First cape replanting community event

Clear-felling on Cape Wanbrow in March last year. Photo by David Bruce.
Clear-felling on Cape Wanbrow in March last year. Photo by David Bruce.
Almost a year after Cape Wanbrow was clear-felled, a start will be made next month replanting the prominent backdrop to Oamaru and its harbour.

The inaugural planting will take place on May 9, from 9am to noon.

It will be a community venture held in conjunction with the Waitaki District Council, which manages the reserve.

A landscape plan has been produced to plant 13.5ha in a mixture of native and exotic trees to redevelop the area as a recreational reserve with tourist attractions.

It was even suggested a community orchard could be planted in part of the area and a night sky observatory/education-conference centre built.

The council has been working with community groups including Forest and Bird, Nature Heritage and Community Gardens, who, together with local residents, will help plant the cape in amenity species.

This would create an area for recreation and environmental enhancement, Forest and Bird chairwoman Zuni Steer said.

''We have up to 300 native seedlings to be planted on site after being propagated by Forest and Bird at the newly established community nursery at the Oamaru Public Gardens.''

The inaugural planting was the first of many, which would ultimately see the cape covered in native and exotic amenity trees and shrubs, enhancing the town's biodiversity.

This would encourage native birds such as tui back into Oamaru.

Anyone could help with the planting by assembling at the Test St entrance to the cape with a spade, good gloves, tough footwear, warm clothes, a drink and a snack.

Add a Comment