Botanic Gardens

Press, 20 March 1982, Page 14

Botanic Gardens

Sir.—Your correspondents Lindsay. Mahoney. Clayton, and Sheil are critical of the educational facilities offered by the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. It may be pertinent for them to inquire of the City Fathers what budget, if any. is available for such work. I was recently a member of a special-interest group being shown some of the work going on behind the scenes at the gardens. Our escort was a senior member of the staff and I am still reeling under the impact of one bit of information he gave us. The total money available for acquiring new specimens and plants amounts to $3OO per- annum. I ask you ... — Yours, etc.. N. PALMER. March 2. 1982. [Mr J. H. Gray. General Manager and Town Clerk, says in reply to this letter and also one .from J. Roper-Lindsay, printed on February 24: "The sum provided in 1981-82 specifically for seeds, plants and related items is $2BOO. On

the question of education, a considerable amount of work has been done over the years, much of it associated with universities and research and botanical institutions locally and throughout the world. The parks and recreation department corresponds through a seed exchange system with no fewer than 500 such institutions. It is also a member of the Internationaal Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and has direct dealings with the threatened plants Committee of that body, one of the aims of which is the protection and distribution of rare and endangered species. These and similar activities ultimately benefit the public and ensure the widest possible range of plants being available for public display. As a means to expanding the Botanic Gardens education function, steps are being taken to provide more information through display boards and plant labelling. It is also planned as time and finance permit to prepare information sheets on a range of topics. In the longer term it is hoped an informal ion/interpretative centre can be established which would considerably enhance the value of the Gardens. The availability of finance will however continue to be a major determining factor in any moves to increase substantially public educational services at the Christchurch Bo-tanic-Gardens."]