Great planting effort at Whitireia Park

Twenty-five keen volunteers ranging in ages from three to 72 donned gloves, hats and boots in June to plant more than 600 trees in a little over two hours at Onehunga Bay in Whitireia Park.

They’re part of Onehunga Bay Beach Care which is working to restore native plants to the beach area and a wetland area behind it.

The project is supported by Greater Wellington Regional Council and the Department of Conservation.

The volunteers planted sand binding species such as spinifex and pingao to help stabilise the dune and restore it to its natural state. They also installed bollards to help the plants to re-estabilish successfully.

Greater Wellington Community Projects Adviser Robyn Smith said it was great to see the response from the community and to see people of all ages get involved.

“We were able to achieve a lot in a very short space of time thanks to the work of the volunteers. It is great to see new people coming along to the group.

“This project is about restoring the native biodiversity to the beach and the wetland behind it in order to enhance the area for the community to enjoy.”

The next planting day will be held on Sunday 23 August starting at 10am. Volunteers are asked to meet at the main carpark by the beach, spades and gloves and a sausage sizzle will be provided. Planting efforts will concentrate in swampy area below a native bush remnant so gumboots are advised!

More information about Onehunga Bay restoration can be found at: http://www.gw.govt.nz/story24316.cfm

For more information about the planting please contact: Robyn Smith, Greater Wellington Regional Council, 04 803 0367.

ENDS

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