Get stuck into hands-on volunteering opportunities or share your employee’s skills with organisations restoring nature.
Providing employees with time to volunteer is an easy and fun way to support nature regeneration work. There are a variety of volunteering opportunities throughout the year.
Nature-based volunteer activities tend to be seasonal. Stream and beach clean-ups generally happen in the summer, along with weeding and nursery work. Planting days occur in the autumn through the spring, when the ground is wet. This gives the plant’s roots an opportunity to get established before the dry season (with the exception of some wet planting sites). Predator control happens year round.
Growing (or propagating) native seedlings is a rewarding activity for people of all skill and fitness levels. Community nurseries need to propagate thousands of seedlings. They often rely on committed volunteers to ensure a good supply.
Restoration is needed across the New Zealand landscape. From the banks of our rivers and streams, to bush reserves, to wetland and dune environments. Many hands make light work. Watch out for community planting days with groups working to restore their local environment.
Pro tip: It’s not a race! Take care when you plant native seedlings. Quality over quantity is key for a successful planting day.
During the summer, you can help to take care of plantings by mulching around the base of young plants or releasing them from weeds. This activity is critically important to ensure the plants survival. Without maintenance, plants can easily get smothered by weeds.
Monitoring the biodiversity in local streams can tell you how healthy the stream is. Different mixes of macroinvertebrates (water bugs) thrive in varying states of water quality, so analysing the bugs that are present is a great indicator of water quality. Organisations like Whitebait Connection and Auckland Council’s Wai Care can provide more information on getting engaged in water monitoring.
Predators such as possums and rats eat the young foliage of native plants, as well as the eggs and young of native birds. From new plantings to mature bush, trapping is a key part of restoration work. Trap lines need to be checked regularly. Get in touch with a Predator Free NZ group near you to see how you can help. See SBN's resource on controlling weeds, pests and predators for more information.
Beach and stream clean ups are great ways to make a tangible difference and get your team out into the local community. Litter makes its way from freshwater streams and river systems into the ocean harming wildlife and polluting the marine environment.
Many groups working in conservation and restoration need volunteers that can provide specialist skills, such as:
Your businesses’ skilled team members could volunteer time and advice. This can be more valuable than participating in a hands-on activity.
Start by contacting your regional and district councils. They often advertise planting days and other volunteer opportunities on Facebook.
Many restoration and conservation groups also have a Facebook page or website.
