Some history

Excerpt from City Beautiful by Thelma Strongman (published 1999, Clerestory Press, Christchurch, page 59) available from Papanui Library and many other branches. In particular note paragraph one (including the * footnote) and the last paragraph. The bottom line is that the trees were planted in 1962 by RSA, CHCH & Papanui Beautifying Associations, with CCC assistance, and are therefore only 44 years old! Expected lifetime at least 100 years.
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As lovely as a tree

The association also developed new, initiatives. In 1947 Harry Tillman, a member of both the Papanui and Christchurch Beautifying Associations, arranged for service groups, including the Returned Services Association, to establish trees in selected streets* in the Papanui area. This project received considerable assistance from reserves superintendent Maurice Barnett who was knowledgeable about the appropriate species for the Papanui soils. RSA street plaques still record these memorials to those who served in World War II.

Organising tree planting continued to be one of the association's important activities. In addition to suggesting further city sites for trees, the association took pains to prevent the destruction of mature specimens in gardens and streets. In 1950, through registering its concern with the Department of Education and the Canterbury Education Board, the committee managed to stop tree felling in Heaton Street near Heaton Intermediate School. In the same year, when trees were cut down in Crichton Terrace on lower Cashmere hill, the city council was approached and re-planted the area with shrubs.

In 1951 the Beautifying Association again became a financial member of the Summit Road Society, thus renewing the link forged between the two organisations by Harry Ell. Association members tidied the Evans Pass Reserve and planted trees using funds donated by the public-spirited Mrs Crozier. Upon her death in 1955 she bequeathed a further £50 to the Association and donated a cup for shop window displays with a floral theme. Intending to use the legacy to extend the tree planting at Evans Pass, members discovered that city council permission had not received and planted at the Ruru Lawn Cemetery instead, while still monitoring progress at the Evans Pass plantation. The Evans Pass Reserve Committee continued to tend the trees and, when the reserve caught fire in 1976, a number of specimens were saved. Subsequently, the remainder of the reserve was replanted with some trees and shrubs donated by Mr and Mrs L. J. Mitchell.

By 1953 the association's programme of beautifying the entrances to the city saw a plan to plant trees in groups of three, a quarter of a mile apart, for fifteen miles along the main roads. The committee organised the financing of this venture by launching a 'guinea a year' campaign, raising funds for the city council to establish the trees. In July 1954 the scheme was considered a great success and Mayor R. M. Macfarlane participated in the planting of 46 elms along lower Linwood Avenue.

Unfortunately, over the next few years the programme faltered as the council could supply neither the workers nor the materials. The association therefore placed the donations in a council trust fund until the council was ready to resume the work. By 1960, frustrated by the delay, the association suggested that the money be used for planting in streets between the Linwood Crematorium and the Ruru Lawn Cemetery. In 1962 the committee's patience ran out and the city council was asked to either plant the trees or refund the money to contributors. In the meantime, association members had continued to establish trees in the Linwood Avenue extension.

*Alpha Avenue, Claremont Avenue, Condell Avenue, Dormer Street, Gambia Street, Halton Street, Kenwyn Avenue, Lansbury Avenue, Norfolk Street, Perry Street, Scotston Avenue, Tomes Road, Windermere Road. Street plaques from Tillman, St James and Hartley Avenues are presently in storage at the Papanui RSA, awaiting re-instalment.