Chinese Garden seeks help to flourish again
Published:Friday | September 10, 2021 | 12:10 AMAsha Wilks/Gleaner Writer
The Chinese Garden gifted to Jamaica on its 50th year of Independence in 2012 and commemorating the island’s then 40-year anniversary of diplomatic relationship with the People’s Republic of China has been ravaged by tropical storms Grace and Ida and is in need of restoration.
The 11-acre property, which is part of the Hope Royal Botanic Gardens in St Andrew, has been a popular event venue for the better part of the last decade, hosting, among other things, weddings, birthday parties, and corporate events.
However, torrential rains and devastating winds last month lashed the garden, dislocating many trees while causing other structural damage and exacerbating flooding issues, leaving behind a $5-million repair bill.
Carla Myrie, general manager of the Hope Gardens Nature Preservation Foundation, said the weather systems are not the only factors contributing to the decline of the property.
“Over the past few years, there has been consistent deterioration of the structure due to inundation of water,” she told The Gleaner, pointing out that the storms made the situation worse and caused wide-scale siltation in many areas.
The operators are also facing a financial crisis as the COVID-19 pandemic has slashed earnings to almost nothing in the past 18 months.
In a normal month, the Chinese Garden would have had at least four bookings, but since the pandemic, there have only been eight events hosted there as it faced a rush of cancellations.
This significant cut in revenue has resulted in limited funds to maintain the grounds and pay staff as the management kept all 60 staffers and field crew on the payroll, albeit with work days cut from five to three.
Due to the size of the large property and the high maintenance needs of a total of 10 venue spaces and additional areas utilised for picnics and leisurely lounging by the general public, the challenges are great.
Celebrating the bond between China and Jamaica, the garden reflects aspects of Chinese architecture informed by the philosophy and harmony of Feng Shui, said Myrie.
“The name of the garden is the Harmonious Enjoyment Garden and was so named because of the harmonious relationship both countries enjoy,” she pointed out.
Among the highlights of the Chinese Garden are a lily pond depicting an aspect of the Jamaican island and aspects of the Chinese Forbidden City. A representation of an old imperial palace in Beijing, China, during the Ming Dynasty is also featured in the garden’s construction.
The non-governmental organisation managing the property is appealing for assistance to restore and preserve the garden, with Myrie adding that the team is currently in the final stages of completing a maze to add to the dynamism and promotion of the grounds.
In the hope of increasing revenue from this and other attraction features, the orchid house on the grounds will be repaired soon in collaborative efforts with the Jamaica Orchid Society.
Myrie said that a 10-year development master plan to create new ways of expanding the Hope Gardens’ attractions and revenue intake is also in the works. A butterfly conservatory is also on the cards.
But “all of these initiatives are subject to receipt of the requisite funding”, said Myrie.
Earnings are currently generated solely from charitable contributions and with the assistance of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, which helps with salaries.
The annual operating expenditure of Hope Gardens is approximately $120 million.