Chairman Hopes For Trees In Avenue

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30578, 22 October 1964, Page 28

Chairman Hopes For Trees In Avenue

Trees could be, and he hoped they would be, replanted in Rolleston avenue, but it was not essential to follow the planting methods of an earlier generation, said Cr P. J. Skellerup, chairman of the City Council's reserves committee, yesterday. Cr Skellerup said he was greatly disturbed by a headline in “The Press” which might give the impression that trees would not be replanted. Certainly three city councillors had advocated grass and shrubs, but the council as a body had approved the reserves committee’s recommendation that group planting be adopted in principle and that the Director of Reserves (Mr H. G. Gilpin) be asked to report on the types and location of trees that would be desirable, Cr Skellerup said. “Since my return from overseas after the public turmoil over the removal of the old trees, I have given the replanting a great deal of thought,” he said. “Group planting which would enable a variety of trees to be planted in small groups and placed to enhance the beauty of existing features, seems to offer several advantages over planting trees in straight rows. “Smaller - growing trees could be planted in front of the Botanic Gardens so that the wonderful vista now opened up can be preserved.

The attractive stone buildings of the Canterbury Museum and Christ’s College could be framed in taller trees in a way not to obscure completely the fine stonework of those buildings, but to hide the less attractive old wooden buildings. Greater variety of trees could be used, which would enable future replacement, when and if necessary, to be carried out without disturbing the whole avenue.” As well as recommending the types of trees to be planted next winter, Mr Gilpin would be preparing a model showing how the general landscaping would be improved if group planting was adopted, Cr Skellerup said. There would probably be seven to 10 groups of three or four trees, but each group would contain only one variety of tree. Group planting was widely accepted in many countries. The council had at least six months in which to decide before there could be any replanting. Shrubs and lawn might also have to be considered in front of the Botanic Gardens because of the interest expressed by some councillors, Cr Skellerup said. He had always favoured replanting with substantial trees and it was because of this that he expressed great concern over the implication in the report that the council was seriously considering Rolleston avenue treeless.