FSBG Donates Benches Made of Recycled Materials

On Friday, March 28th, members of the former Friends of the Seychelles Botanical Garden (FSBG) made a generous donation to the Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA). During a brief ceremony held at the Botanical Garden, FSBG founder and Chairperson, Mrs. Marie-Pierre Lloyd, along with other members of the Executive Committee, presented SPGA Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Lya Docteur, with three benches, along with T-shirts, tote bags, and pens.

These three garden benches, made from recycled plastic materials and costing approximately SCR 12,000, were fabricated in South Africa. Their benches serve to enhance the visitor experience in the Botanical Garden, providing comfortable seating for guests. Although the FSBG is no longer operational due to time constraints faced by members following the COVID-19 pandemic, the remaining funds were wisely utilized to support this initiative, ensuring that it would benefit both the Garden and its visitors.

Founded in 2019, the FSBG aimed to support and promote the activities of the then National Botanical Gardens Foundation (NBGF) while educating the community about the importance of conservation. Mrs. Lloyd expressed the significance of the benches, stating, “These benches represent more than just seats. They were once part of discarded waste and have now been transformed into something valuable.”

In her remarks, Ms. Docteur expressed gratitude on behalf of the SPGA for this thoughtful contribution. “Given that the benches are produced from recycled materials; this aligns perfectly with our mandate to protect the environment. There has been a lack of benches in the Garden, and due to the financial implications of sourcing new ones, it was not a top priority. We are therefore very appreciative of these benches, which truly add value to the visitor experience.”