Phew! TET has blown its previous planting numbers to new levels with a whirlwind planting season.
Thanks to funding from MPI-One Billion Trees, Ministry for the Environment, DOC’s Community Fund, TDC, NCC, Trees That Count, Fonterra, Cobb Mitigation Fund, Lotteries NZ, our planted plant numbers have risen from 31,451 in 2020 to over 200,000 this year!
Our project managers co-ordinated massive volunteer planting efforts. Regular weekend planting days around the Waimeha/Waimea Inlet by Battle for the Banded Rail, school field trips at Stephens Bay and community engagement region-wide all helped improve water quality in our streams with riparian planting.
Despite COVID-related challenges and assorted weather bombs, dedicated Nelson Tasman volunteers turned up with spades, gloves and gumboots, growing connections with their neighbours as well as the local watercourses. We’ve heard many people say they experience greater wellbeing through being active outdoors and having meaningful communication with fellow-planters.
Some of this year’s planting highlights
Restoring the Moutere
149,881 plant total
Six community nurseries were established, thanks to assured plant demand, including Upper Moutere, Whenua Iti Outdoors (WIO) and Motueka Technology and Education Centre (MOTEC).
A project highlight is the restoration work at the 11ha Beuke Bush—the largest remnant of podocarp forest in Moutere catchment. This season, 17,500 plants connected the streamside from Rosedale Road to the forest. Upper Moutere School not only grew 1,500 plants in their community nursery, but also joined the planting days.
Wakapuaka Mouri
13,500 plant total
A notable community member who has embraced the spirit of the project is Baxter Mosey-Reid, a local teenager who loves growing plants. His family spent several years travelling around the globe on their sailing boat, but growing plants on the yacht was difficult because he had poor soil, no potting mix and high saline levels. Since stepping back on terra firma, Baxter reckons he has grown over 4,000 plants and doesn’t have any intention of stopping.
He says, “Planting trees is one of the best things you can do to help the environment. So if you can—you should.”
This year he is growing 500 more eco-sourced plants.
Stephens Bay
Brooklyn School has been linked into the project with the help of Tasman Bay Guardians. They held a full school environmental day, planting 100 trees provided by Abel Tasman Tree Collective. Note the decorated plant guards!
Battle for the Banded Rail/Waimea Inlet Restoration Partnership
23,230 plant total
Planting day highlights this year included three enjoyable days with Whenua Iti Outdoors students at Moturoa Rabbit Island. The flurry of winter planting events involved labour from Department of Corrections, NMIT trainee rangers, Keep Richmond Beautiful and DOC staff, as well as local schools, Rotary Club, Tamaha sea scouts, Nelson College Trades Academy, ex refugee students, Student Volunteer Army, and of course community volunteers. One planting day put in over 1000 plants!
Stream Care Golden Bay
5,540 plant total
To improve plant survival, free weed mats and bamboo stakes with discounted plant guards were given to landowners. Stream Care Golden Bay is funded by a grant from the Fonterra Sustainable Catchment Fund and the Cobb Mitigation Fund.
TET’s planting progress at a glance
TET project plantings are transforming the Nelson Tasman landscape
Thanks to the remarkable efforts put in by our amazing local community volunteers, landowners and project coordinators this year, we hope 2021 will be remembered for more than COVID lockdowns and climate uncertainty.
Just take a moment to imagine what all these plantings will look like in 10 years’ time… we can’t wait!
