Community input informs wildflower trial across Christchurch’s green spaces

Earlier this year, Christchurch City Council asked their community to advise on what green spaces they would like to see flourishing with wildflowers. Following this feedback, Council has prioritised the most requested parks and reserves for the trial to be expanded into.

Residents can now expect to see wildflowers blooming in local parks and reserves this spring.

Manager of Community Parks Al Hardy says the flowers will provide a pop of colour across the city, while also benefiting both the insects and the environment.

Hardy enthused “we’re excited to expand this trial to Christchurch’s community parks, with three to four planting areas selected from each ward.

“Wildflowers provide habitat for pollinators and insects, offering food, shelter, and places for them to breed. There are benefits to the soil as well, improving its structure by increasing organic matter when the vegetation breaks down.

“Plus, by introducing wildflowers into our parks and reserves we can reduce our carbon footprint by decreasing our mowing requirements.”

The flowers will help to boost the region’s bee population, providing pollen-rich gathering grounds in different areas of the city.

Hardy says the trial will include a variety of wildflower types, while swapping out a few species from previous years and adds “we will continue with borage, alyssum, calendula and cornflowers, and we’ve swapped a few species to make it more appropriate for Christchurch’s climate. This mix will benefit all pollinators, including bees and butterflies.

“If the success of this trial continues, we will retain the wildflowers in the lawn areas, resowing as required.”

The programme will be rolling out this spring, and residents should start to notice the wildflowers germinating in their local areas in October.

Image. Credit: Christchurch City Council