The Whakatipu Reforestation Trust protect and restore the native biodiversity of the Whakatipu Basin through revegetation projects, collaboration, education and advocacy.
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Slope Hill Reserve Planting Sessions

Date: 23rd February 2024

The Whakatipu Reforestation Trust is joining forces with Mana Tāhuna for a week-long series of community planting events at Slope Hill Reserve. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a living legacy, one of the Basin’s largest restoration projects to date.
 
The community is invited to attend a series of planting sessions throughout the week. The holes will be pre-dug so no digging required! Hot drinks and kai are provided at each session so all you need to bring is sunscreen, a water bottle and gardening gloves.
 
Please come dressed comfortably for outdoor activities. We recommend long trousers, a long sleeved shirt and a hat to protect your skin. 
 
Location: Slope Hill Recreation Reserve  with car access off Speargrass Flat Road ONLY. There’s plenty of parking available – look for the WRT flag and parking attendant in hi-viz Alternatively, travel by bike along the Countryside Trail.

Wednesday 20 March 1.00pm – 4.00pm: Visitor Industry planting session #1, in collaboration with Love Queenstown.

Thursday 21 March 9.00am – 4.00pm: Visitor Industry planting session #2, in collaboration with Love Queenstown

Do you work in the visitor industry? Register here

Thursday 21 March 1.00pm – 4.00pm: Local businesses and community

Friday 22 March 9.00am – 12.00pm: Local businesses

Friday 22 March 1.00pm – 4.00pm: Whakatipu Reforestation Trust Sponsors & Supporters

register to join a community planting session
About the Coronation Plantings:
Communities all over the country are participating in the He Rā Rākau Tītapu – King Charles III Coronation Plantings in which New Zealanders will plant 100,000 trees to commemorate King Charles’ coronation. We have been given 7000 native plants for this event, which we’re using to create a living legacy at Slope Hill Reserve.
 
About Slope Hill Reserve:

The Slope Hill Recreation Reserve, between Slope Hill Road and Waiwhakaata-Lake Hayes, is a 33ha area of DOC land that has recently been retired from grazing.

Cyclists passing through on the Countryside Trail currently see the early stages of a biodiversity restoration project on a tributary leading to our wonderful Wai Whakaata-Lake Hayes, where WRT first began restoration work in 2019.

Our volunteers planted over 7,500 native riparian plants to help slow and filter the stream water and to soak up excessive nutrients – the transformation is already striking. As a tributary of Mill Creek that in turn runs into Lake Hayes, these riparian plants are now working to purify the water on its way toward the lake. Through Jobs for Nature funding, Mana Tāhuna is continuing the planting in this zone, in addition to other awesome mahi they’ve undertaken in the catchment to improve the health of the lake.

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