Pine trees were controversially felled on the Central Otago District Council reserve in 2023 after they were deemed a major source of wilding pines.
At the time council parks and recreation manager Gordon Bailey said the plan for the area was for a natural Central Otago landscape with seating, trails and rocks rather than an urban park.
Clyde-based Haehaeata Natural Heritage Trust has a five-year memorandum of understanding with the Central Otago District Council to plant out the reserve, which began with the area above SH8 in 2024.
Haehaeata project co-ordinator Rach Baxter said there were more planting days coming up in the next two months.
Three would be open to anyone wanting to be involved. On July 2 there would be a corporate day from 1pm-3pm for any businesses wanting
to get their staff out planting.
"We have 1000 plants to plant, 48 different local species from the small and Threatened — Nationally Endangered Carex inopinata found on the reserve last year, to the mighty tōtara (given 100 years or so) with herbs, grasses, shrubs and trees making up the rest."
Those plants would join the 5000 tussocks initially planted and the 1280 plants planted in the past two years.
The trust has been involved with discovering a number of special species being found, protected, monitored and, where possible propagated, at the reserve, she said.
Planting days will be on July 5, August 1 and August 30, if needed.
