It was wet, windy, overcast, and in the middle of Winter, but none of these conditions deterred the St Teresa’s School students or their enthusiasm for getting their fingers and boots dirty on the first planting day! When I arrived about quarter to ten, the kids and most of the other volunteers were already there, supported by their teacher Liz Lark, Zoe Studd from Mountains to Sea Wellington and a team from City Care, as well as representatives from South Wairarapa District Council. We were later joined by more wonderful volunteers and nearby residents taking a keen interest in this local restoration project!
Zoe offered a quick briefing and then it was just about getting stuck in. I have rarely ever seen kids run to a task with such enthusiasm – what a lucky community we are to have such passionate, ecologically aware, young leaders taking on this important task. The volunteers and City Care team were not far behind and did our best to support the kids’s enthusiasm and hard work. Holes were dug (300 in one morning!) plants were transported, roots were shook and loosened, soil was scooped and patted neatly around the flaxes and grasses. And not only that, huge boulders were excavated by sheer muscle-and-spade power, beetles were discovered, admired & rescued, and the first spontaneous works of art also went up; cairns built from the many small and large rocks that we had to dig out to get the plants securely settled in their new homes.
All along the stream provided a wonderful backdrop and soundscape as it meandered and curved along the bank and hustle & bustle of planting.
Finally, we were able to use some of the mown grass to create small nests of shelter around the plants (as long as it was not touching the stems) and in between we enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies and a good chat!
At 12noon the weather packed in, but the planting was done and everyone was completely elated with the results! 300 plants were sitting snugly in the ground; 212 of them a mixture of Carex secta, Cyperus ustulatus, and Carex virgata, 88 were toetoe.
I don’t think anyone walked away NOT looking forward to the next time we would be able to do this again!
Donald's Creek Kaitiakitanga Project 