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Things are getting greener at Whangaparāoa Library, which is turning a grey, paved courtyard into a little garden that will also eventually feature a colourful mural.
The library will also focus on all things eco-friendly in the coming Easter holidays.
Children and youth senior librarian Pip Stocking says the bare courtyard was not used by library visitors, and she wanted to turn it into a pleasant place where anyone can sit and read or just chill.
She brought in gardeners Dee and Tamarin Pignéguy, who got the ball rolling at the start of this year, donating plants and potting them up with the help of local home-schooled children. The children also painted brightly coloured footsteps onto the pavers.
The garden now features potted herbs and strawberries and since the transformation, Pip has had the satisfaction of seeing more people of all ages use it.
“I have seen grandparents talk about the plants with the children after library music sessions, and we hope this will be a space for learning as well as relaxation,” Pip says.
A bold mural to be painted by local youth is also in the pipeline.
Eco-Easter theme
All Auckland Council libraries have an Eco Warriors theme for the upcoming school holidays, and Whangaparāoa Library is going the extra step of also holding an Eco Expo on Sunday, April 16. It will include stalls and information, both inside and outside the library, with local community groups involved. Also in the holidays, on the Eco theme there will be activities at the library that include a chance to upcycle an old T-shirt by turning it into a shopping bag, an eco-themed movie and a climate change-based Escape Room Challenge.
Info: aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/schoolholidays or call into the library in Main Street, Whangaparāoa, for a chat.
