While winter may be a time for some of us to hibernate, for local environmental groups it’s one of the busiest times of the year and they’re inviting others to assist with that effort.
From the beginning of June to the end of August, Kāpiti environmental groups are out every weekend planting some of the thousands of trees they have raised over the previous months. This year is shaping up to be a record-breaker with groups planning their biggest seasons yet.
Nga Uruora has more than 10,000 trees in their various nurseries and holding pens. Raumati South Wetland Restoration Project has 16,000 plants to get in the ground and Queen Elizabeth Park’s group aim to plant 10,000 on 15 August alone to mark 10 years of Take Care groups.
Further north, Friends of the Waikanae River’s stalwart group of six are planting 5,000 trees.
To assist groups in coordinating their efforts and to give Kāpiti residents a chance to join in and be a part of all this green goodness, Nga Uruora Kāpiti Project have developed a calendar of plantings and working bees across the district.
With the support of Stacey Gasson, Sustainable Communities Coordinator at Kāpiti Coast District Council, environmental groups across the district were contacted and asked to provide details of their planned plantings and working bees. The information is available on Nga Uruora’s website at www.kapitibush.org.nz/fixtures/
“At a time when climate change has captured public attention, this is a practical and enjoyable way for people to make a difference,” Chriss Bull of Raumati South Resident’s Association says.
“We’re especially blessed to have a number of wetlands under restoration in our district these are really special due to the fact that many native birds and fish live and breed in these increasingly rare habitats.”
Groups listed are spread from Ōtaki to Paekākāariki and offer a range of opportunities for varying levels of fitness, age and the like.
But as Nga Uruora claim, “All the groups are friendly and will be pleased to see you, so just choose one and turn up they’ll show you what to do.”
