Karori Goes Nuts About Native Plants

June is ‘Plant Mania’ time in Karori, with an exciting, fun-filled series of events aimed at improving children’s knowledge of native plantlife and wildlife and allowing them to put it all into practice. The fun starts on Monday 9 June when children can ‘discover the forest’ at Karori library.

The library will be filled with native plants and trees for the children to explore and learn more about. On Tuesday 10 June the library will have Rewi Elliot, curator of Otari-Wilton's Bush, on hand from 7.00-8.00pm ready to identify ‘mystery plants'. Children can bring along their own mystery plants for identification, and Rewi will answer any gardening questions they may have.

On Tuesday 17 June children can learn how to identify plants and how to plant a garden to attract native insects and birds. Again hosted by Karori library, this event is ideal for children aged seven years and older.

The highlight of the week, 'Planting day', takes place on Thursday 19 June in Karori park. The Council's Environment Portfolio Leader, Councillor Celia Wade-Brown says hundreds of local school children are expected to take part in the day-long activity and thousands of natives will be planted – which will likely increase the numbers of birdlife in the park in the future.

"The children will enjoy getting their hands dirty while creating their future environment. It will be a great day for all involved. Staff from Karori library, swimming pool and the recreation centre will be there, as well as a Push Play sports activity trailer for the children to enjoy throughout the day," she says.

The week wraps up that evening when Karori Library hosts leading botanist Dr John Dawson (author of ‘Nature guide to the New Zealand forest', ‘New Zealand coast and mountain plants' and ‘Forest vines to snow tussocks – the story of New Zealand plants' ) to lead a discussion on the topic of "planting for wildlife". Cr Wade-Brown says the evening promises to be an invaluable opportunity to ‘ask the expert'.

A colouring competition with great prizes will also be available from the Karori library, pool or recreation centre throughout the week.

The Council's Social Portfolio Leader, Councillor Ngaire Best says the Council's facilities in Karori have banded together to bring Plant Mania to the community and she hopes that as many children as possible visit the library, pool and recreation centre.

"We want Plant Mania to have a lasting impact so children visiting the pool, library or recreation centre during the week will be given a native seed with instructions on planting and care to take home and enjoy."