3 June 2014

Arbor Day Kicks Off Winter Planting Projects

Arbor Day on 5 June this week recognises the value and importance of trees and forests in our environment. It is also the start of the winter planting season for Hawke’s Bay Regional Council which also supports some community groups and schools with their planting programmes.

Approximately 13,500 native and 12000 exotic trees and shrubs will be planted in regional parks and alongside rivers and urban streams in Hastings and Napier this season.

On Wednesday 4 June, two groups of Mahora School students will plant trees at Pekapeka Wetland, south of Hastings. On this school trip students will also use HBRC’s Pekapeka Wetland education resource to learn more about the birds, bugs and plants that live in the swamp and how the wetland works.

On Friday 6 June, Neil Dunn, Agency Manager for Hawke’s Bay Honda in Napier, will present a Honda Treefund Donation to Deputy Chairman Christine Scott at Pakowhai Country Park. A planting day for Honda customers will follow in July.

This week, HBRC’s Land Services team will take delivery of 5000 plants which farmers have purchased for riparian planting. These farmers will be fencing off streams and planting the stream banks (riparian strips) to improve water quality in their creeks and streams.

During June and July, many volunteer groups and schools will be planting around the region with support from HBRC. The Genesis Shadehouse programme will work with students from local schools to plant another section of the Karamu Stream bank at Havelock North. This programme has funding support from HBRC.

The Karamu Stream will also be the focus of June planting days by the Flaxmere College Horticultural Class, the Karamu Environmental Group volunteers and by neighbouring landowners.

In mid June, the Hastings- Havelock North Branch of Forest and Bird will begin their long term planting project at Poukawa Stream on the north end of Pekapeka Wetland.

The Karewarewa Stream will also benefit from some riparian planting by volunteers from the Bridge Pa community and local marae.

Tūtira Country Park has been a regular centre for planting days and the Napier branch of Forest and Bird have been regular volunteers, making another trip up there at the end of July.

These plantings are in addition to normal maintenance and development plantings that HBRC, landowners and councils maintain and develop through the winter planting season.

ENDS

© Scoop Media