Peace starts with a Smile: Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Christchurch Botanic Gardens are beautifully situated on flat land adjacent to Hagley Park close to the city centre, where citizens can easily enjoy this quiet civic amenity alongside the curves of the slow and shallow Avon River. The first tree was planted in 1863 by Enoch Barker, the first Government Gardener. This oak tree (Quercus robur) is still to be seen by the river near the footbridge leading to the Daffodil Woodland. During the 1870s and 1880s the Curator, John Armstrong, and his son Joseph, were responsible for the paths and general layout as we find it today.

The Christchurch Botanic Gardens attract over a million visitors each year. They are part of the historic precinct in the inner city, just a few minutes walk from the city centre. Some people seek the pleasure that comes from beautiful surroundings and these gardens have a strong 'Four Seasons' appeal. Some come seeking the inner peace that can be felt in plant dominated surroundings in contrast to the pressures of their home or work environment. Others come to advance their botanical and horticultural knowledge, perhaps to see plants that they can grow in their home garden. The library serves an important function as a specialised horticultural and botanical resource. Families come to picnic in a peaceful nook or to enjoy the children's playground. Some people from other countries (both tourists and residents) visit this garden rich in international plants to enjoy plants that remind them of their home country. The information centre and events in the gardens attract a wide range of people. Many English visitors enjoy the Englishness of part of the Gardens and of the adjacent Hagley Park. These are botanic gardens that have so many facets which appeal to a range of ages and cultures.

Mature trees, many of which were originally brought from England by sea, give shelter to spacious gardens with collections of native and imported plants. Six distinct areas constitute a Conservatory complex, providing a variety of suitable environmental conditions for plant collections.

The gardens are beautifully maintained by the Christchurch City Council, whose mission is to promote understanding and appreciation of the world's flora, including special areas devoted to plants of the Southern Hemisphere.

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