Harden up the garden

The creepy-crawlies scuttling around the flower bed may not win any beauty contests, but they can be the gardener's friends.

A free workshop at Hollard Gardens on Sunday (20 February) will focus on garden biodiversity and how it can be nurtured and encouraged.

"We'll be working up from soil micro-organisms to insects to birds - all the biological diversity that promotes healthy ornamental gardens and also benefits edible gardens," says the Taranaki Regional Council's Regional Gardens Manager, Greg Rine.

"We'll cover tips and techniques to protect and enhance your garden biodiversity. Think of it as encouraging your garden to look after itself."

Sunday's workshop runs from 2pm to 4pm at Hollard Gardens, 1686 Upper Manaia Road, Kaponga. It is part of part of a year-long programme of free public events at Hollard Gardens and at Pukeiti and Tupare, the two other heritage property owned and managed by the Taranaki Regional Council on behalf of the people of the region.

All properties are open daily and entry is free. For more information, see www.hollardgardens.info, www.pukeiti.org.nz, and www.tupare.info. The Regional Gardens are also on Facebook (TaranakiRegionalGardens) and Twitter (@TaranakiRG).