Park where country comes to town
| Published date | 25 May 2022 |
| Publication title | Central Rural Life |
Today, the 100ha site is the well-groomed home of the Canterbury A&P Show.
The former Banks Peninsula farmer has seen — and been part of — the transformation of the parklands.
Specimen trees have taken root for show visitors seeking shelter from blustery nor’westers and harsh sun. They frame the saleyards, stables and infrastructure.
His favourite spot is just to the side of the showground arena and away from the hullabaloo of the crowds.
Rows of plane trees line a lane after a bridge over Haytons Creek is crossed. The creek used to be an open drain; now it has been softened with fenced stream banks on both sides, shaded in native plants and trees. Lambs being fattened for the works chew happily on pasture and it’s a setting that could be seen anywhere in the countryside.
Except this is on the doorstep of Christchurch and not so long ago was covered in browntop and gorse, and good for little.
This is the happy place of Mr Thomas, who until this month was the Canterbury A&P Association operations manager for the showgrounds.
‘‘There were no trees here at all, it was all bare land. So the A&P association has been responsible for establishing all the trees.
‘‘As far as the association is concerned, this is our proudest achievement because it’s going to be a fabulous asset for the city and the province over the next many hundred years, hopefully.’’
The dream is for it one day to become another Hagley Park.
‘‘It was unknown this park for many years. Since we came here and since Covid arrived, ironically now it’s been found and there’s hundreds of people walking it every day, which is great.’’
Trees created enormous atmosphere, he said.
Durable red oaks, pin oaks, scarlet oaks and plane trees are among the thousands of trees planted. Less successful were wind-tender chestnuts.
Initially they were planted as amenity trees until the force of the wind was recognised.
‘‘It’s a very windy site here and trees have struggled to become established. I don’t know why, but it’s probably as windy a place that can be found in Christchurch. Trees don’t like wind in the initial stages and it’s taken a wee bit, but they are past that and are really starting to move now.’’
His responsibilities included helping to put on the show, and co-ordinating the logistical work and a contract with the city council to manage the park.
As well as hosting New Zealand’s largest A&P show, the...
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