Grow Ōtautahi: Big weekend for inaugural Christchurch garden festival

The gates opened for the first-ever Grow Ōtautahi festival on Friday morning and the Christchurch Botanic Gardens will be buzzing with people all weekend.

Grow Ōtautahi is free for everyone over three days – Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 12-14 – at the Botanic Gardens. The festival is in the area surrounding the Ilex Café – with signs from gardens entrances. 

Festival Director Sandi MacRae says it’s exciting welcome people to Christchurch’s very own garden festival 

“Grow is all about the community and we’ve got a little something for everyone. You’ll find garden experts, top chefs, environmental champions, schools, scientists and communities sharing their love of growing in their own unique way. Come on down to the gardens and join us – its free so you can come as many times as you like!

Judges, led by Grow Ōtautahi Convenor of Judges Janet Cubey, viewed the completed exhibition gardens on Thursday afternoon and decided on awards for the exhibition, schools and community gardens.

Awards presented in the inaugural Grow Ōtautahi Christchurch Garden Festival:

Exhibition Gardens:

Gold

Billygoat Landscape Architecture, Bubbles in the Garden
McRae Landscape Design, Fiesta

Silver

Bayley LouTomes Design, You and I

Bronze

Sculptural Landscapes, Pondering [a]round

Community Gardens

Gold

CityCare Property – Canterbury Community Gardens Association, We Too. Cultivating Community

Rātā Foundation School Gardens

Gold

Banks Avenue School, Kaitiaki – Our land
Diamond Harbour School, Save the Kororū
St Margaret’s College Junior School, Balanced Foundations, Bright Futures, Bountiful Learning
West Eyreton School, Rest Relax Recharge

Silver

St Mark’s School, Kaitiakitanga – Guardianship of a Community

Award

West Rolleston Primary School, Welcome Home

Special Awards

Construction Award: Billygoat Landscape Architecture, Bubbles in the Garden
Education Award: St Margaret’s College Junior School, Balanced Foundations, Bright Futures, Bountiful Learning
Innovation Award: West Eyreton School, Rest Relax Recharge
Mahinga Kai Award: McRae Landscape Design, Fiesta
Sense of Home Award: Banks Avenue School, Kaitiaki – Our land
Sustainability Award: Diamond Harbour School, Save the Kororū