Planting season is well underway for many community groups around Northland, and last Sunday the sunshine and community were out in force at Smugglers Bay for the Bream Head/Te Whara Conservation Trust’s community planting day.
The trust operates its own nursery in which it grows native trees to plant within the reserve. This year they grew an impressive 8000 trees so, along with planting at their own sites, have been able to give many trees to other local community planting events.
Jess from Kiwi Coast attended the event along with more than 80 others. The planting site was overlooking Smugglers Bay and consideration was given to the species of tree planted in certain areas so the view would be retained from the popular walking track that runs around the peninsula.
“This kind of thing really fills my cup. What a great place we live in.” enthused local, Luke Ogle, spade in hand.
A standout effort was made by two young students from Whangarei Heads School who had the goal of planting 50 trees. They got to 48 trees before all the holes were filled & all of the trees planted. “We wanted to get to 50 because we were counting in fives”, student Arla explained.
1700 trees were planted in around 2 hours followed by kai and a cuppa with the chance for people to connect and catch up. A follow up planting of another 300 trees will bring the total to 2000 trees planted on the reserve this season.
To get involved in the next planting day, or other volunteer activities, contact the Bream Head Conservation Trust.
Photo credits: Hadden Morrison, Bream Head Conservation Trust
