Volunteer succulent gardeners Janice Hall and John Macdonald have been repairing damage caused by plant thieves at Bason Botanic Gardens.
Volunteer succulent gardeners Janice Hall and John Macdonald have been repairing damage caused by plant thieves at Bason Botanic Gardens.
Volunteer gardeners at Bason Botanic Gardens are disappointed to see gaping holes in some of the beds they tend after a significant number of plants were ripped out.
Janice Hall and John Macdonald, who regularlycare for the succulent plants, said they had spent this week repairing the damage and replacing some plants.
"I have a section of my husband's vegetable garden at home designated for starting new plants to add to the beds here," Hall said.
"It is really disappointing that someone would do that because it is not hard to grow succulent plants from cuttings but it has taken a lot of time and effort to establish these beds."
Whanganui District Council senior parks manager Wendy Bainbridge said there were quite regular plant thefts at the reserve which was disappointing for the people who spent time putting displays together.
"The succulent area was a garden that the late Vonnie Cave had nurtured for many years with the help of a group of volunteers," Bainbridge said.
"This particular instance of theft was very obvious because the volunteer gardeners who look after the succulent garden had recently done a lot of propagating and planting of the area."
Bainbridge said the council was quite reliant on the work of volunteers and the input they provided in terms of plant knowledge.
"They take their reward from a job well done and in providing something that visitors to the gardens appreciate."
When Stanley Bason and his wife Blanche gifted their beautiful homestead garden in Rapanui Rd to the Whanganui community in 1966, he was specific about his hopes for the long-term purpose of the property.
"It should be a botanic garden focusing on collection, conservation, and preservation of rare plants while providing a peaceful and beautiful place for people to enjoy and relax," he wrote.
Visitors will be able to enjoy stunning views from the top of the Round The Lake Walkway at Bason Botanic Gardens where the final stage of construction is about to begin.
Photo / Supplied
Terry Dowdeswell is chairman of the trust formed in 1982 to act as custodians for the Basons' vision.
He said the plant thefts should not be allowed to detract from the appreciation most people have for the gardens.
"There are always good things happening here too and they happen because people do the opposite of stealing, they donate.
"They donate their time and financial assistance. Quite a lot of both."
"This month we will see the beginning of construction for the final stage of the walkway around the lake," he said.
"It will then be possible to circumnavigate the lake, off-road, and take in views of the gardens from different angles."
At the highest point of the walkway, to the southeast of the lake, space has been cleared to accommodate a sculpture by Whanganui artist Ivan Vostinar, with seating areas nearby.
Another eagerly anticipated event on the Bason Botanic Gardens calendar is the 2022 Shakespeare production The Merry Wives of Windsor to be performed at the reserve.
Karen Craig directed her first production, Macbeth, there in 2016 for Shakespeare's 400th anniversary, and highly successful performances of The Tempest and The Merchant of Venice followed.
• An information evening for those keen to be involved will be held at 82-92 Peat St at 7pm on July 29.