Work to start on Square The long awaited redevelopment of Cathedral Square is due to start in February with stage one on the north east corner. Bus stops will be moved during the changes. The Christchurch City Council and Canterbury Regional Council will inform passengers of the changes from November. The new look Square will be a more attractive place for residents. Work will finish in August 1999.

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More trees make City shine

Increasing numbers of trees are adding to Christchurch's image as "The Garden City."

Each year up to 200,000 trees and shrubs are planted by staff of the Christchurch City Council's Parks Unit in parks, reserves and streets in an intensive ongoing programme.

Walter Fielding-Cotterell, arboriculturist with the Council, says up to 35 streets each year are planted with new trees, either alongside pavements or as part of street reconstruction.

"There is growing demand from residents for more trees in their local areas. To meet this we source plants from throughout Canterbury and even further afield," he says.

Before: wasteland at Cumnor Terrace.

after: part of the Garden City.

New trees are often native varieties with a steady supply of traditional broadleaf species such as elms, limes and pin oaks.

"These varieties are resistant to pollutants and tend to cope better in central City streets," Walter says.

The thousands of new and replacement trees planted in central and suburban streets will enhance Christchurch's reputation as a garden city.

"The environmental and visual effects of plantings in recent years are very noticeable now in an area such as the lower Heathcote River," Walter says.

"Depressing tracts of industrial wasteland in this area have been transformed by the growth of trees planted by the Council."

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November 1997 City Scene ~ City Scene Archive