In parallel with the department's extensive planting programme to improve the cityscape, a series of educational and community involvement programmes was launched to promote a green culture in society and government departments. Over 2 640 greening activities were organised with 1 191 000 participants.

Under the school greening programme, the Greening School Subsidy Scheme provided over 740 schools and kindergartens with cash subsidies to add more greenery to their campuses and to organise greening educational activities for their students with technical advice given by part-time instructors. About 350 000 students were each given a pot of seedlings to nurture at home or in school under a 'One Person, One Flower' Scheme to gain a better understanding of growing plants and to develop an interest in the subject.

	Students trying out their green thumbs at the Launching Ceremony of 'Tree Walk at Kowloon Park'.

Under the community greening programme, the Bonsai Exhibition 2005 was organised jointly with eight local bonsai associations and held in Kowloon Park in November. Apart from that, about 150 outreaching greening promotional activities were organised, attracting over 60 000 participants.

	Members of the public were attracted by the exquisite beauty of the exhibits in the Hong Kong Bonsai Exhibition, which featured over 60 plants at the Banyan Court of Kowloon Park.

Over 1 000 Green Volunteers recruited under the Green Volunteer Scheme in 18 districts carried out simple horticultural maintenance in parks and served as stewards in greening promotion activities.

The Community Garden Programme has been extended to 18 districts by the end of 2005 to encourage the public to participate in greening activities at the community level and to adopt such practices as part of daily life. It was also designed to arouse public awareness in greening and environmental protection through participating in gardening activities. One community garden was established in each district and a total of 29 gardening courses were organised with around 5 000 participants during the year.

	The Community Garden Programme provides a chance for city dwellers to share the fun of gardening and the joy of harvests with friends and relatives through gardening courses.

The department continued to join hands with District Councils and local communities to organise Community Planting Days. Twenty-seven events involving 13 900 participants were organised to plant around 300 trees and 32 000 shrubs.