More than 140 volunteers turned out to the annual Industry Planting Day at Kelvin Heights’ Jardine Park, which is now in its second year of a three-year restoration programme, and is one of the Whakatipu Reforestation Trust’s nine keystone sites.
A collaborative effort between the trust, Love Queenstown, Skyline Queenstown and the Queenstown Lakes District Council received additional support this year from Air New Zealand, Trees That Count, Bupa, Trac and Ryd.
Reforestation trust operations manager Sararose Brown said the project was a great example of what happened when industry and community worked together.
"Each year we see this site come alive with new growth, and with the energy and care of the volunteers who make it possible."
Love Queenstown community fund co-ordinator Ash Bickley said the event represented the heart of its mission to connect the visitor industry with local environmental action.
"It’s about building climate resilience, supporting biodiversity and creating a legacy we can all be proud of."
Over the past two years, more than 4400 native trees have been planted at the Jardine Park site, which Ms Bickley said was steadily being transformed into a thriving native ecosystem.
