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Otari-Wilton's Bush Open Day

Tuesday 11 September 2012, 11:56AM

By Wellington City Council

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WELLINGTON CITY

Did you know that Otari-Wilton's Bush is New Zealand's only public native botanic garden?

This Saturday (15 September), to help celebrate Conservation Week, it's having an open day where you can take guided walks, hear from experts and buy native plants.

Otari-Wilton's Bush Manager Rewi Elliot says the results of the garden's photography contest will also be announced.

"I've been astounded by the level of professionalism. Some of them look like they've come straight from National Geographic. It's going to be very hard to pick the winners."

The photographers had plenty to photograph. The garden has over 100 hectares of original and regenerating native forest, which includes 1,200 species of flowering plants, conifers and ferns, some of which are very rare in the wild.

There will be several guided walks during the day (from 9.00am - 3.00pm) plus stalls, a barbecue and displays. But the drawcard has to be the plant sale, which starts at 10.00am. It's the only day of the year that Otari's nursery opens its doors to the public.

"This year we've got about 1,000 plants for sale for $5 to $15, with most priced between $8 and $10." There's parking near the main entrance on Wilton Road and also off Churchill Drive.

You can also get there on the number 14 bus.