Friends help Botanic Gardens thrive

Our Botanic Gardens attract a million visitors every year but they still need their Friends.

The Friends of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, established in 1989, is a group that works behind the scenes to preserve, protect and promote the Gardens.

Jeanette Christensen (left) and Faye Fleming are Friends of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.

There are about 190 members, mainly retirees aged over 60, but President Jeanette Christensen says they are always keen for new people – of all ages - to join.

It’s a busy and challenging group to be part of but also very worthwhile, especially for those who love the Gardens and gardening, says the retired Education Adviser. 

“I wanted to do something I could learn from, and I certainly have. I also wanted to give something back. I see one of the roles of the Friends is to bring like-minded people together, and that social aspect is important as well.”

The Friends hold regular meetings open to the public that feature guest speakers on horticultural topics. They run daily walking tours of the Gardens (September to May), help out in the Gardens, and stock a permanent stand selling plants they’ve propagated.

Money raised by the Friends is used to support projects such as annual grants for the Botanic Gardens library, assistance with education and travel opportunities for Gardens’ staff, and interpretation panels.

The Friends have recently established a scholarship to allow staff to take up professional development opportunities.

Friends member and guide Faye Fleming, joined the group in 1990 and has been actively involved ever since, including several years as president. She says the first thing she tells visitors on her guided walks is that the Botanic Gardens are the “lungs of the city”.

Locals sometimes take the Gardens for granted because they’ve always been there and it is important to remind residents how vital and dynamic they are.

“Grandparents want to bring their grandchildren back here because there’s that nostalgia, but the Gardens also need to develop and they need that research and innovation.”

Volunteer Friends guides are very knowledgeable and excellent promoters of the Gardens, she says. They are given ongoing training to make sure they keep up to date with displays.

“Every day you come here something has changed so it’s really important to keep up with the seasonal changes and anything else that’s been happening.”

Jeanette says the Friends are keen for the Gardens to retain their botanical focus, educating the public about plants, preserving seeds, and ensuring that rare plants are preserved, as well as being a beautiful haven for people to visit.