New life and energy is coming to Bega’s Littleton Gardens, repairing the damage caused by vandals in May.
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The community and council were outraged when over 40 newly planted Manchurian Pear trees were cut down over two nights.
A damage bill claimed to be tens of thousands of dollars was a big part of the anger, but so to was the fact this green space in the centre of town had just started to bloom again.
However, a revised replanting design has been developed that reflects the community feedback that followed the vandalism, and ideas that came from the council’s listening post in the gardens in April.
Replanting will start in the next week and will incorporate both native and exotic trees.
“People told us they were keen to see a greater variety of species in the gardens, rather than have us replace the butchered trees with more Manchurian Pears,” BVSC recreation assets officer John Turville said.
“It’s fair to say there has been mixed emotions around the gardens for some time now.
“With this new round of works we are keen for the community to see their suggestions and feedback at work and inject a new sense of pride into the space.”
Some of the new tree species going include Kurrajong, water gum, claret ash and Chinese pistachio. Flower garden beds and planters have also been incorporated into the design.
“Council wants people to see the gardens as theirs, and see it as a place to host local events such as the weekly farmers markets, community rallies, ceremonies and gatherings,” Mr Turville said.
The vandalised trees will be removed as part of the works, with more than half of the trees salvaged and reused. Council will transplant these trees into containers and grow them on in a nursery setting for later reuse in other parkland or roadside plantings.
To mark this new round of works, the BVSC will host a tree planting ceremony on Friday, August 5.
A number of people with a “long rich connection” to the gardens will take part and again “have their hands in the soil of Littleton Gardens” BVSC director of community, recreation and leisure Anthony Basford said.
“As a way of moving forward, we are keen to recognise the people and the groups that have helped shape the gardens over many years,” Mr Basford said.
Well-known Bega locals planting a tree on the day include Margaret Sirl, Ralph Hetherington, Beth Worthy, Phil McDonald and Marshall Campbell.
The tree planting will be part of the shire’s National Tree Day celebrations and coincides with the SCPA Market.
BVSC will be giving away native trees and shrubs funded from tree removal application fees. Three per person are available backed with advice from expert staff on how to care for them.
People are invited to head along on Friday, August 5. The tree planting ceremony will take place at 11am, with the free trees and shrubs available as part of the markets between 9am and 12.30pm.
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