Dried out soils and harsh mid-summer sun can be tough on the new seedlings. But they also slow up competing weed growth.
This year's unusually abundant rain has boosted most of our new plants and trees. It’s also spurred on the weeds. So it’s back out into the heat for more weed control.
Meanwhile, the all-important planning must also get done.
For that the Sustainable Business Network (SBN) got together with our partners Te Pu-a-nga Maara and the Makaurau Marae nursery. We co-developed the plant list and design for 2023, with additional help from the materials in the Te Whakaoranga o Te Puhinui: Te Rautaki/Te Puhinui Regeneration Strategy.
Working together on this is vital. The nursery team grows the plants the rangers plant. Together they collect the seeds for propagation. The rangatahi set their aspiration for the 2023 planting to: “intentionally create beautiful and thriving spaces that enhance well-being for future generations and te taiao (natural environment).”
They agreed a list of nearly 20,000 plants from 20 different locally-occurring native species. They set out the locations and designed the plantings. The team now know what to grow, and where and when to plant this winter.
For the rangers the focus on intention includes attention to the tohu (signs) as they work on and around the awa. These informed the broader group that seed ripening is later than usual this year due to the wet weather. Seed collection to fulfil this season's plan will now go from late February to early April.
The changing seasons has also brought new recruits into Te Pu-a-Nga Maara's Awa Rangers. We’ll be introducing some of them to you in the next edition.
But you can meet them yourself and get hands on with this work! Register now for one of our volunteer days!