Garden club keeps Kawau kempt
Monthly lawn mowing missions at Mansion House are just one of the tasks taken on by Coatesville Country Garden Club.
For the past few years, club members have been voluntarily restoring the historic gardens of Mansion House on Kawau Island.
The monthly trips mean an early start, 100 kilometre round car trip and a water taxi for the Coatesville gardeners.
‘‘We look after all the usual gardening tasks, and when completed the gardens look magnificent,’’ club secretary Judith Howard says.
‘‘The combined gardening knowledge and experience of the group receives a good welcome by the DOC staff on each visit. It is a very productive activity and thoroughly enjoyed by our vibrant group of volunteers.’’
Twenty members now volunteer at the site, their duties including mowing, edge trimming, pruning, fertilising, weeding and mulching.
A highlight is working with trees from Governor Grey’s collection.
‘‘There are now moves to restore the gardens and plantings with a focus on the Grey era,’’ Howard says.
Contact Jenny at rhpositive@slingshot.co.nz if you wish to join the club and volunteer.