Volunteers plant 3000 natives in a day

Western Bay of Plenty District Councillor Mark Dean helping out with Saturday’s planting. Photo: Bay of Plenty Regional Council/Facebook.

Papamoa Hills Regional Park was buzzing with activity on Saturday, when more than 150 volunteers turned out to help plant the recently-bare slopes.

Papamoa Hills park ranger Mark Ray is pleased with the effort, in which 3000 natives were put in the ground.

'We had a really great turn out, and everyone came away with big smiles on their faces,” he says.

'There was a strong community feel about the morning, with ages ranging from very young to the older bracket. It was nice as well to work with our neighbours Fulton Hogan, who supplied and manned the barbecue for a sausage sizzle afterwards.”

Mark says a range of natives were planted, including manuka, kanuka, pohutukawa, flaxes, and cabbage trees.

Unfortunately, due to bad weather, Sunday's planting session had to be cancelled, with contractors finishing the rest of the work Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning.

'It's a shame it rained and we had to cancel the second planting session,” says Mark. 'However, we have a good collection of email addresses, and we'll be emailing people about more opportunities for volunteers to come and work in the park in the future.”

Local Wayne Shadbolt says in a few years when the native trees have grown, it will be a sight to see. Photo: Wayne Shadbolt.

Photo: Wayne Shadbolt.

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1 comment

Fantastic job

Posted on 09-07-2017 10:38 | By Papamoaner

The shade they provide will also cause other already existing natives to pop up, just as gorse does.Salt of the earth these folks.


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