Takitakitoa Wetland planting day
In another great initiative by one of our staff-led regional Sustainability Committees, last week our Dunedin team donated a trailer load of native plants to Otago Fish and Game’s Takitakitoa Wetland and sent a team of builders out for the afternoon to plant them.
The land was, until a few years ago being used as pasture for stock grazing. Otago Fish & Game secured the land and set about building a long, low bund to allow the valley floor to refill and return to its original wetland habitat. Unfortunately, the area had lost much of its native flora and fauna during grazing and Fish & Game had already completed an extensive planting programme with approximately 1000 natives being planted each year. The goal for the Naylor Love crew was to continue the restoration and plant approximately 400 natives, mainly carex (native grass), flax and cabbage trees, along the edge of the wetland to continue the improvement begun five years ago.
It was clear to see these guys had some experience on the end of a shovel and soon grasped the finer points that would allow the new native plants to thrive.
We couldn’t embark on such a large and involved project without the support of local businesses. It’s not just the volunteers that we need on the ground but plants to put in the ground as well. These natives don’t come cheap and Otago Fish and Game would like to thank Naylor Love Dunedin for helping out in such a meaningful way.
– Otago Fish & Game Officer Nigel Pacey
