New Plant Collections On The Way For Botanic Gardens

September 3, 2001

Several new plant collections and a proposed new visitor centre are amongst the highlights of the Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens (ARBG) Management Plan adopted by the Auckland Regional Council’s Parks and Recreation Committee.

Committee chairman Bill Burrill says the Management Plan, which has been the subject of public consultation, is a blueprint for the management of the Gardens over the next five years.

“The plan details the Gardens’ plant collections and its overall role and relationship with the regional community, which includes education, recreation, conservation and scientific research,” he says.

“A new Children’s Discovery Garden, Ethnobotanic Garden to display plant species traditionally used by Maori and lifestyle courtyards to be developed in conjunction with a proposed new visitor centre are all part of the plan.”

Cr Burrill described the Gondwana Arboretum which is currently being developed to display a larger range of plants from the Gondwana continents that New Zealand was part of, as one of the ARBG’s most significant projects.

Recent visitors to the gardens will have been among the first to enjoy the new Threatened Native Plant Garden, due to be officially opened by the Prime Minister in late September, while work on redeveloping the Rose Garden is also underway.

Cr Burrill says public submissions covered a wide range of issues with many relating to recreation and the presence of dogs at the Gardens.

“Passive informal recreation such as walking and family picnics are the most popular activities at the Gardens so higher impact activities like biking, skateboards and scooter will continue to be prohibited,” he says.

“Dogs on a lead will be allowed, but not in picnic areas, and owners are responsible for the removal of droppings.”

Cr Burrill says the new developments and the plan itself are about augmenting the Gardens’ recreation, education, conservation and science roles in ways which are relevant to more than 900,000 people who visit the Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens each year.

“By keeping the Botanic gardens, their programmes, facilities and collections relevant to Aucklanders, the ARBG’s relationship with the community will be enhanced.”

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