ORC supporting Waianakarua tree planting

The Otago Regional Council (ORC) is supporting a field day at Waianakarua on Sunday (June 26) where the Herbert Heritage Society will be planting native trees.

The society has just received $500 towards its planting programme, after winning the Waitaki District Council heritage and environmental award earlier this month.

ORC land resources officer Dylan Robertson said the council organised a field day last year to support the project.

Interest in this weekend’s event has come from as far away as Shag Point and Oamaru. The widespread community interest in the project was encouraging and the activity was a good fit with ORC’s environmental objectives, Mr Robertson said.

The society was keen to see as many people show up as possible, ideally armed with a shovel and a waratah driver.

Department of Conservation ranger Pete Ravenscroft will demonstrate electric fishing techniques, and Anne Te Maiharoa Dodds will talk about Matariki (the Maori New Year celebrations).

The day starts at 10am and will finish around 2.30pm.

People coming should bring their own food and a barbeque will also be provided.