Spring is in full swing. Many parks and gardens have burst into bloom and community work parties are helping out, even planting trees in The Children’s Forest in Papakura. On this page are just a few of our activities.
Selmes Gardens in Blenheim
Thanks to labour provided by offenders on community work sentences, the New Zealand Society for the Intellectually Disabled (IHC) could start the Blenheim gardening season in style. Offenders completely revamped Selmes Road Garden Centre so IHC could start their rehabilitation project at the beginning of spring.
“When they asked for our help earlier in the year, things did look bad,” says Probation Officer Lesley Sweeney. “The garden centre was overgrown. Weeding, pruning and cleaning up was our main concern. The offenders did a really good job and worked hard to get it all finished by early spring.”
We made it just in time, much to IHC’s delight. They even thanked us in a public notice in the Marlborough Express.
The Children’s Forest in Papakura rises again
The Children’s Forest in Papakura has gained a new breath of life this spring. Offenders sentenced to community work planted 450 native trees to make it even more impressive. The council initiative for this wonderful project came in 1985.
“The Children’s Forest was designed to underline the sense of community that exists in the district,” says Papakura Council Communications Adviser Mark Baker. “It provides a special place to remember births in the area. Each year the council holds a tree planting day for families who want to mark the birth of children born in the district or born to Papakura residents in the previous year.”
In early spring Papakura community work parties planted more than 450 native trees. These plantings replaced trees that had failed to thrive or had been damaged in previous years. Each totara and kahikatea plant received two stakes to its side and hemp webbing to further protect it.
Kids at Elgin School grow their own veggies
About now the potatoes in the photo will have turned into magnificent Christmas gifts for pupils of Elgin School to give to their familes. The photo features enthusiastic children showing the ‘magic potatoes’ they planted in their individual garden plot.
The project started over the July school holidays when community work parties transformed an adventure playground at Gisborne’s Elgin School into a richly soiled vegetable garden. It took 45 offenders three weekends to complete the job.
“It’s an example of community work making a positive difference to the community,” says Senior Community Work Supervisor Stephney Grayndler-Hollis. “Offenders get a real sense of satisfaction from knowing they’re supporting such a worthwhile cause.”
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Community Works is published quarterly by the Department of Corrections. Contact details for Community Probation & Psychological Services can be found here or by looking under C for Corrections in the Government listings of the Telecom White Pages.
ISSN 1178-1327