Sign In / Register
Volunteers helping volunteers – Mahu Community Trading Post president John Carr and secretary Desiree Hoey presented a cheque for $6000 to the Highfield Garden Reserve for the new Lily Pond Walk.
Highfield Garden Reserve at Algies Bay received a substantial funding boost recently, when Mahu Community Trading Post donated $6000 for a new landscaping project.
Peter Caccia-Birch, who looks after Highfield’s famous donkeys, said the reserve’s advisory committee had a vision to create an educational area for children and visitors focusing on native trees and shrubs, which required the construction of a gravel path and boardwalk.
However, materials and equipment were priced at $6000, so the committee approached the Mahu Community Trading Post for help and were delighted to be granted the full amount.
Trading Post volunteers paid a visit to Highfield on March 5 to see where the new 100-metre Lily Pond Walk was going in, as well as tour the rest of the reserve and meet the donkeys.
Mr Caccia-Birch said a lot of work had been done on the path already, clearing the ground and planting natives.
“This was a complete jungle, but we’ve just chipped away at it. We’ve put in 20 different trees and shrubs already and want to build that up to 30 or 40,” he said. “Metal will be laid this month and then our guys will get on with the boardwalk.”
The $6000 cheque was the latest in a series of donations by the Mahu Community Trading Post, which raises funds selling donated goods at its shop in Warkworth every Wednesday. Since opening 18 months ago, Trading Post volunteers have donated $150,000 to Mahurangi community groups and causes.
