A new garden border to be developed near the historic Vallance Cottage is expected to provide visitors and residents with a showcase of the natural biodiversity of the Manuherekia catchment.

The Alexandra Garden Club’s plans for a long border on the embankment at the front of the cottage reserve, bordering Tarbert Street, were discussed yesterday by the Vincent Community Board.

The group hope to create a sanctuary for rare and endangered plants from the area.

This would illustrate the resilience of these species, which thrive in dryland environments, according to a Central Otago District Council report.

The council had some concerns over the harshness of the site and had suggested that riverside areas where similar plantings already existed, could be more suitable.

Club president Ray Wright explained, however, how the steepness of the bank would lend itself to displaying the tenacity of the plantings.

The site of a proposed dryland garden near Vallance Cottage (site highlighted in green). The cottage is highlighted in blue. Image CODC

“The sequence of habitats from the sub alpine tops down to the riparian wetlands would provide interest and an educational dimension to the plantings, each specimen would be entered into a data base, telling whose land it was sourced from and the contribution that remnant makes to the diversity of the catchment.”

The highly-visible site would allow people to easily view and learn from the display, he said.

The board, yesterday, approved a five-year agreement with the club which will allow the project to go ahead.

The council-owned cottage land is already home to a community orchard and a collection of heritage lilacs.

Members of the public can book the reserve for community events, and the cottage can be opened on request.