New Botanic Garden sculpture fenced off with red tape

A new sculpture in the Royal Botanic Garden has been fenced off due to insurance and safety concerns.

Crowds of children and adults have enjoyed climbing and running all over the sandstone garden sculpture since its opening In March but now there is a fence keeping them out.

New Zealand artist and creator of the Wurrungwuri Sculpture, Chris Booth, said: “People were welcome to climb on the sandstone – it was covered with people. It was just thrilling.

“I was naïve in thinking that there would be only 10 people at a time but it’s wonderful that it’s over-loved.”

No one has been hurt besides the surrounding plants but the Botanic Garden is doing everything to comply with insurance regulations.

Mr Booth said he is still excited about his project and is impatient for the insurance and other issues to be resolved.

When asked if the public would have open access again, he said: “Absolutely, we can’t wait.

“Not on the pebbles, on the sandstone,” he said.

The pebble structure is a monument dedicated to the Cadigal people and has special significance for the site.

Botanic Garden horticulturalists are rebuilding garden beds around the sculpture where the plants were trampled and are putting in soft plants with softfall; a rubberised material designed for use in playgrounds and nursing homes.

Mr Booth said the grass will grow through the softfall and cover it.

The gardeners are also regenerating the lawn around the sculpture after heavy rain and foot traffic caused a bog to form from groundwater seepage.

Acting Public Relations Manager for the Gardens, Kerry Brown, said the fence is there to protect the new turf and will remain until the landscaping is completed.

“It’s an innovative sculpture that does require a different approach to its care and maintenance . . . it’s really about how we look after a major work,” she said.

“We’re wanting it to be a living sculpture.”

Mr Booth said he hopes the structure will become a habitat for micro bats.

“It’s a specialist sandstone-country garden with specialist flora and fauna.”

By Rosemary Hill