Celebrating the Winners of the Grow Your Health Challenge
Across Australia and New Zealand this May, thousands of people stepped into their local botanic gardens and discovered something many of us already know: these beautiful places we all love and value are good for us.
The BGANZ Grow Your Health Challenge, as part of Botanic Gardens Week 2026, invited you to complete a range of simple wellbeing activities in botanic gardens and arboreta during the month of May. From mindful walks and moments of reflection to connecting with others and exploring the colours of nature, participants embraced the opportunity to support their wellbeing through nature.
The response was inspiring, with people embracing the challenge in gardens large and small, across cities, regional centres and local communities.
Our winners came from an impressive spread of locations, highlighting the reach of botanic gardens as places where people can connect, recharge and thrive. From the Australian National Botanic Gardens, ACT, to Botanic Gardens and Park Authority (Kings Park), WA, Christchurch Botanic Gardens, NZ, Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens, QLD, Geelong Botanic Gardens, VIC, St Kilda Botanical Gardens, VIC, Wollongong Botanic Garden, NSW, Auckland Botanic Gardens, NZ, and the Shoalhaven Heads Native Botanic Garden, NSW. Challenge entrants demonstrated that wellbeing can be found wherever plants and people come together.
The variety of activities completed was just as impressive. Kate from Canberra, Janelle from Geelong and Azariah from Christchurch all took time for a 20 Minute Reset, while Grace from Christchurch and Racheal from Kings Park embraced The Mindful Moment. Rob from Shoalhaven Heads and Amy from Auckland strengthened community connections through Connect and Belong, while Zoe from Wollongong and Phoebe from Hervey Bay explored nature through The Colour Hunt, discovering new ways to notice and appreciate the colours and textures around them.
Others immersed themselves in multiple wellbeing experiences. Ange from St Kilda completed the 20 Minute Reset, The Mindful Moment and Move Your Way, while Nanita from Christchurch combined mindfulness, movement and reflection through three challenge activities. Edwina from Kings Park completed five activities, including Move Your Way, Connect and Belong and The Colour Hunt, demonstrating the many different pathways to wellbeing that botanic gardens provide.
A special congratulations goes to Natalie from St Kilda Botanical Gardens, who completed every activity in the challenge, including attending a Botanic Gardens Week event and taking part in Volunteer Connect. Her commitment perfectly captured the spirit of the challenge: using botanic gardens as places to connect, move, learn and recharge.
The activities themselves reflected the many ways gardens support wellbeing and together, these experiences highlighted the diverse benefits that botanic gardens offer every day. Research continues to demonstrate that spending time in nature can improve mental wellbeing, reduce stress, encourage physical activity and strengthen social connections. Botanic gardens provide a unique setting where all these benefits come together, offering welcoming spaces for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Thank you to everyone who took part in the Grow Your Health Challenge and shared their experiences. We also extend our sincere thanks to our prize partners for helping make the challenge possible through their generous support.
Most importantly, we hope the challenge is only the beginning. Whether it’s a mindful stroll, a catch-up with friends, a volunteer session or simply taking a few moments to notice the beauty around you, your local botanic garden is a place where wellbeing can continue to grow.
Keep visiting, keep exploring, and keep growing your health.
A massive thank you to our Prize Sponsors…Frank Green, Weleda Australia and Backyard Botanist! Their generous support helped us reward participants and celebrate the many ways botanic gardens contribute to healthier, happier communities.
