Reconnecting children with nature through hands on experience is what the Discovery Garden at Wellington’s Botanic Gardens is all about. The 1,500 square metre living classroom has been designed and developed by Isthmus to teach children about the many ways plants sustain human life by providing food, fibre, construction materials and medicine.

Landscape architect Lisa Rimmer says the garden is part of the global reinterpretation of Botanic Gardens to increase their relevance in our everyday and, increasingly, urban lives.

“The garden is beautiful, as Botanic Garden’s traditionally are, but also designed for diverse ‘all senses, hands on’ activities; to encourage take home conversations and ‘how to’ learning through enjoyment,” Rimmer says. “This is a shift from the traditional promenade and observation of plants in Botanic Gardens to a more immersive experience - both inspiring and everyday; for outside the gates.”

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