Fruit and nuts growing in parks

Native bush, which he created, surrounds his Opawa home. He says he is surprised Christchurch City Council took up his suggestion "because it was pointing out something the Council had not done".

It all began when he was relieving at his local library and read a form calling for submissions to the 1998-1999 Annual Plan. The Council started the "What's The Big Idea?" scheme in 1998 to foster creativity and innovation, and encourage the community to take part in the Annual Plan process. Fifty thousand dollars were set aside to carry out the winning ideas.

There were more than 500 entries. Others included a Bike to Work day, City Centre produce market, free smoke detectors, and a map showing key facilities in Christchurch.

Peter says his idea was not entirely original because fruit trees were already on some public land before it was converted to parkland.

He grew up in Nottingham, England, and lived near an arboretum where "control freaks" locked gates at night and fenced the pond. "There was no big open space for the hoi polloi to gather and create mayhem... Christchurch is a long way beyond that and I thought about free fruit...."

Peter's house is close to Hansen Park, which hasn't received any of the fruit or nut trees.

He is not despondent about that because he says they wouldn't fit entirely with the type of planting there.

"The Council has made a splendid job of Hansen Park with walkways and planting. It is my recreation area and has really improved the lifestyle of the district," he says.

A total of 228 trees has been planted in 20 parks and reserves (Avondale, Hyde, Auburn, Risingholme, St Albans, Moan, Rutland, Bramley, Stanmore-Tuam, Arden, Flay, Arcan, Shands Crescent, Beckenham, Walnut, Jeffreys Road, Templeton, Delamare, Queenspark, and Nicholson).

Trees planted include walnuts, chestnuts, almond, hazel, mulberry, crab apple, medlar, quince, figs, peach, pecan nuts, lemons, pine nuts. Olive trees have yet to be planted.

Walnuts, chestnuts and some hazels came from Council stock and the remainder from specialist nurseries.

Most trees were planted last season but a few have been grown on for this year, as the sites were not ready.