Blackberry harvest at park

A community blackberry harvest at Bothamley Park on Saturday promises to be fun for all the family.

Last year a group of Eastern Porirua residents made a submission to the Porirua City Council annual plan asking that a patch of blackberries in the ‘‘Old Road’’ that many locals in the Castor Loop use for harvesting dozens of kilos of blackberries each year be protected.

The residents were concerned about losing all the blackberries, having watched them being progressively sprayed off throughout the park.

The council responded and an agree- ment was reached to protect a large patch of blackberries and manage it for better access for hungry harvesters.

The area is at the intersection of the pathways which come from Cannons Creek, Waitangirua, Ranui, Aotea and Ascot Park – a community meeting point – next to a waterfall in the small stream.

A group of residents have decided to celebrate the blackberry patch and also the Bothamley Reserve (between Aotea and Cannons Creek) with the harvest on Saturday.

It is expected the blackberry harvest will be a family affair and there will also be some games and children’s spot prizes and a free sausage sizzle.

The harvest takes place from 11am till 1pm.

If weather looks doubtful, go to Facebook page ‘‘ Adopt a spot on Bothamley’’ to check the event’s status.

Bring a container, suitable clothes and gloves for the blackberry picking, your picnic and a picnic blanket, sunblock and water bottles.

Note: there are no toilets in Bothamley Park. The closest are 1km away, at Waitangirua Community Park by Waitangirua Mall.