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Planting season has kicked off across the Hibiscus Coast with volunteers heading out, rain or shine, to assist projects as winter arrives.
Whangaparāoa College students swapped school books for shovels after obtaining council funding for tree planting at the school.
Nine students applied to Auckland Council’s Mana Ora Resilience fund late last year, and were awarded $4600 for native trees and shrubs to populate the wetland below the school. The fund is aimed at activities that young people can do to help mitigate climate change.
The Year 7 students were given a dedicated day for planting. Varieties planted included wetland grasses, kahikatea, wetland coprosma, akeake, manuka, kanuka, flax and cabbage trees
Further up the peninsula, on Saturday June 7, community volunteers trudged through the mud at Shakespear Regional Park for one of its annual planting days.
John Maxwell and Richard Maud have been volunteering at the park for many years, with some of John’s 2008 saplings now fully grown.
“Things like this are good for people, so they feel like they’re doing something that’s not paid. It’s good for the soul,” John says.
Richard also volunteers in other areas around the park. There are many available tasks that need doing, so he encourages those interested to reach out.
“Most of the volunteers are retired – some are builders, engineers or ex-farmers,” he says. “There are a variety of jobs that could interest anyone.”
“This is my favourite. I love planting, I’m a bit of a greenie. It feels like we’re reclaiming what we’ve lost.”
The Lawrence family are frequent visitors to Shakespear Park. Their mum says the two girls were practically raised there as a result of their dad’s job at the Shakespear Lodge. Although he no longer works there, the family makes an effort to visit and contribute to the park, including the volunteer planting days to stay involved.
The family agrees on the importance of the planting, saying they give back the homes of the animals and stop deforestation.
The sausage sizzle and biscuits were also a welcome bonus.
Luce Thwaites, first time tree planter, came up from Pakuranga for the event. In the midst of exam season, getting all muddy and forgetting about grades came as a welcome reprieve. “The planting was really fun, I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would and I definitely want to do more of it.” she says. “It’s nice to do stuff with your hands and get out in nature.”
“Volunteering is a great way to get more involved in the community and socialise with people. It’s really nice to help out the environment with others who want to do the same thing.”
Upcoming planting days across the Coast
Amorino Park, Red Beach – Sunday June 22; Red Beach Park, Red Beach –Wednesday July 23; Ōkoromai – Clansman Reserve, Army Bay – Saturday July 26; Whangaparāoa College, Stanmore Bay – Sunday August 3; Ōtanerua Reserve, Hatfields Beach – Sunday August 10; 72 Kath Hopper Drive – Wednesday August 13.
