Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust has set up new signage at eight local native habitat restoration sites to provide information about the projects - and acknowledge the volunteers who have contributed their time to them. 

All the native plants used in the projects were grown and cared for at Te Kākano’s community nursery from eco-sourced seeds in the Upper Clutha area, Te Kākano trust manager Loran Verpillot said. 

Loran said she hopes the new signs “will inform and inspire people to participate in planting and maintenance sessions in support of Te Kākano’s mission to connect communities with their land”.

“Anyone can see first hand at the project sites what positive impacts they can make towards habitat restoration.”

Many of the plants are listed as threatened or at risk nationally, so the projects are vital in the overall efforts to protect and increase the population of these species, she said. 

Every year, the local charitable trust plants between 4,000 to 5,000 native plants on public land and the work is made possible by volunteers of all ages and backgrounds. 

One of the oldest project sites Te Kākano has worked on is at the Mt Aspiring Tititea carpark (just before Glendhu Bay) which was started 13 years ago. It has been developed from a bare patch to a native mini-forest thanks to efforts from the community, Queenstown Lakes District Council, and local business Ridgeline Adventures.

“We’ve been working in the Upper Clutha basin since 2008 and there’s plenty of on-going work needed for planting, watering and maintenance, so any help is always appreciated,” Loran said.

PHOTO: Supplied