Bringing herbs to residents

Fresh herbs will soon just be a skip and a snip away for residents living in Whenuapai, thanks to a new community garden.

The Hobsonville Herb Group has been granted support from the Upper Harbour Local board to build a herb garden at Malcolm Hahn Reserve, to the left of the Whenuapai Village Hall.

Group convenor Diane Griffin said she came up with the idea a few months ago when she looked out at the stretch of land and thought about how it needed tidying up.

It will also make a great teaching tool for her herb group, she said.

‘‘They’re learning not only how to layer a herb garden, but also what’s suitable for planting and how to use each of those plants.’’

The garden will contain herbs such as basil, thyme, dill, lavender and curry plant, available to the community at no cost. Initial start-up costs of $600 will be funded by the Upper Harbour Local Board.

Griffin said she was ‘‘really rapt’’ to have the board’s support.

Upper Harbour Local Board member Uzra Casuri Balouch, who has been working with the group, said she thought the garden was a great idea.

‘‘It’s a community initiative, something from the community, and that’s what we’re there for - to support them.’’

Griffin, a West Harbour resident and active member of multiple local horticultural and herb groups, set up the Hobsonville Herb Group in 2016. In just over a year, it’s gone from around 15 to 30 members. The group meets monthly at the Whenuapai Village Hall and have done a range of activities.

She also hoped the community would embrace the garden and perhaps get more interested in learning about herbs.

‘‘A lot of people use this hall, so it’s like, you know, bring along a container when you’re coming to your group and pick some fresh herbs to use in your cooking or even medicinally.’’

Planting will begin around October.