23 Mar 2023

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Enjoy a foraging journey with your whānau during the upcoming Walking Festival.

Two new walks during this year’s festival embrace the organisation’s focus on walks that help people to “Explore/Hōpara, Learn/Ako and Connect/Hono.”

These new additions are among the 50-plus walks that are on offer between Saturday 8 April to Sunday 23 April 2023.

A Wanderful Foraging Journey gives young children and their grown-ups a chance to explore the Red Zone! Meet at the unique Fungi Garden area at the Richmond Community Garden.

Explore the area together to see what edible weeds and fruit you can find in the Richmond and Avonside area, then head back to the garden to create foraged art and crafts. This walk is only 1km, so is ideal for small children.

A second, longer foraging walk is the Ōtautahi Red Zone Urban Foraging Wander on Saturday 15 April.

Wander together through the Richmond and Avonside Red Zone, sharing knowledge about edible plants and fruit trees with guides from Ōtautahi Urban Foraging and Kaputahi Community Orchard.

Ōtautahi Urban Foraging group member and foraging walk organiser Joanna Wildish says they are so happy to be amongst the 35 plus groups who host walks during the Walking Festival. “This is our first time holding foraging walks for the festival and it’s going to be really fun with so much to learn and share.”

One of your favourite walks is back – Dog Day out in the zone! Walk through the red spine of the Red Zone, led by the Richmond Community Garden and Avon-Otakaro Network. These groups have been a Walking Festival partner since the beginning.

Event organiser Morgane Honore says they are excited to bring back Dog’s Day out in the Zone after a sabbatical from COVID-19. “It’s such an amazing day out for our furry friends and their humans to connect with each other. There’s two distance options available this year of 1.5km or 4km, making is accessible for more!”

The Walking Festival is an event co-ordinated by the Christchurch City Council, working in partnership with 35 plus groups who are leading walks in Ōtautahi, Selwyn and Waimakariri.

Find out more and get involved here.