Walking with Jane

Jane’s Walk is an annual global festival of free citizen-led walking conversations inspired by Jane Jacobs.  Jane was an urban activist and writer who championed the voices of everyday people in neighbourhood planning and city building.  On the first weekend in May each year Jane’s Walk festivals take place in hundreds of cities around the world.  These walks encourage people to share stories about their neighbourhood, discover unseen aspects of their communities, and use walking as a way to connect with their neighbours.  This is the first year there have been walks in Christchurch, and on a perfect autumn morning we were invited to gather in Latimer Square.

On the way there, I spied a poster for “J Day, 4 May, in Latimer Square” and thought delightedly that this was promotion for Jane’s walk, but no!  The poster was for NORML’s annual celebration of cannabis culture, in the same place.

Jane’s walkers with the NORML bus behind

Our group heard about early Christchurch planning, and developments since, then headed down Madras Street.  By the Margaret Mahy family playground Simone Pearson told us of the fight to save Centennial Pool after the earthquakes.  Sadly this fight was unsuccessful, and we are still waiting for an inner city swimming pool.

We then walked down Chester Street East, which still has old houses with character, to Chesterfields community park.  The established holly tree there is attractive to kereru.

Holly tree with kereru

The group continued on to Ward’s Brewery at the corner of Fitzgerald Avenue, but I left as I had another appointment.  I thoroughly enjoyed the walk and the information shared, and am inspired to ensure that the Avon Loop is part of these walks next year.  There are more walks tomorrow around Edgeware and Moa Reserve.

It’s good to go on a Jane’s Walk
to see the sights, enjoy the talk

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Banquet at Bloody Mary’s

A Christmas Eve dinner out was a good ending to what had been a traumatic day.  We dined at Bloody Mary’s at Rydge’s Hotel in Latimer Square – generously paid for by a distant daughter.

 

Dinner at Bloody Mary’s

The food was good, with sauces and vegetables served separately in small saucepans and little iron pans.  Just as our main course was served there was an earthquake, magnitude 4.0, centred near Sumner.  It’s been a while since I’ve felt one that strong, and I found it disturbing.  Other people in the restaurant seemed to take little notice.

As we ate we watched people gathering for Carols by Candlelight in Latimer Square.  When we’d finished we sat in the Square for a while to enjoy the music, then strolled home.

Carols by Candlelight

“A lot has happened on this day.
Let’s hope tomorrow’s one for play.”

 

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Leaf-ing Latimer

As I worked to work yesterday I was aware that this was the last time I’d be doing so through Latimer Square.  From next week our office will be in a different situation and I’ll be walking a different route.  The Latimer Square trees are coming in to their spring leaves which are a magnificent shade of green.

Last walk through Latimer Square

I met a friend who offered to take my photo (haven’t quite got into ‘selfies’ yet).  Further along the way I noticed these blossom trees in an otherwise dull part of St Asaph Street.

St Asaph Street blossoms

I enjoy the signs of nature’s rebuild.

“No matter what may come or go
there’s always nature’s great spring show.”

 

 

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Livestock on Latimer

Knitted sheep

I adore these knitted sheep on the corner of Latimer Square.  Don’t they look wonderful?  There are even knitted daffodils in front of them.

“It’s things like this that help to keep
our spirits up – great knitted sheep!”

 

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Easter Eggs

Giant Easter eggs have popped up in various locations around town.  More have been laid in Wellington and Auckland.  I saw these two in Latimer Square, and  they are also in Cathedral Square and the Restart Mall.

Egg no. 10 by Christian Nicholson

Egg no. 39 by Jimmy James Kouratoras

Each of the 100 eggs has been designed by an artist and they’re all part of a fundraising project for Starship Children’s Hospital.  It’s fun and helps to brighten up our city.

It’s just a pity that so few people realise that Easter is actually a spring festival, and we should celebrate it in spring instead of slavishly following the Northern hemisphere.

“It would be a more nat’ral thing
to celebrate Easter in spring.”

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Atrocity Aftermath

Some might not call our recent storm an atrocity, but the weather was definitely atrocious.  This morning I felt so grateful for dry paths, sunshine, and a breeze that was gentle.  For those coping with sodden homes the fine day must have seemed surreal.

I hesitated to take my usual path through Latimer Square because I suspected it would still be muddy, and found it was blocked anyway.  Part of the path was barricaded because a large branch had come down from a tree.

Fallen branch

When I passed again in the afternoon a team from Treetech was busy munching up all the debris.  I wish everyone’s mess from the storm could be as easily disposed of.

“If it was just one fallen tree
how easy cleaning up would be.”

 

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Spires Sculpture

This morning they were lifting Neil Dawson’s Spires into place in Latimer Square.

Lifting in the Spires

By this afternoon it was all installed, suspended in its cradle.

Spires in situ

It’s reminiscent of the Christ Church Cathedral spire, and I like it, although I think we could have been told about it beforehand.  I presume there’ll be a launch (unveiling?) on Saturday as part of the third earthquake anniversary.

“All unannounced we have acquired
a new monument that’s in-spired.”

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Monumento Mori?

Four large holes have been dug in Latimer Square.

Holes in Latimer Square

I asked the workmen what they were for and was told that a monument is to be erected there and that it’s been designed by an artist.  I asked whether it was coming in the next few days and they said it would take a bit longer.   Presumably this is something intended for the earthquake anniversary on 22 February?  I’m surprised there’s been no public announcement, and who has decided what is to be erected?  With holes this big it’s surely something intended to be permanent.  Who’s paying?  And why is there no public consultation?

Across the road, the CTV site is being enhanced ready for 22 February.  I was pleased to see that they’ve left three car park spaces that were labelled CTV.

CTV Car Parks

“If they must dig holes in the Square
they ought to tell what’s going there.”

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Play Park

A Nature Play Park is slowly taking shape on the corner of Hereford Street and Latimer Square, the previous site of Avonmore College.

Nature Play Park

Created by the Department of Conservation and Greening the Rubble, it will feature a mini-braided river with a re-circulating water system, and native plants.  It was supposed to be open at the end of October, but there’s still a mesh fence all around.  It will be a great attraction when it is finally available to the public.

“This inner city park will show
how Canterbury looked long ago.”

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