Volunteers helping to grow native forest alongside Waikato River

Friday, 7 July 2017

Cambridge Tree Trust spend hours planting what will become a native forest alongside the Waikato River.

Every Tuesday, members of the Cambridge Tree Trust can be seen beavering away along the Waikato River.

Between Alpers Ridge and Fletcher Place, the Meadow Walk provides a two kilometre walk where more than 2000 wetland plants have been placed.

Another 1000 will be planted in August.

Chairperson Don Willoughby said more than 20 people turn up every Tuesday do to three hours of tree planting in an effort to keep Cambridge green.

'The Cambridge Tree Trust proposed to retire council reserve land from grazing and create a wonderful riverside forest.

'Some seven years ago, the trust expressed concern at the harmful runoff coming from the dairy cow winter grazing of a council reserve which was flowing into the Waikato River,' he said.

'We presented the Waipa District Council with a plan to reafforest the pasture land which slopped towards the river.'

The track was formed with the assistance of a grant from the Waikato River Trust.

Gorse and blackberries were removed by council staff and an annual winter planting of native trees, grasses, flaxes and shrubs took place.

'Every winter with the assistance of school groups from St Peter's School, Cambridge High School and regular help from the Department of Corrections, the reafforestation process took place,' said Willoughby.

Stage one - the first area planted close to the Alpers Rd entrance - is now seven years old and the plants have attracted native bird life, including the rare native falcon, karearea.

Over the last eight weeks Cambridge Tree Trust members led by John and Jane Moodie have sprayed and then planted some 2000 wetland plants in an area of former swamp.

'Volunteers of the Cambridge Tree Trust have invested hundreds of hours in this project and next summer the quality of the track surface will be improved by the Waipa District Council,' said Willoughby.

'Local athletes and triathletes regularly use this leg friendly track as it wends its way along the Waikato River bank.

'The plantings provide variety and interest with wildflowers and urban orchard interspersed with native forest.

'Trees which attract both birds and bees are scattered throughout along the track,' he said.