Project Crimson distributes $15,000 in community funding

Around 60 groups throughout New Zealand received assistance from Project Crimson this year as part of their annual Community Restoration Programme. These groups received pohutukawa, northern or southern rata and/or funding from a Project Crimson Community Restoration fund of almost $15,000.

This year Project Crimson saw applications from groups that have been receiving trees or funding from Project Crimson for years, as well as plenty of new applicants. They have been able to support projects from the far north all the way to Stewart Island. Conservation Manager Caroline Wallace says she is always pleased to be reaching into new areas. "It's great to be able to tap into new areas and this year in particular it was Tauranga, with lots of new projects popping up requiring our ecosourced pohutukawa, grown at our new nursery partner, Pohuts a Plenty. We have provided pohutukawa to the Tauranga City Council and a huge 500 to Envirohub BOP as well as a few smaller groups" says Caroline.

"Also this year, we will see planting on Kawau Island. DOC has some areas protected from pesky wallabies, who like their Australian cousins, also like to eat pohutukawa. So with fencing in place, DOC will be planting pohutukawas, provided by Project Crimson on the island" adds Caroline.

In Auckland, a further 250 pohutukawa will be planted around Musick Point, the very scenic location of the Howick Golf Club.

Demand for northern rata was again strong in Wellington, with hundreds allocated to lots of community groups all working hard in their patch. The Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park received another 100 trees which will continue to thrive in the park alongside the trees Project Crimson provided them with 10 years ago.

The conservation trust also saw many new applicants in the South Island. They provided southern rata and funding for groups in Ross on the West Coast, through to Queenstown and down to Invercargill. This year there were several applications for nursery supplies. Many groups will now be growing southern rata for their project. This includes the South Otago Forest and Bird group, the Yellow Eyed Penguin Trust and Conservation Volunteers at Runanga on the West Coast.

Project Crimson look forward to continuing to spread the red throughout New Zealand!

ENDS

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