Where is this, and why is it signficant?
It may be the most idyllic garden shed in the Lower Mainland.
This is part of Darts Hill Garden Park (map here) – and no, I hadn’t heard of it either. Last week the Darts Hill Garden Conservancy Trust Society won Surrey’s Beautiful City Award – “Celebrating outstanding contributions in community beautification”:
Darts Hill Garden is the result of 60 years of work and dedication guided by the clear vision of Francisca Darts. Along with her husband Edwin, Francisca has taken a logged piece of land, turned it first into an award winning orchard and then into the unique garden that is Darts Hill.
Home to a number of rare and unusual plants, it has most diverse collection of tree species in the Pacific Northwest.
At the moment, the garden seems to be somewhat isolated, though only just over a kilometre from Highway 99 or King George Boulevard. That will change. This part of Surrey is one of the fastest growing (and most affluent) parts of the region, and it’s probably only a matter of time before an interchange is built at 16th Avenue, particularly if it becomes a major arterial connecting the freeway with the Abbotsford Airport. Then the garden will be a major and accessible amenity – a kind of Queen Elizabeth Park, perhaps, for this part of Metro.
The Darts Hill Garden Conservancy Trust Society was only one award winner at Surrey’s inaugural 2011 City Awards that recognizes citizens, community groups and businesses that have made outstanding contributions. Categories and winners are here.
While Vancouver has Heritage Awards, it curiously does not have formal recognition for urban design, architecture or sustainability. Got to go to Surrey for that.