The day dawned overcast and cold but luckily no rain was forecast. By 10am it had warmed up, the plants had arrived via a member of staff from the Parks Department.
Already 10 keen members of the public had arrived trowels in hand. After the plants were taken from the
vehicle and a quick run down of how to plant the plants a further 10 people turned up and 5 children in tow, all willing to give a hand.
We were gap filling a section of Dune located opposite the Airport Motel, near the Airport Retail park.
Very quickly people had their heads in the sand ( well from a distance it looked like they did.) and the planting was well under way with some laughter and some interesting banter.
We were planting 500 native Dune plants including Flax and Spinifex. The aim is to replace any non-native plants in the dunes. This would be completed over a number of years to ensure that no damage to the dunes could occur during the process.
Within a hour it was all completed, the area was cleaned up and everyone went their separate ways.
This time of year is chosen as it is winter in NZ and it gives the plants time to get established before summer arrives with the heat and lack of water that it brings.
Depending on where planting occurs it is hoped that 80% of the plants survive and generally within 18/24 months the plants will have a least doubled in size and runners have started to form.
Earlier in the week,staff from Wellingtons Botanical Gardens had planted 1500 plants as part of this ongoing process.
They had already planted a further 2000 plants around Princess Bay, ( located on the coastal road between Lyall Bay and Island Bay).
You can find information about the Coast Care group on FB under Lyall Bay Coast Care.
james/ lyall bay coast care
WildBay 