Catch-up Blog 2: Planting (2016-2018)
Next cab off the rank was kicking off a long lead-time item, one that will take generations to fully see through – creating a native forest at Nga Kereru.
Kowhai flowers
Lesley and John met with Ewan MacGregor (Lesley’s cousin) on-site soon after purchase and we were emailed his advice on planting the pasture to bring it back to native bush, in particular to encourage bird-life to move in, with cluster plantings of kowhai’s on top of the list... Ewan also recommended Marie Taylor at Plant HB to provide locally sourced native seedlings and to help us organise the planting – thanks Ewan for the great advice right from the start.
After a few phone calls and emails with Marie from Malang and Sydney we got started growing native seedlings for 2017 planting season. Marie recommend her friend Anna Archibald from the Tuki Valley to manage the planting for us, another great introduction thanks Marie.
In Andrews first trip to New Zealand to see the land in August 2016* he met with Marie and Anna on-site, worked through plans for the 2017 planting season and made an agreement for an initial 3 year planting programme.
1000 native trees and shrubs were planted in 2017, and achieved an incredible 99% strike rate with no irrigation. Good quality seedlings from Marie and a great job with preparation and planting from Anna and her team… the local top soil was black and the weather kind.
A further 800 native trees and shrubs were planted in 2018, and all look good so far for another great strike rate with no irrigation. More great seedlings from Marie at Plant HB and a new planting team led by Guy Morris. Guy and his team did a great job and in addition to the natives we now have a new feijoa hedge!!
* Alessandra wouldn’t actually get to set foot on the land until October 2018!
Before: just grass….
After: first planting August 2017..
After: the 2017 planting one year on in 2018…