New Accessible Picnic Table Enhances Community Enjoyment

A new accessible picnic table has been installed at the Dunedin Botanic Garden, thanks to a donation from the Friends of Dunedin Botanic Garden. The total cost of the picnic table was $8,000, and it is part of a continuous effort to make the garden more inclusive for all community members.

Jocelyn Livesey, acting president of the Friends group, stated that the initiative was inspired by positive feedback regarding the recently installed wheelchair-friendly trampoline in the garden’s playground. The group previously contributed $100,000 towards a climbing frame for the playground, underlining their commitment to enhancing accessibility. Livesey emphasized their goal, saying, “We wanted to make sure that wheelchair users can come and enjoy a picnic with friends and family in a lovely area of the botanic garden.”

The new picnic table has received positive feedback from members of the Friends group, including Paul Wallace, who uses a wheelchair. Wallace, who has lived with aphasia following a skiing accident and stroke eight years ago, praised the table’s height, noting that “most picnic tables are too low to get a wheelchair under, so this is a very good addition to the garden.”

Wallace’s daughter, Greta Wallace, highlighted the benefits of his volunteering at the garden’s information centre, where he interacts with visitors using a computerized communication screen. “Using his screen, he has all the right information for people,” she noted, demonstrating the positive impact of community engagement on his well-being.

The Friends of Dunedin Botanic Garden have also taken on additional responsibilities to support the garden’s operations. Secretary Sue Lambie announced the group’s commitment to fund the bags of seed provided to visitors for feeding the ducks. “It’s a good, practical way we can help the Dunedin Botanic Garden make its budget go further,” she remarked.

In addition to these efforts, the Friends group plans to install an ice cream freezer at the information centre. This will allow visitors to enjoy a treat while the nearby café undergoes renovations. Volunteers are welcomed to assist at the information centre, with interested individuals encouraged to contact the organization via email at [email protected].

Looking ahead, the Friends of Dunedin Botanic Garden will hold their annual general meeting on September 28 at 14:30 in the information centre. The meeting will feature a guest presentation by Catherine Bradley, the garden manager, who will discuss her experiences during her first six months in the role.

Additionally, the Friends group will host the Rhododendron Day Plant Sale on October 19, from 09:00 to 13:00 at the Propagation Centre on Lovelock Avenue. This event promises to engage the community further and support the ongoing development of the garden.