Go ahead for Children's Garden

12 May 2004

A new garden designed especially for children will be developed at Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens thanks to funding from The Potter Masonic Trust.

Auckland Regional Council's Parks and Heritage Committee today gave the go ahead for construction of the Potter Children's Garden to begin immediately.

Committee Chairman Bill Burrill says the ARC is extremely grateful to Freemasons New Zealand who administer the Potter Masonic Trust, for the funding for the Potter Children's Garden.

"This garden is a project we've been wanting to do for several years but funding has been needed for other priorities, CR Burrill says.

"Thanks to Freemasons New Zealand through the Potter Masonic Trust we can now make this garden a reality. It's will be an exciting addition to the Botanic Gardens."

Potter Trust Trustee and Past Grand Master of Freemasons New Zealand Joe McManemin says he and his fellow trustees are delighted to sponsor the garden.

"The Potter Masonic Trust was established by Frederick Potter for the benefit of children and youth in Auckland. This garden fits the bill perfectly and is an ideal way to carry on the tradition of charity started by Potter nearly 100 years ago," he says.

The Potter Children's Garden aims to provide all young people with an exciting place to learn about plants and the environment. It will include a Textures Garden, Decay Garden, Scented Garden, Zoo Garden, Sight and Sound area, Vegetable Garden, Boardwalk and Creature Pool.

Cr Burrill says the Potter Children's Garden will be interactive so children can have fun getting their hands dirty and exploring while they learn.

"We have around 6000 children every year doing curriculum-based environmental education at Botanic Gardens and this garden will become an integral part of those programmes," he says. "I am sure the garden will also be a welcome addition for the many thousands of families who visit the Botanic Gardens."

The Potter Children's Garden is scheduled to be completed in spring this year with an opening date to be confirmed. A new visitor centre at the Botanic Gardens is also scheduled for completion later this year.

ENDS

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