As part of the 2025 Floriade About Town program, a Critters@cockingtongreen theme has been adopted to recognise the wide range of fabulous birds and animals that call Cockington Green Gardens home. Many of the Critters@cockingtongreen can be found during the day for those with an eager eye, but many of the animals or birds take refuge in gardens after hours. And why wouldn’t they? It’s like an after-hours resort for birds and animals seeking sanctuary and peace.

Lots of photographs have been taken over the years by members of the Cockington Green Gardens family and extended family. These pictures have been developed into an album display, which is being mounted along the back fence, complete with fun commentary. Pictures taken decades ago form part of this exhibition and include some birds and animals that have been regular residents for many years.

The photographs have given rise to the development of other exceptional artworks, which have now formed a new exhibition in the Rose Room Gallery. Bradley Sarah, grandson of Cockington Green Gardens creators, Brenda and Doug Sarah, has applied his considerable artistic skills to a collection of critters on canvas, which have also found their way onto souvenir mugs. Bradley has worked on many different projects away from Cockington Green Gardens over the years, and it is great to see his interpretation of the Critters@cockingtongreen.

Alex Pan and Barbara Kane are both members of the extended Cockington Green Gardens family, still working casually at the attraction today. In addition to their significant contributions as members of our staff, Alex and Barbara have a passion for art. Both of these talented ladies have applied their artistic skills to replicating some of the Critters@cockingtongreen into superb artworks which are also part of the Rose Room Gallery exhibition.

Two other well-known artists, and long-time Cockington Green Gardens supporters, Isla Patterson and Barbara Torkington, have also contributed to the Critters@cockingtongreen exhibition. Isla, whose artworks of the buildings at Cockington Green Gardens feature in the book, ‘Cockington Green Gardens – A Work of Art,’ has plied her plentiful skills to recreate some of the birds and wildlife included in the photographic exhibition.

For years, Barbara Torkington has been creating fabulous ceramics of various scenes at Cockington Green Gardens, which have been purchased by people from around Australia and around the globe. Barbara has once again beautifully captured the Critters@cockingtongreen onto various ceramic pieces to include in the exhibition.

At this stage, the artworks are not for sale; however, a limited number of coffee cups featuring Bradley Sarah’s works are available for purchase. Names and contact details will be collected for people who express an interest in purchasing any of the artworks with the potential for sale upon the completion of the exhibition.