Tuesday’s official opening of the new tree house in the Children’s Garden at Albury Botanic Gardens found no shortage of volunteers keen to try it out. 

As soon as Friends of Albury Botanic Gardens founding member Gwen Klinberg cut the ribbon, children rushed to explore the tree house’s decks, ramps, rope ladders and steps.

RELATED:

Albury mayor Kevin Mack attended the opening, as did special guest Jemima, a favourite character promoting the Play School exhibition at Albury Library Museum.

The Friends group donated $85,000 towards the tree house, money raised over several years through plant sales and catering.

Border artist Michael Laubli and builder Jeff Jones created the structure, which is supported by natural timber, branch-like steel tops and surrounded by a sandpit, garden beds, rock features and timber seating.

Mrs Klinberg thought the latest addition looked wonderful.

“We’ve been watching it grow, every week when we come in I’d come out and check where Jeff was up to, how far he’d gone with it,” she said.

Albury grandmother Leanne Johnson has also been following the progress for family members due to visit the Border soon.

“While this was being built we took photos and sent down to them to show it’s going to be ready when they come up,” she said.

Ms Johnson said she and her family spent a lot of time in the Children’s Garden.

“The gardens are just so worthwhile to the children,” she said.

“It’s all enticing, it’s a community park that everyone enjoys.”

Albury Botanic Gardens curator Jason Kimball said the Children’s Garden, which opened in 2010, had expanded the visitor demographic of the gardens.

“It’s really invigorated the space and just brought that whole new element to it,” Mr Kimball said.

“This used to be the old fern walk in here, but it was a natural area where kids play.

“You hear them talking about tigers and lions and all that sort of stuff as they’re running through the space, so it became that natural area to develop this into a children’s space.”