Council says bring back the birds

Auckland Council is urging urban homeowners to plant native plants and trees in their gardens with the aim of increasing the region’s canopy cover from 18 to 30 per cent and its birdlife.

Council says more trees and native plants have many benefits – cultural, economic, social and environmental – leading to improved water and air quality, greater biodiversity, shade and a reduction of carbon dioxide through carbon sequestration.

Council’s head of natural environment design Sam Hill says birdsong is known to have a positive impact on health.

“It helps improve mental wellbeing, and when we plant natives in our gardens, we entice those native birds back,” Hill says.

“The bird-plant relationship is connected. You can attract specific birds to your yard by planting the right plants which, in turn, helps support the region’s biodiversity.

“The plants host seasonal fruit and nectar, and serve up insects that native birds have shaped their lifecycles around. This creates a safe environment for them – a place to shelter and a place to nest.

“Select a range of native plants that provide food all year round, and that native backyard birds depend on.”

Council is implementing a winter planting programme, the Ngahere Street Tree Project, which will see 11,000 trees planted on street verges over the next 10 years.

This year’s planting season starts soon with the planting of 2002 new trees on road corridors across 15 areas of the Auckland region. Rodney will get 19 trees in Kumeu.

Read more about Auckland’s Urban Ngahere (Forest) Strategy here: https://shorturl.at/kbeHW