Thousands of wildflowers and more than 3,000 WA plants are set to be on display at this month’s Everlasting Kings Park Festival.
Beginning this Friday until September 29, more than 300,000 visitors are expected to visit Kings Park and its Botanic Gardens to experience the park’s wonders.
The festival is offering a range of events over its duration, allowing all visitors flexibility to how they can best enjoy the experience.
Former Kings Park Director, Professor Stephan Hopper believes that WA residents are very fortunate to have such a natural wonder located in such an urbanised space.
“It is a remarkable place in the heart of the city, 1000 acres and two thirds of it bushland, very few cities on Earth have that”.
In fact, it is the world’s largest inner-city park stretching over 400 hectares.
“[It’s] become a window into the natural world.”
“Even though many [plants] are endangered, it is rare on a global scale, and each of us who live in WA are custodians of this remarkable natural heritage,” says Professor Hopper.
The 2025 festival also coincides with the 60th anniversary of WA’s Botanic Gardens, the state’s conservation hub.
Kings Park science communicator, Eugenie Au, explains there’s several exclusive events for the anniversary.
“We have special artwork that was made of the new white diamond waxflower that our plant development team have developed for the 60th anniversary”.
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When asked what event she is most excited for, she struggled to choose.
“That’s like picking the favourite child, it’s hard to say.”
Conservation
Environmental conservation refers to the active protection and restoration of the land, which the Kings Park festival heavily promotes.
During the festival, the park holds a native plant sale to encourage WA’s rich biodiversity.
Typically, the plants sold require little water and fertilisation, saving residents money in the long run and making sure that environmental conservation thrives.
“It’s actually really good for sustainability.
You can still have a pretty garden with minimum effort,” says Ms Au.
As conservation is such an important part of the festival, the team works with many volunteers to help maintain the flora and bushlands.
One of the most prominent assisting volunteer groups are the Friends of Bold Park, who have around 40 volunteers and work with both Kings Park and Bold Park.
The volunteers work together to protect the land from any further natural or manufactured disturbances.
Volunteering
The program’s President, Steve Lofthouse says that being involved with environmental conservation is incredibly rewarding.
“You feel like you’re doing something.
Sometimes it’s a good reason to get out of bed on a weekend morning when it’s cold.”
He also recognises that the festival wouldn’t be possible without the work of volunteers, especially considering that the government provide very little funding and assistance with their conservation and maintenance efforts.
“A lot of it just won’t happen without volunteers.
So having people willing to give up their time is vital to that conservation movement we’re trying to get to.”
