the talented Sandra Davis. Photography by @sandra.d_photography #cranbournegardens #botanicgardens #melbournegardens #gardenevent #naturephotography

This was our event, Twilight at the Winter Garden, and what a truly magical experience it was! Surrounded by the lush and beautiful @annmaree.winter and Paul’s gardens, every moment felt like stepping into a storybook from delicate blooms to peaceful pathways. The day was filled with joy, laughter, and togetherness. We are so grateful to everyone who attended and made this event so special. Your smiles, energy, and love for nature truly brought the gardens to life! We can’t wait to see you at our next event!

An unforgettable evening at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. Global Gardens of Peace brought members and guests together for a special twilight experience exploring Australia’s native landscapes, guided by Tim Sansom and Andrew Laidlaw. As the sun set, the gardens came alive with calm beauty, wildlife, and meaningful connections. Thank you to our speakers, volunteers, and everyone who joined us for this memorable event.

TWILIGHT TOUR: BOTANIC GARDENS, CRANBOURNE Global Gardens of Peace, March 2026 Global Gardens of Peace hosted a special twilight tour at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, offering members and guests an exclusive after hours experience of this award winning Australian landscape. Guided by Tim Sansom and Andrew Laidlaw, participants explored the richness of native flora and gained valuable insights into landscape design, conservation, and biodiversity. As the evening light settled, guests experienced the unique atmosphere of the gardens at dusk, including sightings of local birdlife and native wildlife. The event concluded with light refreshments, creating space for connection and reflection in a peaceful natural setting. We extend our sincere thanks to the Royal Botanic Gardens of Victoria, Tim Sansom and Andrew Laidlaw for their generous guidance, to our dedicated volunteers for their support in delivering this event, and to all members and guests who joined us for this memorable evening.

🌿 TWILIGHT TOUR: BOTANIC GARDENS, CRANBOURNE 🌿 ✨ SOLD OUT ✨ Thank you for the incredible response, this event is now fully booked! 🙌 If you’d still like to join us, we are currently WAITLIST ONLY. Spots may become available, so we encourage you to sign up. 📍 Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Cranbourne Gardens ⏰ Friday, 20 March 2026 | 4:45pm (5:00pm start) 🎟️ Join the waitlist: https://shorturl.at/qGxsk 📧 Enquiries: [email protected] #TwilightTour #BotanicGardens #Cranbourne #MelbourneEvents #SoldOut WaitlistOnly NatureExperience GlobalGardensOfPeace

TWILIGHT TOUR: BOTANIC GARDENS, CRANBOURNE Join us for a Behind the Scenes tour of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne. This is an exclusive opportunity to visit the gardens at twilight, when the gates have closed to the general public and the soft Autumn light presents this stunning world-class landscape at its most fascinating. Expect to see a range of birds as they become active in the late afternoon, and most likely, the endangered, endearing bandicoots. This award-winning, contemporary botanic garden celebrates the beauty and diversity of Australian landscapes and flora and features over 100,000 plants from 1,900 plant varieties. The tour will be led by Tim Sansom, Executive Director Living Collections and Environment at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, and Andrew Laidlaw, Chief Landscape Architect, Royal Botanic Gardens, and is an extraordinary opportunity to meet these two experts in their working environment. The tour will finish with some drinks and light supper. Please be mindful that we need to start promptly at 5pm as the gates will lock, and that the traffic from Melbourne will be heavy. Tour is free for Members of Global Gardens of Peace, and open to non-members for $60. A special first-time membership discount of $50 OFF will be offered on the day. Enquiries: [email protected] 📍Location : Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Cranbourne Gardens Ballarto Road & Botanic Drive, Cranbourne ⏰ Time and Date : 4.45 for 5pm, Friday 20 March 2026 🎟️Ticket : Member Free, Non $60 ($45 conc, u16 free) 🔗Bookings Humanitix : https://shorturl.at/qGxsk

Global Gardens of Peace wishes to sincerely thank all who contributed to the success of our recent Winter garden soiree. Thank you so much to Ellen and the team at Morning Market and Ruby and Jimmy from RJ Dining for their abundant gourmet catering, Tim Mitchell for his design insights, Phoebe for the soundscape of beautiful music and Bron and Sam at Wine x Sam for the high quality wine, particularly at such a challenging time after the vineyard was impacted by bushfire. Your generous support, along with the input of our dedicated volunteers, directly enables our work - bringing gardens to vulnerable communities. @timothymitchell_landscape @winexsam @morningmarket.melbourne @rjdining @phoebe.laidlaw

Global Gardens of Peace was privileged to host its summer soiree at the spectacular Winter garden last Friday evening. To @annmaree.winter and Paul, our heartfelt thanks for allowing us to share your incredible garden. Your unbelievable generosity will help GGOP deliver on its mission to bring joy and hope through creating gardens for those who most need them.

Twilight in the Winter Garden with Global Gardens of Peace, January 2026. Last evening felt like a festival of joy, beauty and wonder … and such a beautiful reminder of why we garden in the first place. It’s not just about the flowers or the what makes it to our kitchen table, is it?
 We garden because it connects us.
To the earth. To each other. To something much bigger than ourselves. We garden because generosity begets generosity.
 Because beauty, once shared, only multiplies.
 Because a hand extended in the soil can become a friendship that roots deep. It’s no secret that becoming friends with @annmaree.winter (and now her husband, Paul) last year was a highlight, leading to hilarious garden adventures and deep inspiration from time spent in her garden. And here’s the thing about befriending a warm, generous soul: you meet her garden friends, who then become your garden friends too. Some extra special ones too — hey @gardens_in_abundance 😉
 It’s just how nature works. Abundance, generosity, and the ecological web of connection. It was also such a joy to catch up with my favourite plant seller, @mrsbotanical and also past guests from The Sentimental Gardener — including Deb @debsdahlias , Sandra @human_nature_scapes and Chloe @fosteryourgarden — and to finally say hello in person to listeners, and to people who knew about this podcast back when it was just an idea. It was wonderful to hear from @timothymitchell_landscape on the night who was involved in the design of the tennis court transformation. He shared the design intentions which showed respect to the garden and house already in place with climate-considerate ideas based in sustainability principles 👏 Annie and Paul spent months transforming and nurturing their garden — 8–12 hours a day — all to raise funds for @globalgardensofpeace , a charity creating living landscapes to help vulnerable communities heal, restore and grow. Plant people really are the best kinds of people! Pic credit: Tom Dowding