27 May 2016

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With the green glory of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens as his office, it's not surprising Brian Appleton has stayed in the same job for almost three decades.

He will celebrate his 30th anniversary as a Botanic Gardens Ranger next March but still finds new things to admire about his work environment. Originally from Manchester, England, Brian moved to New Zealand with his Kiwi wife and started the job as a ranger in 1987 after working for seven years on permanent night shift in the security industry.

His role is varied, including leading tour groups through the Gardens, monitoring security and sometimes getting out a chainsaw to cut tree branches after a storm, or driving a loader. He spent time as a policeman in Britain when he was younger and says that backround has been helpful for dealing with the public and the occasional security issue, although usually the only problems in the Gardens are dogs and people riding bikes. 

Brian says Christchurch residents sometimes take their Botanic Gardens for granted, not realising that it is rated as one of the notable in the world and it is the third largest central city park internationally, bigger than London's famed Hyde Park. It is also one of the city's most popular tourist attractions bringing in 1.5 million visitors a year with about 60 per cent of them locals.  

"I don't think that locals necessarily realise how important the Gardens are because to them it's something that's always been here. We've got a lot of important plant collections here and we link in with other botanic gardens around the world, like Kew Gardens in London. It's a special place in the middle of the city. It was a haven for residents after the earthquakes because people felt safe here."

Despite working in the Gardens for so long Mr Appleton still notices its different faces as the seasons change. "I really like doing the overseas tour groups because it makes me appreciate more what we have got. They're really impressed and they really enjoy the Gardens. They can step out of the city and into this oasis."

Residents will be offered a behind the scenes experience of the Gardens when the Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand Open Day  is held on Sunday, May 29 in a world-first.

Visitors will be able to tour the "back of house" nursery and library behind the Ilex Café and Visitor Centre between 11am and 3pm. Also marking the open day, the Gardens is hosting a special exhibition of illustrator and sign writer Gordon Gee's work. Many of Gee's signs are still in use around the gardens and his botanical watercolours will be on display in the Visitor Centre.

Things you might not know about the Botanic Gardens:

  • There are beehives in the Gardens and the honey produced is for sale in the Visitor Centre.
  • Some scenes from the Peter Jackson film Heavenly Creatures were filmed in the Botanic Gardens.
  • Gates at the Gardens have only been closed on four days in the past 30 years, once due to snowfall in 1995 and on other days because of high winds.
  • 40,000 bedding plants are grown and planted each year to create the Gardens' spring and summer displays.