BEAUTIFYING RIVERTON

Western Star, 6 October 1939, Page 4

BEAUTIFYING RIVERTON

\ COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME

The following report presented twenty years ago by Mr D. Tannock, the Duhedin Curator, to the Riverton Beautifying Association still makes interesting reading. Part of his proposals have been accomplished, but there is still a wealth of information available.

HOWELL'S POINT

The work of planting marram grass to arrest the shifting sand dunes has been very effective, but this should be followed up with lupins, which provide a more effective covering than grass and in time they deposit suf- j ficient humus to provide for the growth of grass and forest trees. - The most effective method of establishing lupins is to plant a few seeds on the sheltered side of the tufts of grass, and once they are established on the higher levels they spread rapidly downward in all directions, by .means of self-sown seedlings. Later on _it would be possible to follow the lupins by pine plantations if desired. "liie most effective way of dealing with the windswept headland would be to plant it all up with trees of a suitable kind, but there is little use planting anything but pines until shelter is provided. I would recommend the planting of a belt of pines two chains in.width down the middle of the reserve and another across, roughly hi the form of a cross. These would be planted at lour feet apart each wayand it would be an advantage to plant? two rows of Pinus maritimus on the j •exposed side. They stand up to the j blast better than ■ J-inus insigms, / though tliey are not such fast growers, it would be necessary to fence these plantations Avith rabbit-netting and to keep a careful-watch for any rabbits Avhich might find their way into tr.e plantations from time to time. It would be an advantage to scrub the fence on the AvindAvard side to provide a shelter until * the trees become established. Later on Avhen the shelter has been provided further planting of Menzies spruce and other evergreen trees could be carried out, either in groups to form a park or a continuous plantation to form a forest. . RIVERTON RAY. • This is the best beach and is extensive enough to provide all the i\itractions Avhich are necessary at an i.p-to-date seaside resort. To provide rot m for races and other forms of amusement such as ai'e found at Caroline Bay, Timaru, a portion of tho, sand would have to be reclaimed and raised aboA-e high-water mark, so that grass, trees, and shrubs could be groAvn with safety. ■ . This could be done by planting a belt of marram grass at least a chain wide across the bay well back from the usual higli-Avater mark. This " belt would follow the curve of the bay; supplies of grass plants could be obtained from HoAveH's Point and they could be put in quite cheaply with Hie plough, at a distance of not more than three feet apart. This Avould in time build up a sand dune Avhich could be scooped back and used for raising the level of the beach behind. Ili'm method of sand reclamation has been carried on must successfully at the Ocean Beach, Dunedin, and now there are many acres of le\ r el ground, suitable for recreation grounds, which have been reclaimed from the sea. There it Avas necessary to begin with scrub fences, but I don't think ihcy Avill be necessary at Riverton. To provide shade and shelter a UAt of trees or a' row of single sp'.-c-imeus could be planted round the roadside. Macroearpas . would be very suitablefor this plantation for they send - out long horizontal branches which provid.j excellent shade when if is hot and shelter Avhen it is Avet, Tho buildings and cu"HmcMU required would be a level spao? well grassed and mown to provide roon |

for races and sports such as are in- ' dulged in by picnic parties, conveni- / ences for both women and men, a large shelter shed Avhich could also be used for dancing, dressing sheds or open shelters, a band rotunda or better still■a band kiosk similar to the one in the Dunedin Botanic Gardens, fireplaces Avhere the billy could be boiled, a water supply and drinking-fountains of the bubble type, seats, sAvings and seesaAvs. Tennis courts and a croquet lawn could also b:> provided in time, also many other attractions characteristic of the seaside resorts.

If AA'ell developed and advertised this beach could be made the playground for Southland, and though I know this scheme is beyond the means of the Riverton Beautifying Society at present, the planting could be done noAV and no doubt the necessary funds for providing the other attractions could be raised by means of carnivals.

Mr Tannock then referred to the development of the railway reserve. This is now the Centenary Park. '

FALLEN SOLDIERS' MONUMENT

The space round this monument has been planted very nicely but most of the shrubs are now overgrown, the grass has been allowed to grow and the fence is falling down. T would ..suggest that the fence be removed altogether, that a rough stone kerbing be placed alongside the footpath, the shrubs be pruned back and those too near the monument be removed altogether, and that the surface be levelled, soAvn doAvn with grass arid be kept moAvn with a lawn mower.

RESERVE ROUND THE

ATHENAEUM.

As the building is already rather low it would be a mistake to -surround it with trees and shrubs which when they greAv up Avould bury it; the front portion should be levelled and soavu down Avith grass which could be kept moAvn, and a group of ornamental shrubs planted at the back and alongside the back fence. Two or three shapely shrubs could be planted on the lawn.- llatas 'would be suitable. STREET TREES. An attempt has been made to establish trees in the streets and very' considerable pains have been taken to protect them during their early stages. Unfortunately Riverton is subject to south-west ' winds which make the growing of deciduous trees without shelter almost impossible, and the treeplanting so far .can hardly be called a success. Pines and cupressus ' are strong growing evergreens which could stand up to the wind but they are quite unsuitable and the only four trees which are likely to succeed are cabbage tree, ngaio, alder and balsam poplar. The ngaio and cabbage tree are both evergreens but they are not aggressive greedy trees and .they would provide the necessary shade and shelter. The best method of street planting is to divide the street into three sections of about-22ft each; a 22ft roadway being quite wide enough for all the traffic in a residential area. On tho remaining 22ft on each side there is room for a footpath 6ft Avide and a strip of grass or parking in which, the trees are planted. It should not be necessary to erect such elabroate projections for the young newly planted trees but some kind of protection is necessary. Some planting is required to provide shelter for the recreation ground and this planting could be continued right up to near the railway bridge. The work suggested is far beyond the means of-the Beautifying Society at present but if a start is made and whatever is done is Avell done and is part of a larger scheme into which itwill fit in time, much Avill be accomplished. Whatever work is done should be in co-operation with the Borough Council and the local residents and some provision will have to bo made for maintenance, particularly dining the first feiv years. Work of beautifying Avhilo difficult (.■• ; .itiate gains support as it develops, and alter » few years it becomes a matter of routine to plant a certain number' of trees and shrubs every

vear. ■ Gardening r.nd planting while slioaving some immediate results through the removal of undesirable growth and the general tidying up which; takes place does not have ;'.s full effect until several ycjirs ,afienvards- and as every year's delay \a tho loss of a year's groAvth. it is important to make a start at once.

TUv.r- AND SHRUBS SUITABLE FOR SEASIDE PLANTING-

Acer Pseudo-Plan anus, Alnus Glutinosa, Arbutus TJnedo, Aucuba Japonica, Azara Microphylla, Berberis Stenophvlla, Betula Alba, Buddleia Globosa, Buddleia Variabilis, Carpinus Bet-hulus, Cerasus Padus, Choisya Ternata, Cistus Laclani Ems, Ootoneaster Oimonsn, Cupressus Macrocarpa, Oytisus Laburnum Escalonia Macrautha, Euonymus Europaeus, Fabiana Imbricata, Garrya

Elliptica, Hyd range' Hor ten sis, Hex Abuifolium, Ly.cium. Europa-eum, Pinus Laricio, Pinus Maritima, Pinus Muricata, Pinus Radiata Insignis, Poplar (several kinds), Quercus Ilex, Rhamnus Alternus, Kibes . Sanguinea,. Akimmia Japonica', Symphoricarpus R.acGmosus, Tamarix Gallica, Viburnum Tinus, Willows (various kinds), practically all the natives-