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Gardening with Gael: Zen and the importance of attractive public places

 

 

26 April, 2022

 

thumbnail 2 MAZ space-240A recent visit to Whangarei confirmed my thoughts on the impact and importance of attractive public spaces. The Town Basin has been an appealing area to visit for some time with trees, lawns, seats, winding paths and cafes. Now the draw of the Hundertwasser Centre has created a fascinating added dimension to the entire area.

There have been many studies done regarding the importance of public spaces on the lives of the inhabitants, be they in cities, towns or villages. When we are travelling we will go out of our way to visit an attractive town that we have heard of. In the South Island we always visit Ophir, a small town renowned for its gardens, or St Albans which has managed to retain the charm of the original dwellings and surroundings.

Trees and gardens play a large part in the identity of a town. Here the avenue of pohutukawas planted in Pohutukawa Place and Seabreeze has created a distinctive feeling to the road where the sections are still large enough to have gardens. Houses on Alamar Crescent have the benefit of the tree-lined verge opposite. When I needed a replacement jacaranda I sent my niece off in search of one in Auckland.

“They don’t stock trees Aunty,” she said after a fruitless search. “The sections are now too small.”

We all owe a vote of thanks to Mangawhai Matters who have intervened with section sizes in the new development. I hold my breath hoping for some sign of vegetation there as well. As we sprawl across the country I contemplate the example of concentrated housing with shared gardens and parks. Not everyone wants a garden. Not everyone enjoys gardening. But almost everyone enjoys a well-established park and recreation area. Mangawhai Activity Zone is a wonderful example of this.

My profile picture this week harks back to 1986 when Box and I were building the first two stages of the shops at the Heads. Yes, that’s me with a barrow of rocks. Now 36 years later I don’t manage barrowsful of rocks so well, but I still appreciate their value in the landscape. There is nothing like them for shoring up a sandhill. My new garden is entirely dependent on them.

I maintain the idea that rocks and shingle impact the level of moisture that can be retained and slowly add some minerals.

One of my sisters came to stay recently. She had been witnessing the slow but steady devolution of the gardens at the Heads shopping area over the years, muttering as successive owners cut down the trees I planted and pulled out the shrubberies. Slowly the rocks all disappeared and the soft contours hardened.

“Do you feel like you are being wiped out?” she said to me ruefully on one visit.

“I was pretty sorry to see the puriri go,” I replied. “It was just getting to a nice size for providing some shade as were the pukas. Wait until I show you the latest changes!”

‘People feel better and tend to be more active in attractive public spaces’ [Priscilla Pacheco, 2017]. Other studies cite increased retail benefits and safety. Vegetation lowers stress levels and enhances wellbeing. Sadly no study cites plastic grass and white troughs as a good example.

 

TIP OF THE WEEK

Mulching is good any time of the year. To suppress weeds, place a layer of cardboard around the plants and generously cover with mulch. The cardboard (unlike plastic) will slowly rot into the garden. Take care to cover the cardboard completely. A small amount of cardboard showing can act like a wick and draw out the moisture.

 

As communities become more compact, open recreational spaces, like Mangawhai Activity Zone, become more important. PHOTO/FILE


 
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