Media Briefing – issued 2.30pm 22 Oct 2013

Water a central feature of new Greening the Rubble gardens in Christchurch Eastern Frame

Community-based trust Greening the Rubble has started work on a new mini park in the Eastern Frame, which will see a piece of wetland restored to the central city.

The new park is on the corner of Madras and Armagh, close to the site of Breathe urban village and the Margaret Mahy Amazing Playground, and is walking distance north of their Nature Play Park (on the corner of Hereford Street and Latimer Square).

The new Greening the Rubble park features an artesian water flow, which will support a distinctive wetland of Canterbury native plants, designed by locally-resident landscape architect Di Lucas. Ground preparations began this month, with excavator sponsored by Hirepool (see web resolution photo attached - 6Mb version available on request) and site negotiated from the Crown by Life in Vacant Spaces Trust.

“Some native reeds and sedges, that self-introduced to the site, have been protected from the excavator and will be joined by hundreds more from our supporting plant nurseries,” said Greening the Rubble trustee Rhys Taylor.

“Former site user Two Degrees Mobile has helped us with sponsorship to buy plants. These will go in during November, once Nature Play Park is finished, which should be at the end of this week!” said Mr Taylor.

Nature Play Park is a joint project between the trust and Department of Conservation, on Latimer Square, and features a replica braided river and several Canterbury natural habitats in miniature, plus an information hut. Christchurch City Council and many local businesses have supported this ambitious landscape project, including: Ardex, City Care, Central Fencing, Fulton Hogan, Hilary Wetton, Hynds, Placemakers, ReadyLawn, TreeTech and WaterForce (full list displayed on site).

This Saturday (26 Oct) Department of Conservation staff and Greening the Rubble volunteers will be at Nature Play Park from 10am until 1pm, hosting activities for children as part of the FESTA weekend. Another Greening the Rubble mini-park, built two months ago at the corner of Colombo and Gloucester streets, will host a Gap Filler installation called Sound Garden – which also opens on Saturday.

ENDS

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