Red Zone update
20 Sep 2018
A large group of College boys and parents planted out around 400 native trees in Brooker Reserve in the Red Zone in winter 2017. Twelve months later, after three waterings via gravity fed individual irrigation, most of the trees are at chest height, with ribbonwoods taller. Some thefts have occurred, which is disappointing, but about 80% have survived.
Many thanks to all those who donated both cash and time to this project. Next planting season we plan to plant at least twice the number adjacent to the park, creating both a pleasant place to picnic and also providing food and habitat for native birds. Around 90% of the 2000 carex secta wetland grasses planted earlier this year are thriving, and several pukeko pairs have now been seen in the environs.