Posted by Angie Gibbons on October 17, 2009 at 3:18am
GARDEN TOUR, NETTLE TALK, BUTTERFLY RELEASE AND XMAS PICNICWhen: Saturday 12th December 10am
Cost: $7 + gold coin koha ($7 this is a very discounted entry price to the village!)
Where: Howick Historic Village, Bells Road, Lloyd Elsmore Park, Pakuranga, Auckland (Meet at the front entrance for a 10am start)
http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Lloyd+Elsmore+Park,+Auckland&sll=-41.244772,172.617188&sspn=35.661014,53.349609&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=FY3ezP0dRMJsCg&split=0&hq=&hnear=Lloyd+Elsmore+Park&ll=-36.905362,174.899769&spn=0.037199,0.052099&z=14What to bring: Bring some food to share for a shared Xmas picnic lunch. Bring also drinks, something to eat with (plate and fork) and something to site on like a blanket etc.
Garden tour info:
Derek Craig who is a Heritage Gardener will lead the tour for us around the garden in the village.
http://www.fencible.org.nz/living_museum_whats_on_gardener.html
Howick Historical Village is set on seven acres and tells the story of Fencible (Military Pensioner)settlers in Auckland during the 1840’s to 1880’s. There is an emphasis in the gardens to grow heritage varieties that are open pollinated and comparable to those that the settlers where familiar with. All of the vegetables are left to go to seed and much of the seed harvest is fed back into the Auckland Seed Saver Network. Heritage fruit tree varieties are also grown with the poor clay soils causing severe challenges. Bees have been recently introduced to the HHV and are producing honey at a prodigious rate. No pesticides are used onsite and limited herbicides are used to keep gravel paths clear.
Nettle Talk
Onsite there is a very old patch of Stinging nettle that the Blacksmith kept to help with his arthritis, We will learn the history of nettle its uses and a chance to learn how to identyfy all the different stages of our rare red and yellow Admiral butterfly that uses it to raise its young. If you have nettle in your garden and dont know what to look for or if you are wanting to plant nettle for the butterflies this is a good opertunity to learn how.
Butterfly Release
All going to plan (if the butterflies hatch ontime) I hope to have butterflies to release on the day when we sit down to lunch.
Shared Xmas Picnic
Please bring food for a shared xmas picnic lunch, a drink for yourself , A plate and cutlery and something to sit on. If it rains there are plenty of places to shelter.
Exploring the Howick Historical Village
After lunch please feel to stay on and explor the rest of the village it is open to 4pm.
Walk around the 7 acre site, and explore gardens and buildings in a Fencible settlement during the 1840 to 1880 period. There are over thirty original colonial buildings collected on site, including schools, a church, forge and general store. Cottages look as though family members have just stepped outside for a moment.
Chat to the costumed staff in this living museum, or take a break to savour the home-style food and real coffee in the cafe. Enjoy a peaceful day in beautiful surroundings, coming face to face with the past.
Group size:
We will need to limit the Garden tour to 30 persons, but if you want to come visit the village then join up for the picnic you are more than welcome.
Bookings Please contact:
Phone: 826 4276
email: info@ecomatters.org.nz with your Full name, suburb and phone
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Replies
Derek Craig shows the BOGG group the art of trenching at the Howick Historical Village field trip in Dec 2009thanks
Angie