Creating a Permeable Pathway with Strol

The Challenge:

Animal sanctuaries face a unique challenge: how to offer a memorable visitor experience while safeguarding the delicate ecosystems within their care. It’s crucial to guide visitors, particularly children, to stay within designated pathways to protect both plants and wildlife. But pathways don’t just serve a protective function—they can also enhance the visitor experience by leading them to specific areas of interest, making the journey through the sanctuary both educational and enjoyable.

This challenge was particularly evident at Christchurch’s Orana Wildlife Park, where a new habitat has been created to rejuvenate the Boulder Copper Butterfly population. This butterfly, native to Canterbury, had been absent from the Christchurch area for over 200 years due to the destruction of its natural habitat. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Burnside Primary School’s children, the Boulder Copper Butterfly may soon have a new home.

The butterflies are small, measuring only 2-3 cm in length, and their larvae feed exclusively on Muehlenbeckia axillaris, commonly known as creeping pōhuehue. After successfully cultivating three generations of these butterflies in a makeshift habitat at their school, the students planted 150 Muehlenbeckia axillaris shrubs within Orana Wildlife Park’s grounds. To allow visitors to witness this incredible regeneration effort, a beautiful series of permeable pathways were created, set right within the butterflies’ habitat.

The Solution:

PebbleLock permeable pavers were the ideal choice for creating these pathways. Designed for durability and permeability, PebbleLock offers an attractive solution that requires minimal maintenance. Its toughness also ensures that the pathways can withstand the heavy foot traffic typical of a popular wildlife park. These pavers won’t rut or leave indents, even under the pressure of large groups stopping, twisting, or kneeling. This means that, unlike traditional paving solutions like concrete or asphalt, there’s no risk of puddling during rain, keeping the pathways stable, dry and safe for visitors.

The ease of installation also made PebbleLock a practical choice. The park’s staff could install the pathways quickly, ensuring the habitat was ready for visitors in a short time frame. Plus, PebbleLock’s aesthetic appeal perfectly complements the natural beauty of the butterfly habitat, blending seamlessly into the environment.

Sourced from Garden Box in Middleton, Christchurch, these permeable pavers are part of a broader range of landscaping solutions, including aggregates and decorative stones, making it easy for Orana Wildlife Park to find exactly what they needed.

The Result:

With PebbleLock as their pathway solution, Orana Wildlife Park has created a solid and visually appealing platform from which visitors can enjoy the new butterfly habitat, regardless of the weather. This pathway system not only enhances the visitor experience but also supports the long-term sustainability of the park’s conservation efforts.

Creating a dedicated butterfly garden for one of New Zealand’s endemic species is a groundbreaking achievement. Funded by the WWF-New Zealand Conservation and Education Fund, and in partnership with The Tindall Foundation, this project represents a significant step forward in local conservation efforts. The involvement of Burnside Primary School students, under the guidance of Boulder Copper Butterfly specialist Brian Patrick and entomologist Ruud ‘Bug Man’ Kleinpaste, has been instrumental in increasing awareness and understanding of this unique species.

As well as providing the Boulder Copper Butterfly with a permanent home in Christchurch, the students are also working to study the butterfly’s life cycle, document their findings, and contribute to broader conservation strategies. In collaboration with local iwi, they are also seeking to give the butterfly a culturally appropriate Māori name, further embedding this project within the local community and its values.