Donated and installed by the Friends group, at a total cost of $8000, the picnic table is part of an ongoing project to ensure all members of the community can enjoy the garden’s amenities.
Friends DBG acting president Jocelyn Livesey said the group was inspired to install the accessible picnic table after receiving positive feedback from the community about the in-ground wheelchair-friendly trampoline in the new playground.
The Friends group made its own contribution to the playground, funding a $100,000 climbing frame.
"We wanted to make sure that wheelchair users can come and enjoy a picnic with friends and family in a lovely area of the botanic garden," she said.
The new accessible picnic table has earned the tick of approval from Friends DBG member, garden information centre volunteer and wheelchair-user Paul Wallace.
Mr Wallace, who has used a wheelchair and lived with aphasia (difficulty with language) for the past eight years, since suffering a skiing accident and stroke was pleased with the new picnic table’s height.
"Most picnic tables are too low to get a wheelchair under, so this is a very good addition to the garden," he said.
The husband of Janne, father of three and keen archer, uses a computerised screen attached to his wheelchair to assist him in communicating with visitors to the garden, including displaying photos of important areas.
His daughter Greta Wallace said volunteering at the information centre on Fridays and interacting with different people had been very good for her dad.
"And using his screen, he has all the right information for people," she said.
Friends of Dunedin Botanic Garden secretary Sue Lambie said the latest move by the group in support of the garden was that it would take over paying for the bags of seed given to visitors to feed the ducks.
"It’s a good, practical way we can help the Dunedin Botanic Garden make its budget go further."
The group will also install an ice-cream freezer in the information centre, so visitors to the garden can enjoy a treat while the nearby cafe building is undergoing extensive renovations, Mrs Lambie said.
Volunteers are always needed to help staff the information centre, anyone interested in asked to email Friends@friendsdbg.co.nz
• The Friends of Dunedin Botanic Garden will hold its annual general meeting on September 28, from 2.30pm at the information centre. Guest speaker will be garden manager Catherine Bradley, who will share her thoughts on her first six months in the role.
Also coming up is the Friends of DBG Rhododendron Day Plant Sale, to be held on October 19, from 9am-1pm at the Propagation Centre in Lovelock Ave.
