Sunday June 20th 2021 saw the first Tree Planting Day at Ambury Regional Park for the winter. Despite a poor weather that was forecast, the more than 100 volunteers were treated to yet another calm sunny Auckland morning.
Plenty of preparatory work had occurred over the previous weeks. Regular visitors to Ambury would have seen and heard contractors clearing dead trees from the area in focus for this Working Bee – the Beehive Planting Area, with Te Pane o Mataoho, our magnificent maunga, in the background. The ever industrious Ambury Crew also had prepared spades, gloves, water and, of course, plenty of seedlings for us to pop in the ground.
Volunteers of all ages worked under the watchful eye of Ranger Shannon and his crew until all the seedlings were firmly entrenched in the soil and then given a helpful boost with mulch from the contractors’ clearing work.
The saying is “many hands make light work“. This was indeed proven as midday saw our work completed for the day – an hour earlier than accounted for! Fortunately the helpers on the BBQ were poised and ready to feed any hungry volunteers. The yummy snarlers, fresh fruit and drinks were enjoyed by many.
Some of us learnt for the first time why mulch is so good for growing plants. Some were at their first ever tree planting day. But all left with that sense of community spirit these events promote. Over the coming years, we can look over at the Beehive Planting Area beaming with pride as we watch our seedlings grow taller and wider into trees and bush, providing shelter and food for wildlife, promoting carbon sequestration, biodiversity and stewardship of our natural heritage.
There are Tree Planting Days planned most winters (June through August) at Ambury Regional Park and every winter around the many Southern Regional Parks of Auckland. Keep an eye on our Events Calendar and/or keep an eye on Auckland Council’s OurAuckland website,
