Join in the wetland planting at Tawharanui

As winter approaches, Aucklanders are being invited to pick up a spade to help Auckland Regional Council plant as many as 100,000 trees across its regional parks between May and August.

It starts this weekend at Tawharanui Regional Park with a wetland planting day on Sunday 2 May from 10am onwards. (Meet in the campground)

Tree planting will enhance Tawharanui Regional Park, restoring forest and wetlands and making it an ideal open sanctuary – an island free of pests and predators, a refuge for forest, sea and wetland birds.

New trees protect park life including, native plants, birds, fish and insects, their support systems and food supplies; and maintain and enhance biodiversity.

Planting also nurses damaged ecosystems back to health and speeds up natural regeneration. Parks are a giant version of what your backyard could be like and are green, lush and alive. Planting reduces flooding and erosion, improves water quality making our rivers and beaches safer for swimming.

What to bring: Most important – work boots or enclosed shoes (not sandals), a spade, gloves, a jacket, snacks and water bottle (it’s thirsty work). We provide a sausage sizzle after the work is done.

How to get there: Take State Highway 1 to Warkworth. The park is signposted from Warkworth so follow the signs through Matakana before turning right and heading along Takatu RD to the park. The last 8km is a winding metal road.

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