Efforts to 'drought-proof' the campus have led to the makeover of the garden area between the Baldessin building and the multistorey car park on Ellery Circuit

Garden staff have installed a mulched garden bed featuring hardy flowering plants in place of the long lawn that ran down the side of the Asian studies and languages building.

This project will help to resolve issues around water run-off as well as creating irrigation savings.

A permanent path has been installed to replace the track worn by pedestrians through the old lawn. Created from porous paving, the new path will allow water and air to reach the roots of the established Chinese Elms in the area.

But the redevelopment will also allow the University’s gardeners to trial a new Buffalo grass lawn. “We’re conducting a trial to see how much water can be saved by replacing the old European species lawns with this warm-climate variety,” explains Assistant Grounds Manager Jeff Albrecht. 

“Warm-season grass species go dormant during winter, turning brown or white, but they recover once the warmer weather returns. It helps to think of them like a deciduous tree, accepting the stark appearance during winter when lawn areas are less likely to be used.”

Jeff said that the new mix of trees, shrubs and ground cover will help to control weeds and provide habitat for birds and insects. He said that gardens staff will be able to make decisions about how to improve water use in other parts of the campus after observing how the Baldessin garden develops.

^^

Home