Families share a garden

Press, 6 February 1986, Page 12

Families share a garden

Thelma Strongman

People and their gardens

On the borders of St Albans and Mairehau, a small neighbourhood group has joined together to share their outdoor living space. The project began about eleven years ago, when a large triangular back section of land was bought by several friends. One family lived in the existing house and the others built new homes. Eventually five households occupied the original land, and the families got along so well, it was decided that fences between the houses were unnecessary. From the outset, it was decided that the families would share the gardens and they hoped to create something like an oldfashioned village existence or that of the extended family in which personal skills and resources could be shared. The garages were built in a block with a central space to be used as a community workshop and to store the gardening tools. Landscape architects were engaged to help organise the outdoor space, to suggest trees and shrubs for light screening between the house, to articulate the paths and to suggest suitable places for outdoor

seating and play areas for the children. The small community then made the garden together. Later, homes which backed on to the original site were purchased by other families who wished to join the project. More land was acquired by the community for a vegetable garden and a light bridge was built over the narrow watercourse which divided them. In the large vegetable garden soft fruit and basic vegetables are grown in common while each househould has its own speciality vegetable patch. In the same area a large wooden shed already on the property was con-

verted into a interesting playhouse for the children. One of the many advantages of this type of living is type of living is that childminding is shared. Compost bins and beehives are also features of the shared vegetable garden. The latest successful project are the twelve hens which are now laying. The children enjoy watching the hens, particularly the youngest child - a toddler, who is confined temporarily, for his own safety, behind the only garden fence in the community. The older children frequently drop in to play with him. The children of small families particularly seem to benefit from having other children to play with, and large play equipment does not have to be duplicated as it is bought or made by the community. By far the favourite playing space of recent times has been a huge mound of earth which has been pushed to one side during alterations to one of the houses. This mound has been a castle, an

island, a mountain retreat and the basis for many other imaginative games. Apart from the flowering trees which give unity to the garden, much of the garden is planted with interesting foliage plants - particularly New Zealand natives. Ferns soften the concrete sides of the watercourse. One community member has a special interest in ferns which grow in a well-planted fernery around the main entrance to the house. This has four different species of tree ferns and many interesting grounds ferns including Marattia, the king fem, and the Prince of Wales feather fem. Another member enjoys working with brick and has made paved areas and paths in the garden. He also organised the safe removal of a row of very tall poplars which were shading the houses. One of the stumps was left as an interesting climbing place for the children. The family who live in the original house has retained its grounds, developing it into a cottage style garden with old

roses, delphiniums, foxgloves and many other old fashioned plants. “Bloomfield Abundance” billows in a border outside the house with “Mme Alfred Carriere” cascading over the arch which leads to a vegetable garden and further border of old roses. Now that the children are growing up, the families find that they have less opportunity to get together. Recently, they held a meeting talk out current interests, particuularly the future of the garden. Many practical considerations were discussed and the day was much enjoyed. Through goodwill and co-operation, the Creekside Community has produced an interesting and pleasant garden which allows easy interaction between friends. It also offers a larger garden space than would be otherwise possible. And the common garden still has room to allow the individual gardeners to express themselves and their efforts are enjoyed by all who live there.