2022: A Labyrinth of Coastal Native Food Plants
The LeFevre Peninsula has become the site for a new public labyrinth established in Roy Marten Park, Taperoo. A short time ago what was just a dream has now become a reality with a Green Adelaide Grassroots grant and matching City of Port Adelaide Enfield financial support.
the site - Roy Marten Park, Taperoo, SA
The Project
The project will see the development of a Labyrinth of coastal native food plants, located at the western (undeveloped) end of the Roy Marten Park at Taperoo, overlooking Gulf St Vincent.
The key objectives are to highlight and showcase the beauty, diversity and resilience of our local coastal native food plants, to provide information about the plants, including (if possible) their Kaurna names, pronunciations and uses, and to support personal and community well-being through connection with nature, gentle physical exercise and a place for mindful and meditative practices.
Native pelargonium
Seaberry saltbush
Coastal bone fruit
The Design
The Labyrinth of Connection has been chosen as the design – not only for its practicalities in terms of planting and irrigation, but also because of its functions:
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connecting things and people
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stimulating communication, better relationships, friendliness
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representing knowledge and learning
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influencing channels of giving and receiving
Source (functions above & image below): Kezele, Patrick Adrian. 2014. Labyrinths and their Secrets, location 2121-2358 Kindle Edition.
The Practicalities
The 30m diameter Labyrinth of Connection incorporates fifteen species of smaller coastal native food plants (below knee height) in the Labyrinth, with up to six species of larger plants located on the periphery.
It includes the installation of irrigation, signs and log seats (as resting places in the centre of the labyrinth)
The walking path of the labyrinth, with a total length of approximately 800m into the centre and return, will be accessible for all abilities.
The Benefits to Community and Individuals
The Labyrinth of coastal native food plants will both provide and offer:
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a demonstration site for local coastal native food plants, encouraging their use in local gardens and cuisine
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nature-based experiences, with free facilities that allow informal recreation and gentle physical exercise
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an additional, health and wellbeing resource to the Roy Marten Park existing facilities
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guided labyrinth walks within the natural coastal environment offered to the community
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connection with potential new residents in the Peet development, positively influencing their relationship with the local environment and community
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connection with colleges and schools for students’ benefit eg. maintaining the plants, for guided meditative walks, a place for mindfulness and calming, connection with art and science education, a resource for social and emotional elements of curriculum
Care
We anticipate:
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establishment of a viable unincorporated Friends group supported by Green Adelaide and by the City of PAE,
as occurs with local dune groups, -
maintenance of the labyrinth: trimming and replacing plants as needed, weeding the paths etc,
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the City of PAE Council will have ongoing responsibility for the labyrinth's infrastructure including irrigation and paths.
Events
Learning with Labyrinths will, with the support of Estuary Care Foundation and the Friends Group, create events at the labyrinth that bring focus to interdependence, relationships and responsibilities; the plants and their (global) importance in ecosystems & beyond e.g. for World Environment Day, World Habitat Day, Earth Day, and events/resources for residents, local schools and community groups.
Bower Spinach
Lemon Grass
Ruby Saltbush