Auckland Regional Council

Media release

Plant a tree at Awhitu Regional Park this Sunday

25 June 2004

Aucklanders are invited to pick up their spades and help plant native trees at Awhitu Regional Park this Sunday.

The planting is on Sunday 4 July from 10am onwards.

New trees are planted to protect park life including, native plants, birds, fish and insects and their support systems and food supplies. Planting helps maintain and enhance biodiversity. Planting also nurses damaged ecosystems back to health and speeds up natural regeneration. It can provide models * parks are a giant version of what your backyard could be like * that are green, lush and alive. Planting also helps to reduce flooding and erosion, and improve water quality in our rivers and beaches making them safer for swimming.

Tree planting at Awhitu Regional Park will give campers and picnickers shade and shelter. It will also stabilise the coastal edge, protect and enhance the coastal forest remnants and wetland, replace weeds with natives, and enhance the habitat for native birds * the fernbird, bittern and banded rail.

Where to meet Meet at the Brook Homestead on the park. To get there from Auckland, head south on State Highway 1 (Southern Motorway) and take the Drury/Pukekohe off-ramp (State Highway 22). Turn right at the Caltex Karaka on the road to Glenbrook and Waiuku. At Waiuku, turn right into King Street and follow the road down the peninsula to the park entrance.

What to bring Work boots or enclosed shoes (not sandals), a spade (if you have one), gloves, a jacket, snacks and water bottle (it's thirsty work). We provide a sausage sizzle for lunch.

ENDS

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