Working with our whenua Plant in our region
Planting the right tree, in the right place, for the right purpose benefits both the environment and our communities. Learn more about the types of plantings, species guides and get help here.
Did you know that every winter Horizons, with the help of community groups, Iwi and landowners, plant hundreds of thousands of trees across the region?
Getting the balance right by planting the right type of tree in the right spot for the right purpose yields benefits not only for your property, but also for the environment and our communities.
Learn more about our planting programme in the video below.
Growth in Horizons' planting programmes
Right tree, right place, right purpose
Selecting the right species for your land is an important balance to strike. Farm Forestry New Zealand have developed a species selection tool to help you narrow your species choice for your land type and intended use case.
Planting willow and poplar poles
There are many benefits of planting willow and poplar poles. Erodible hillsides can be stabilised and sustained as farmland, because the extensive root systems of these trees bind and hold the soil in place. Poles can protect farm assets like fences and tracks, which are prone to slip damage. They work as shelter belts, reduce damage to watercourses, provide shade and shelter for stock, and timber. Poplars and willows produce useful stock feed, which can be an extra feed reserve during droughts. For example, about 1.4 kg of fresh poplar leaves maintain a ewe for a day.
The best months to plant poplar and willow poles are in the winter months - June, July and August. You need to plan which paddocks to plant, and how many poles they’ll take.
Horizons Regional Council can help you by:
providing free advice to help you plan, including how to choose a suitable species of poplar or willow, how many you need and how far apart the poles should be planted
giving advice on how to plant poles
arranging nursery supplies
in some cases contributing funds towards the cost of erosion control plantings through our environmental grants – contact your LMA for more information
A major part of the environmental work programme in hill country is the planting of poplar and willow poles for erosion control. As well as reducing erosion, these trees provide shade, shelter and drought fodder.
We source appropriate pole material for farmers from a mix of our own and commercial nurseries throughout the Region and can provide grants to establish these poles for erosion control.
For information on pole plantings see the factsheet below.
Riparian planting After riparian planting advice and information?
Find information, advice and riparian planting guides on our Freshwater page.