17 February 2009 Lincoln University partner in creation of native plants demonstration area at Botanic Gardens

If you’re visiting Christchurch’s Botanic gardens   -  and everyone should include the Gardens on their out-and-about programme over summer  -  then make sure you see the newly opened area called “Gardening With Indigenous Plants”.

This joint creation by Lincoln University, Landcare Research and the Friends of Christchurch Botanic Gardens is an area dedicated to helping turn around the loss of New Zealand’s native plant species and the “disconnection” between people and their natural heritage. Essentially it is a demonstration area of indigenous plantings.

Officially launched in December, the area is located next to the collection of New Zealand plant cultivars and the Herb Garden, south-east of the Information Centre.

It stretches 45 metres in length, made up of three linked but thematically separate gardens, each 15 x 5 metres in size. Garden One, a rock/scree garden, demonstrates the use of different tussock grasses, sedges and herbs from riverbeds, cliffs, mountains and sand dunes together with low trees and shrubs; Garden Two, a bush garden,  shows a balance between dry and moist types of native woody vegetation, forest herbs, wetland grasses and shade tolerant species; and Garden Three, a formal garden, demonstrates the adaptation of native plants for traditional formal settings with elements such as low clipped hedges, topiary, uniform lawn and “green” roofs. In addition all the areas demonstrate the use of native grasses and ground-hugging species as a substitute for traditional, high maintenance, manicured lawns.

The project as a whole makes use of indigenous plants from typical environments of Christchurch city, Banks Peninsula and the Canterbury Plains. Typically all of them have inter-dependent relationships with indigenous wildlife, such as birds, butterflies and geckoes, providing the fauna with habitat. So, animal life will also be given a revival boost through the new planted areas.

The work has its origins in a collaborative research project funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology titled  Low Impact Urban Design and Development. The partners in this are Lincoln University and Landcare Research. It has been running since 2003 and at Lincoln University the leaders are Dr Maria Ignatieva of the Landscape Architecture Group and Associate Professor Glenn Stewart of the Environmental Management Group. At Landcare Research the leader is Dr Colin Meurk.

Essentially the Low Impact Urban Design and Development project involves considering alternative, cost-effective ways of designing the landscape, putting nature at the centre, and creating community environments that respect, conserve and enhance natural processes while still allowing land to be used for human activity. These principles are being applied as part of New Zealand’s “sustainable cities” programme focusing on Auckland and Christchurch, and in the Gardening with Indigenous Plants area they are on show at a scale practical for residential properties.

The Gardening with Indigenous Plants area has been funded by the Friends of Christchurch Botanic Gardens with support from local nurseries who donated all the plants. Members of the project team included Lincoln University students who, along with academic staff members, willingly gave their time and effort. 

Launching the demonstration gardens, Dr Meurk said the aim was to help restore the connection between people and their natural heritage. New Zealand’s native flora, particularly the lowland flora, was “very threatened”, he said, and there was much less for people to identify with.

“We need to turn the loss around,” he said. “Getting a critical mass of these plants back in the environment will assist restoration.

“Without visual reminders of native plants there will be a decrease in knowledge about them among the general public and among decision-makers. How do you get decision-makers and the community to recognise a problem when there’s nothing to see?

“Seeing it in real life is believing.”

He hoped the gardens would “inform people”   -   tell them about the New Zealand nature and ecosystems.

Dr Ignatieva said the development of the area was a “team project” involving Lincoln University staff and students working with Landcare colleagues and Botanic Gardens staff.

“We hope these gardens will be inspiring for the citizens of Christchurch and educational for foreign visitors,” she said.

The Operations Team Manager, Botanical Services, at the Botanic Gardens, Jeremy Hawker said the collaboration evident in the conceptualisation,  planning and installation of the indigenous demonstration gardens highlighted the “way gardens are going to go in the future”, in other words, making use of partnerships.

“We appreciate the expertise that Lincoln University and Landcare Research have brought to the project … we appreciate the knowledge and strength of our external partners.”

The new gardens were blessed by Melani Burdett, representing Te Rapana Trust working with Rongoa Maori.