ARMED with trowels and hoes, a trio of local gardeners are taking on the beautification of a Newtown park.
Experienced gardeners Christian Williams, Linnea Lindstroem and Tim Tovey are seeking to create a communal plot where locals can grow fresh produce, get to know their neighbours and share gardening advice.
The team has applied to the Wellington City Council for permission to set up a new community garden in Newtown’s Carrara Park.
The main focus of the garden would be on edible plants such as fruit, berries and vegetables. These would flourish all year round and have colourful flowers that will attract insects to keep the garden healthy.
“The goal is to enhance the public’s use of this part of the park” Ms Lindstroem says.
The garden design plans to only use a narrow part of the area which would mean plenty of space for other activities and could help curb problems with drinking and vandalism in the park.
“We would like to do a co-operative design with whoever puts their hands up” says Ms Lindstroem, who is trained in permaculture design.
The area is well sheltered and gets sun for most of the day throughout the year. The park has good access with a possibility of adding another entrance for those who are less physically mobile.
The Karanga Health Centre is just behind the park, meaning the garden would improve the view.
“We could have raised beds for people with walking frames or wheelchairs,” says Mr Williams.
If the plan is approved, the trio plan to arrange composting workshops through The Sustainability Trust as well as other gardening related activities.
They hope to get approval by mid-September in order to get the garden established in time for spring planting.
The proposed garden would use about three hundred square metres along the wooden fences to the south and would occupy an area that is currently only covered by grass and asphalt.
An application is being drafted to create a charitable trust by the name of Newtown Community Gardens Trust.
