Retirement living provider ECH has joined forces with the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium (BGSH) on a new project set to bring more nature into the design of ECH villages and boost resident wellbeing.
The two South Australian organisations have unveiled Project Eden, which will establish a clear and consistent framework to guide ECH’s future decisions on redeveloping outdoor spaces, supporting healthy ageing and enhancing resident independence and wellbeing. The project will draw on BGSH’s horticultural and conservation expertise to help ECH embed biodiversity rich design into gardens tailored to each village and its residents, while using horticultural approaches that support climate resilience and remain sensitive to Adelaide’s varied micro-climates.
Central to the framework is the involvement of ECH residents and staff in shaping decisions for their own communities. Designs will be chosen with ease of maintenance in mind, ensuring greener spaces stay practical, sustainable and genuinely enjoyed by the people who live and work in them.
The partnership will begin with a pilot project at an ECH retirement village in suburban Adelaide, set to start in late 2026. Residents will work directly with Botanic Garden horticulturalists during the design phase, helping create easy-to-maintain gardens and outdoor spaces featuring plants suited to local conditions. BGSH will also develop a broader framework to guide future redevelopment of outdoor spaces across ECH villages.
ECH Chief Executive Officer Alan Morrison said the program marks a major step toward positioning ECH villages as leading examples of sustainable, community-focused retirement living.
“It is proven that spending time in nature strengthens mental, physical and social wellbeing, and we want to provide our residents with those benefits, whilst supporting our environment as the climate changes,” said Mr Morrison.
Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium Director Michael Harvey said the project offers a new way to share horticultural expertise and contribute to Adelaide’s broader urban greening efforts, while highlighting the real health benefits of being in natural surroundings.
“Together with ECH, we are creating a model for purposeful urban greening that is sustainable, therapeutic, and deeply connected to nature, supporting residents today while shaping sustainable communities for the future,” said Mr Harvey.
Project Eden builds on a long-standing partnership between ECH and BGSH established in 2020, and strengthens shared commitments to wellbeing, community connection and environmental stewardship.
For more information, visit ECH’s retirement living.
