Project enhances Halswell River planting site

11 December 2009
 MEDIA STATEMENT

Environment Canterbury and Ladbrooks School joint project enhances Halswell River planting site.

Environment Canterbury is joining with Ladbrooks School this month to celebrate a joint project for the replanting of natives beside the Halswell River; a project which has turned a once neglected strip of land into an attractive community reserve.

The school began working with the regional council in 2004 with a study of Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere and its tributary rivers. In 2006, a Year 5-6 class began planting 200-300 natives along a stretch of the Halswell River, adjacent to State Highway 75, which runs between Christchurch and Akaroa.  The students wanted to create a native restoration area that could be seen and enjoyed by the whole community. They planted Carex secta and rushes near the water, cabbage trees, pittosporum, kowhai, flax and ribbonwood further along the banks.

Throughout 2007 and 2008, a number of students, assisted by Environment Canterbury staff, have visited the plants regularly to keep them free of weeds.  In August 2009, regional council river engineers removed four large willow trees adjacent to the site and the students planted 150 natives in their place. 

“The partnership between Ladbrooks School and Environment Canterbury has produced outstanding educational and environmental results. The school has been an enthusiastic partner in promoting environmental awareness amongst the students and their efforts have created something of real value to the whole community,” says Selwyn/Banks Peninsula councillor Eugenie Sage.

“New students are joining the project each year, especially as Ladbrooks is an Enviroschool with an active nature planting group, and the school plans to extend the planting along the river over the coming years,” says Ladbrooks School principal Sandy Hastings.

Environment Canterbury has funded the interpretation sign, which will promote the planting site to the community. The sign has been jointly designed by the school and the council.

Media are invited to the unveiling of an  interpretation sign on the Halswell River on Monday, December 14 between 12.30 and 1.00 pm on the corner of State Highway 75 (Akaroa Highway) and Leadleys Road, Ladbrooks.

Environment Canterbury councillors Eugenie Sage and Jane Demeter (biodiversity portfolio chair) will be attending along with Colin Patterson, farmer and poet from Leeston, and one of the original inspirations to the students who began the plantings.  The school has invited members of the school and wider communities.

The senior class at Ladbrooks, which has been part of Fish and Game NZ’s Fish in Schools programme this year, will release the salmon fry they have raised in class into the Halswell River at the ceremony.

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