A corner of Linwood's Beverley Park is to be set aside for a heritage rose garden marking the 150th anniversary of European settlement of Canterbury.

Local residents, with encouragement from Hagley-Ferrymead Community Board, will develop the area later this year.

The garden will be in the southwest corner of the park but facing northeast.

It will be a curved, informal design, connected by a paved lavender-lined pathway to an existing path.

The path will curve through the rose garden and widen to a central, paved seating area surrounded by roses. It will then curve beyond the rose garden to link with a proposed native tree garden.

The roses will be all old-world varieties, with perpetual or repeat flowering used as widely as possible.

Some varieties may be used for autumn and winter rose-hip interest. Arches along the pathway will be used for climbers.

Individuals and groups can sponsor roses. The sponsorship plan by Englefield Residents' Association will be similar to that used to establish the Kate Sheppard Camellia Garden in the Botanic Gardens. A commemorate plaque will be erected to mark all sponsorships. Sponsorships cost $30 a rose.

For more information contact Englefield Residents' Association:

Robyn Kilty, 377 2802, or the Council's area parks officer: Gary Harrow on 389-1477.