The Range, Croydon

Welcome to my blog ‘Landscape’ where I will be looking at various topics to do with plants, gardens, landscapes in my community, suburb or neighbourhood and including my own garden.  I hope you enjoy reading my blogs!

Sunday, 15th of April 2012

THE RANGE, CROYDON.

PART 1 – The Problems of the residents’s gardens and houses.

I have only just recently moved to the suburb of Croydon and was devastated when I learnt that an old golf course, nearby, was being transformed into a very typical, tightly packed estate.  I went for a walk there to have a look at what they were doing and I was disappointed to see what was happening.  The houses were being built right on top of each other, with either little or no room between the houses and there was hardly any space for children to play in the so-called gardens that they had.  This is quite the contrary to what they advertise on their website and on the billboards outside the estate.  Australand (2009) states that it is, “a beautifully landscaped community featuring gently rolling, wide open spaces, stunning natural wetlands and cycle trails that weave between majestic old trees.”  Most of this statement is either not true or falsely advertised.   

Houses on top of each other with hardly any garden.

House with little garden space.

Within The Range they have cut off small areas that they are “conserving” (Australand 2009).  They have got signs up in front of these areas informing people about the protection that they are making of the Australian trees and other native plants.  To me, the protected piece of land that they’ve created, in The Range, looks quite messy and un-kept, and the so-called protected trees look half dead.  My idea would be to plant new native trees and plants in the conserved area, so it will last longer for further generations.

Conserved area with native plants.

I noticed that a lot of the resident’s had rock gardens in The Range.  This consisted of rocks and boulders with plants in-between and they have tried to put a bit of design to their gardens with what space they have got.  I think a great idea for an area such as this would be to make the area look as green as possible, by growing creepers for privacy along the brick walls and planting hedges or trees up the front.

Another conserved area with native plants.

Residents' small garden design.

Layout of the Botanica in The Range at Croydon.

The Botanica release in The Range at Croydon and the sizes of the blocks.

Overall, I believe that it is important for future generations to have their own personal space, both in and out of the house, so that they are able to live a healthy lifestyle. 


References:

Australand, 2009, The Range at Croydon, advertisement for land and houses, Australand Holdings Limited, viewed 14 April 2012, <http://www.therangeatcroydon.com.au>.

Maps:

Australand, 2009, Botanica the Range at Croydon, Australand, Victoria, Australia.

Australand, 2009, Botanica release, Australand, Victoria, Australia.