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Planting for the future

Fuelled by bread and sausages, around 50 schoolchildren and members of the public joined together to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Waihōpai Planting Restoration Project in February.

Although the project at the Waihōpai Dam now spans a decade, its origins stretch back to the late 1970s. Following a major flooding event, this area was purchased by the Southland Catchment Board and a retention dam built shortly after. In the decades that followed, the Waihōpai walkway developed into a popular recreational track for walkers and cyclists.

Seeing an opportunity to beautify the tracks, improve water quality and bring bird life back, Environment Southland developed a plan to rehabilitate the paddocks lining the river into native plantings.

In 2013, the Waihōpai Planting Restoration Project was initiated with the help of volunteers from local schools.

Environment Southland senior education advisor Josh Sullivan says the heritage of the project was worth celebrating.

“So many school and community groups have contributed to this project over the past 10 years, planting hundreds of native plants. Some of these kids are now adults and will potentially bring their own children to visit the area that they helped plant.”

The project provides a hand-on experience for students and the public to learn about conservation, water quality,ecology, biodiversity, riparian planting and sustainability.

For the students, the event was about celebrating the past but with an eye on future outcomes.

James Hargest High School student Luke Payne says, “I liked being a part of this project because I have a real passion for examining seeds and identifying native plants that are endemic to Southland. It is important that we ecosource our plants so that we have the plants that are endemic to Southland. In the future we'll have native birds and cleaner air from our plants.”

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