Ellerslie gardens flourish in Central City

Two gold award-winning gardens from the 2012 Ellerslie International Flower Show have begun to grow in the Garden City.

During the last month, plants and key features from the joint Council/City Care garden Urban Active and Landcare Research’s Transitions garden have been planted in the Central City.

The Council/City Care’s garden, with its perennial borders, bright-coloured plants and textured foliage, has been used to landscape the entrance to the new high-technology Enterprise Precinct and Innovation Campus (EPIC) in Manchester Street, which was officially opened today (Thursday 22 November).

The Council has also provided the land rent-free for five years for the campus which creates a focal point for technology industry back in the Central City.

Landcare’s Transitions garden is starting to flourish outside the new Rebuild Central premises at 36 Lichfield Street. The garden showcases some of the possibilities for a greener Central City, as Christchurch residents asked for through Share an Idea.

“It is fitting that this garden is located outside Rebuild Central, the new dedicated service to help get property owners and businesses started with redeveloping or relocating to the Central City,” says the Council Urban Design and Regeneration Manager Carolyn Ingles.

“Both gardens have been funded as part of the Council’s Transitional City projects which bring life, people and business back to the heart of Christchurch.”