September 2011 Plantout weekend:
We are taking a different approach for the 2011 planting year. TAK has joined forces with other organisations working on the Canterbury Plains to bring together the wider community for a fun day of planting. It is envisaged that through planting these native plants we are creating corridors for native wildlife and a filtering system to our waterways. This will aid the improving health of Lake Ellesmere/Te Waihora at the bottom of the catchment and providing a greenway of food sources for native wildlife.
The planting weekend will also have a number of speakers on the buses that are ferrying the volunteers between planting sites, having resources available at meal breaks and by providing activities for children e.g. macroinvertebrate sampling, creating habitats for weta, insects and lizards (i.e. wood blocks and weta hotels). There will also be a number of specialists available to answer individual questions or requests of landowners and community members.
In taking a two step approach, we hope that attendees will feel empowered through their active involvement in planting native plants, while enjoying a great social occasion on the Canterbury Plains.
Greendots 2011:
With funding from both the Biodiversity Advice Fund and the Habitat Restoration Fund of the World Wildlife Foundation, Te Ara Kakariki is excited to be able to support 10 sites for planting this spring.
After reviewing 20 possible sites, the GreenDot Committee used the following criteria to select the best sites to receive support. Landowner agreements and restoration plans are now being developed for these 10 sites. Plants will then be ordered, and planting days planned for late August and September.
Keep an eye on this page as well as our facebook page for more information.