Seedling Collecting
In 2022 we began an awesome partnership with NZ Forest Managers, which meant that we could collect native seedlings from pine forests and use them in our restoration plantings. These rescued seedlings were rehomed in schools, kindergartens and gullies all over Taupō.
In 2023 we have continued this great programme. This year we have collected seedlings with Taupō Intermediate students and our student leadership teams. They collected hundreds of seedlings and ferns, which have been potted up, or replanted directly into restoration areas.
The Wicked Weeders (a group of retirees who volunteer for us every Tuesday), KGT student leaders from St Patrick’s School, and Country Kidz ECE centre tamariki transplanted lots of the plants rescued from the pine forests. Hounds tongue ferns, seedlings, and other ferns, were put into their forever home in the bottom of the Brentwood Gully. It’s the perfect spot for them, as they have tall canopy trees to give them great protection from sun and frost. They are filling the empty void left where blackberry has been removed. A native subcanopy is being created!
In another session the tamariki from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Whakarewa i te reo ki Tūwharetoa showed the younger tamariki from Kimihia Te Kōhanga Reo how to plant. Together they added another 50 native plants to the gully. Many of the plants were ones that our student leaders had rescued from in the pine forests with NZ Forest Managers. Locals Dave and Judy kindly joined us and dug the holes for this session. It was a fantastic session of tuakana-teina learning. The gully is transforming from a weedy space into into a magical place for locals to enjoy.
We finished the term by planting about 100 native seedlings and ferns collected from the pine forest into the Taupo Intermediate School gully area. The area has been cleared of a thick blanket of jasmine over the past few years, and after earthworks being done by Camex Civil, is now ready to be planted. The space under these established trees was the perfect spot to transplant the plants collected from pine forests earlier in the term and create an understory. It was so exciting to give these plants their new home. It was also really fantastic to see little native seedlings popping up naturally everywhere, now that the carpet of weeds has been cleared. We can't wait to see this space in the future.
