Natural touch for family day out

Families enjoyed a peaceful autumnal day at Chingford Park on Saturday for Wild Dunedin Ōtepoti Mohoao New Zealand Festival of Nature.

Children made music under the trees on a collection of percussion instruments, and experimented making giant soap bubbles.

Siblings Toby (6, left) and Madison McKenzie (8), of Pine Hill, show their leafy creation in...
Siblings Toby (6, left) and Madison McKenzie (8), of Pine Hill, show their leafy creation in Chingford Park. PHOTO: SIMON HENDERSON
Food and beverage stalls kept everyone fed and watered, and science and nature stalls provided insights on how to care for nature.

A giant nature sculpture called Art Play for Earth Day was one of the highlights of the family day out.

Local artists Janet de Wagt, Pamela Brown and Kerry Mackay helped visitors create an autumnal masterpiece in the grass.

Ms Mackay said the artists guided people who then came up with their own ideas on how to use natural elements to create art.

"So people came along and made a little circle, like a little earth, little globes."

Using leaves, twigs or anything else they could find in nature, people created spokes, swirls and crosshatch patterns, sorting leaves into different colours to create a patchwork of little globes as well as one big circle.

"It really is just a chance for families to come together and have a play with what nature provides."

"And then it just stays here as long as it can before the wind comes and blows it away."

simon.henderson@thestar.co.nz