Prisoners construct garden for show

Prisoners have created a ‘‘redemption’’-themed garden that will be featured at this year’s New Zealand Flower & Garden Show.

Inmates at Auckland Prison at Paremoremo have created all parts of the garden, including growing the plants, doing wood and metal work, and creating a woven centrepiece.

The garden’s design was led by award-winning landscape artist Adam Shuter.

He said prisoners played a key role in the garden’s theme and design.

‘‘When I first got here, I had kind of like a concept in mind, but then I thought, ‘No, it’s from me, it’s not from the prisoners.’

‘‘So what I did was put a questionnaire out to them all. Kind of like the feedback we got back was, ‘Give us a second chance. We’re already being punished for being in here’.’’

However, Shuter was also clear he wanted to highlight the victims affected as the result of prisoners’ actions.

The 10-by-10-metre garden contains three paths, representing the journeys to and from prison.

There is also a reflection pond to symbolise the cross-roads faced by released prisoners.

The centrepiece is a woven nest seat - made with around 8000 metres of twine - which acts as a space where families can connect.

All the plants in the garden are native, and prisoners have created metal flax and cabbage trees to sit amongst real trees.

A prisoner involved said it had helped to raise his self-esteem.

‘‘When you come here, you feel pretty worthless - good for nothing, really. And when they give you a project like this, it’s almost like you can begin to give back to society a little bit.’’

Auckland Prison manager industries David Grear said the horticulture and metalwork the prisoners had done could be put towards NZQA qualifications up to Level 4.

‘‘A lot of its about creating the opportunity on release for them to go and get real jobs,’’ he said.

‘‘One of the ways of reducing reoffending is to get stable employment. A project like the garden show - the men really enjoy doing it.’’

‘‘It gives them a sense of pride and satisfaction that they’re doing something that they get to showcase their talents,’’ Grear said.

NZFGS event director Kate Hillier said it was inspired by the participation of local prisons in the Chelsea Flower Show in England.

ABIGAIL DOUGHERTY Auckland Prison manager industries David Grear said most prisoners had never had any experience of success. The garden was a way to start to change that, he said.