10,000 trees planted - in just three hours

Planting 10,000 native plants seems daunting but yesterday at Queen Elizabeth Park volunteers from around the region proved that many hands make light work, completing the task in just three hours.

The massive planting event was organised to celebrate 10 years of Greater Wellington’s ecological restoration programme Take Care.

It was a great effort from all involved, says Robyn Smith, Greater Wellington’s Community Environmental Projects team leader.

“We were thrilled that so many people – about 270 in all – came to help out. It’s a testament to the support of our Take Care volunteers and to the wider community for ecological restoration.”

The Take Care programme commenced in 2000 and since then 64 groups have been involved, with 36 groups currently funded through the programme - working alongside streams and rivers, in wetlands, coastal dunes and escarpments, and estuaries.

“Our Take Care volunteers are doing an excellent job,” Robyn says. "They’ve planted over a half a million trees since 2000 and if their contribution is put in monetary terms, the gains are astonishing.

“The Take Care Programme costs about $275,000 annually but Greater Wellington and volunteers deliver the ecological benefits of over $930,000 worth of restoration effort.

“It was great to see so many people at our 10 year celebration but we need more people to get involved and be part of one of the care groups making such an incredible difference to our region.”

Find out how you can help - www.gw.govt.nz/takecare