Last week, 40 Year 8 students planted over 500 native trees on property owned by Gulf Harbour Country Club, behind Regency Lake.
Despite an unusually long, hot, dry summer, COVID-19 lockdown restrictions and an Auckland Council directive to turn off the shadehouse irrigation recently, due to water shortages the majority of harakeke (flax), manuka (teatree) and karamu (Coprosma robusta) the students potted in October grew into healthy plants.
Trees for Survival (TfS) Field Officer, Gail Allende briefed the students on health and safety and the correct way to plant a tree. She explained how the planting of native trees increased biodiversity, food sources for native birds, created habitat for insects key to pollinating plants that provide our food, and improved water quality due to more controlled runoff.
Ryan Taylor, Course Superintendent of the Gulf Harbour Country Club and some of his staff assisted the students with their planting. As a way of showing their appreciation they provided a BBQ lunch for the students.
The planting site is visible from Regency Park Drive making it possible to watch the trees grow over the years.
