12 June 2018

More than 20,000 native plants are heading to properties throughout Hawke’s Bay this week ready to be planted along streams and rivers throughout Hawke’s Bay this winter.

Landowners can buy native plants at cost through the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s riparian planting scheme, which encourages them to retire and/or plant stream margins with native plants that would have naturally grown there in the past. HBRC’s land management team coordinates the orders, making this a more cost effective operation for landowners than single orders would be.

Around 22 thousand native plants are heading to farms across the region, while a further 35,000-plus plants are being used for community plantings throughout the region during the winter months.

HBRC Riparian Planting Scheme coordinator Erica Smith says this year many of the plants are going to Central Hawke’s Bay with many farmers saying they are undertaking the planting as part of their farm environment management plans, which are required by many farmers under the Tukituki Plan.

Any farmers wanting to secure riparian plants for next winter (2019) can contact Erica at the Regional Council with an expression of interest before the end of July 2018.

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