Environment Centre

In a historic brick building on Palmerston Street in Riverton you’ll find the Environment Centre, a collective of community based groups all working to leverage and care for the lush landscape and friendly people of Southland.

The Environment Centre opened its doors in 1997 and eight different groups are represented, including organic gardeners, the Riverton Estuary Care group, a seed savers collective, a kids’ conservation club and a not-for-profit shop, with volunteers present seven days a week.

It’s the kind of place where you’re welcome to stop in for a look, a chat about any and all things Southland, a quick stock up on healthy snacks or just a plain old fashioned visit. A wood burning stove, surrounded by an assembly of couche, and a kids’ play corner make this a cosy and welcoming area to hang out in while learning a bit about what goes on in this unique community space.

The annual Riverton Heritage Harvest festival draws visitors from near and far each year in March, but even if you’re not in town then, you can still get an in depth harvest experience at the Environment Centre. The staff are friendly and more than willing to answer questions about gardening, farming, Riverton’s internationally recognised forest garden and Heritage Orchard Project, and Southland’s larger landscape. If they don’t have an answer to your query, chances are there is a book nearby that does. The centre is brimming with reading material, hand books, garden magazines, field guides and other helpful resources so grab a coffee and a snack, stay a while and learn a new thing or two.