Pegasus Post: July 22, 2021

PEGASUS POST Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Thursday July 22 2021 3
Farm opens for fun with fungi
A MUSHROOM-themed
education, play and foraging
area has officially opened in the
Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor
Regeneration Area.
More than 50 adults and
children attended the Fungi
Farm’s official opening this
afternoon, complete with hearty,
wild mushroom soup, and
mushroom-themed sweets and
savouries.
Located on the corner of Evelyn
Cousins Ave and River Rd,
Richmond, the Fungi Farm will
feature six different species of
edible native and exotic mushrooms
for foragers, 33 manmade
mushroom carvings and
art installations
by local
artists, engaging
nature
play pieces,
and interactive
signage
to educate
Hayley
Guglietta
people about
the fast-growing
fungi.
The project
is an initiative of the Riverlution
Collective and driven by the
Richmond Community Garden.
Project proponent spokesperson
Hayley Guglietta says the overwhelming
encouragement and
support they’d received from the
community had been inspiring.
“People have been really interested
in this project and it’s great
to finally be able to open it to the
community,” she said.
“There might not be any
mushrooms growing yet, but the
place will come alive in spring
and autumn.”
“We wanted to create an engaging
space that not only educates
people about living with
nature, but is also somewhere
that a family can spend a whole
day here, next to the Ōtākaro
Avon River, enjoying the regeneration
area.”
Guglietta says the intention
is to hold monthly workshops
with the community to explore
different methods of growing
a range of different mushroom
species.
“This is the first part of a wider
vision we have. We’ve got exciting
plans to transform the area
from Swanns Rd to North Avon
Rd into an educational, familyfriendly
art trail and nature play
area that weaves among the old,
established gardens and fruit
trees that we want to continue
tending to.”
Residential red zone consultative
group, Te Tira Kāhikuhiku,
awarded the project a grant of
$19,600 from the Red Zones
Transitional Use Fund, to help
bring the project to life.
INTERACTIVE:
Young and
those young at
heart can enjoy
the benefits
on Richmond’s
new Fungi
Farm. PHOTO:
NEWSLINE
TTK is able to issue grants
of up to $20,000 for temporary
projects and activities in regeneration
areas that have been
approved by landowner Land
Information New Zealand, working
in partnership with the city
council.
TTK chairwoman Chrissie
Williams encouraged people
with a vision to use parts of the
regeneration areas to submit a
proposal to the group for consideration.
“I really encourage people
to apply to use the former
residential red zone land for
community initiatives,” Williams
said.
In Brief
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES
Construction on the first
of three pedestrian bridges
in the Ōtākaro Avon River
Corridor Regeneration Area
has started two months ahead
of schedule. Work on the new
pedestrian and cycle bridge
at Hulverstone Drive started
last week, with the next two
bridges at Medway St and Snell
Pl to follow later on this year.
LIGHTS APPROVED
The Coastal-Burwood
Community Board has
approved the installation of
new tennis court lighting at
South New Brighton Park. The
South Brighton Tennis Club
made the application because
there were no lights there to
begin with and during winter,
members have limited daylight
hours to train. The lights are to
be used on weekdays and will
be turned off if the court is not
in use.
CEMETERY EXTENSION
Construction has now
started on the Memorial Park
Cemetery Project in Bromley.
Work includes supply and
installation of concrete burial
beams, a gritted footpath,
planting and formation of a
new lawn area. The upgrade is
expected to be completed in
early November.
FREE
PRESCRIPTIONS *
No $5 prescription charge
*Other charges relating to partially funded or
unfunded medicine prescriptions may apply.
EASTGATE PHARMACY
Phone (03) 963 7910
Eastgate Shopping Centre
mart Deals Smart Deals Smart Deals Smart Deals
GLASSONS
Pontes $19.99. Knits from $19.99.
Selected styles, while stocks last
UNDER ARMOUR
End of season sale – Up to 50% off sale items.
Conditions apply, see in-store
Open 10am–5pm, 7 days
409 Main South Rd, Hornby
dress-smart.co.nz
NEW BALANCE
2 for $90 on selected men’s and women’s fleece
products: hoodies, crews, trackpants and more!
Conditions apply, see in-store
CONVERSE
Buy one, get 50% off any additional items on
almost everything.
Terms, conditions and exclusions apply, see in-store