Vertical Gardens

These are some photographs of the vertical garden prototype. It will enable us to get an idea of the practicalities of placing them at Gordon St. One is planted with salad crops and the other has mainly native plants. They are watered by an irrigation system and pump and the water has nutrients added. I shall add more pictures over the next few weeks to show their progress.

Gordon St. Trip 2

Completing the data gathering and water testing at Gordon St.

Waipoua Trip 2

Some photographs from the second trip to the Waipoua Forest to test water quality in the stream. We are now going to analyse the data gathered on the trips to Waipoua and Gordon St. and start planning how we can improve the water in the storm drain running through the Gordon St reserve.

As well as water quality we will be developing some ideas based on what we have found in the water to develop an art project, which will form part of the overall strategy to combat graffiti vandalism in the area.

Gordon St. Trip

Some photos from the trip to Gordon St. to compare and contrast it with last weeks trip to Waipoua Forset. We will have a look at the test results after the school holidays, but it isn't hard to see some visual differences.

DHS Science Trip Waipoua Forest

As part of the project research in finding ways to clean the water in the storm drain running through Gordon St. I tagged along with science students from Dargaville High School on their field trip to Waipoua Forest.

We are comparing and contrasting the water from the stream running through part of the forest with water in the storm drain. It doesn't take much to see the difference between the two, but the challenge will be to come up with ways to clean the water in the storm drain.

Next week we will all go to Gordon St. and repeat the testing their and then get the students to look at ideas to clean the water. The ultimate goal is to be able to clean and store the water from the drain and use it to irrigate the plants in the planned vertical gardens.

(Spot the photograph from the storm drain.)

Update June 2010

Plans are now in progress to finalise the first year’s development programme. After spending time speaking to and working with different groups the next stage is to complete the plans and continue and widen community involvement with the project.

Working with a landscape designer, an exciting and innovative approach is being drawn up which will not only stop the graffiti vandalism but will provide a valuable community resource. In brief, the plan is to develop a series of vertical gardens throughout the reserve. These gardens will be available to community groups, businesses and schools to design and use. Alongside of this will be plans to develop a bioretention system, utilising the storm drain which runs through the site.

An exhibition outlining the ideas is planned for July and will give a chance for people to see how the project has progressed and how they can be involved in it future development.

I will post more designs and ideas as they are produced. For information about bioretention and vertical gardens please use the links provided on the right.

Thanks
Simon

Backdrop film