Horizons helps Kaitieke School improve wetland

Horizons Regional Council and community volunteers helped Kaitieke School students plant 315 plants this morning.

Horizons biodiversity coordinator Aaron Madden says the plantings were the final stage in Kaitieke School’s 2018 project which successfully received a community grant from the regional council.
 
“In 2018 Kaitieke School received a grant for $2,500 for native plants to help improve the school’s wetland area,” says Mr Madden.
 
“Today the students and staff have planted a variety of natives, including kohuhu, toetoe, ribbonwood, lacebark, kahikatea and a variety of grasses. These species were chosen to suit the wetland area as well as the drier area.
 
“Through this planting the students have learnt about the effect these plants will have on water quality, and how they will provide improved levels of native bird life over the long term through the creation of habitat,” explains Mr Madden.
 
Horizons’ community grants programme is designed to help community groups, schools, early childhood centres and iwi/hapū groups with not-for-profit projects that enhance our region or encourage more people to engage with our natural environment. Applications will reopen around autumn of 2020.